Wayne Rooney ‘gutted’ after I’m a Celebrity 2025 line-up decision confirmed

I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here will return to our screens this Sunday, with a star-studded lineup including the likes of Alex Scott, Aitch and Angry Ginge.

Wayne Rooney has confessed he wishes he’d signed up for the latest series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, which kicks off this Sunday. The ITV show unveiled its star-studded line-up on Monday evening, featuring everyone from footballers and rappers to YouTubers, models, comedians and beloved household names.

Shona McGarty, Kelly Brook, Martin Kemp, Eddie Kadi, Alex Scott, Ruby Wax, Jack Osbourne, Lisa Riley, Aitch, and Angry Ginge will all appear in the opening weekend of the programme’s 25th series. The show returns to New South Wales, Australia, with presenting duo Ant and Dec fronting 22 episodes.

Rooney chatted with Angry Ginge, a well-known social media personality from Salford, ahead of his jungle stint. The pair struck up a friendship last year after the YouTuber and Twitch streamer invited the Manchester United icon to join him and his mates for a game of EA FC 24, previously known as FIFA, online.

READ MORE: Angry Ginge’s I’m A Celebrity crisis as he forgets to pack vital itemREAD MORE: I’m A Celebrity’s Alex Scott gets emotional at airport over missing Jess Glynne

Rooney quickly bonded with Angry Ginge, whose actual name is Morgan Burtwistle, and other social media personalities, including Ethan Payne from the Sidemen. The Match of the Day analyst also developed a friendship with Aitch, a rapper from New Moston whose real name is Harrison Armstrong, through their involvement with ‘Girth N Turf’ – their FC 24 pro clubs squad.

When Rooney learnt that both were heading into the jungle, he started having second thoughts about turning down the opportunity himself. The former England captain said: “I spoke to him last night and he was still in England, so I don’t know if he is…

“No, Ginge is a great lad and I’ve seen who’s linked as well, so if he is in there I’m sure he’ll be really entertaining. If he’s in it and Aitch is in it as well, I’m gutted that I didn’t go in because I think the three of us could have been real fun in there.”

“I’d be all right with the food situation, but I get bored, and some of the challenges, you know, the snakes and there was one a few years ago with the big ostrich. I wouldn’t like that.”

Coleen Rooney appeared on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here last year, and Wayne has hinted that he may be up for appearing himself in the future: “I love the show and obviously Coleen was in it last year and maybe at some point but not this year, unfortunately,” he said.

Danny Jones was crowned King of the Jungle last year, winning the public vote by a narrow margin. Coleen, who came second, said: “Knowing that I have made it to the final makes me proud. I’m a proud mum, I’m a proud wife, I’m a proud daughter.”

This year, Angry Ginge and Aitch will be hoping to make Wayne proud. Speaking to ITV, the former said: “I’ve watched the show on the sofa with my mum ever since I was a kid. To take part in it this year is something I couldn’t pass up on.

“But my whole life is spent on the phone. I’ve been away once for a week. And so, two to three weeks without it is going to be very educational to see how I will do.”

Meanwhile, Aitch, whose sister Gracie has Downs Syndrome, expressed: “I feel like I have got this calling to raise awareness for Down syndrome and I feel that’s the perfect place. Also, you don’t always want to be stuck in the same world forever.

“You can branch out and do other things. You don’t have to stick to the code (rap world), because you think that’s cool. I did have to cancel some gigs for it. But you are never going to branch out if you do the same thing all the time.”

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