TV’s biggest celebrity guessing game returns to screens this Sunday, with Network 10 set to launch the new season of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Australia, featuring a mix of mostly familiar faces alongside a handful of production and scheduling changes for 2026.
After months of clue drops, industry chatter and the usual online sleuthing, the picture around this year’s celebrity lineup has steadily come into focus, with much of the cast now lining up neatly against the hints released throughout the summer rollout.
The clues so far
Across the lead-up to launch, 10 has again gradually teased the identities of this year’s campmates through a series of themed clues, pointing to a mix of reality TV favourites, sporting figures, music stars, comedy names and international talent.
Among the clues released this season are references to a Hollywood sitcom star, a rugby league Romeo, a radio queen, an AFL A-lister, a beauty bridezilla, an international supermodel, a Master Chef, a 90s pop star, a stand-up comedian, a Logie-winning actor, a jungle princess, a reality bad boy and soap royalty.
The celebrities tipped to enter the jungle for 2026 are:
A Hollywood Sitcom Star
The clue:
“A Hollywood sitcom star is making his jungle debut, oooh… when he meets a bunch of our jungle friends, he’ll go off with a big bang.”
We’re tipping:
Barry Williams (now confirmed)
Other speculated names:
Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons or Kevin Sussman, all leaning too heavily into The Big Bang Theory due to the clue.
Why?
Williams’ role as Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch places him firmly in classic sitcom territory, aligning with the nostalgia-heavy tone of the clue. In a 2022 interview with Studio 10, Williams said he would happily follow in the footsteps of Maureen McCormick, who competed on the series in 2015. His involvement has also since been confirmed by our sources.
A Rugby League Romeo
The clue:
“A Rugby League Romeo is going from dodging tackles to dodging crocs. They won’t be kicking goals in the Jungle, they’ll just be kicking and screaming.”
We’re tipping:
Luke Bateman (now confirmed)
Other speculated names:
Nathan Cleary, Reece Walsh
Why?
While Bateman’s NRL career is part of his public profile, the “Romeo” framing points more directly to his appearance on 10’s The Bachelors in 2023, before the format was quietly canned. His casting has since also been confirmed by our sources.
A Radio Queen
The clue:
“A radio Queen will be making waves in the jungle,” “Already a royal in the media,” and “This queen of the radio airwaves is used to having her finger on the pulse of all the goss, but how will she cope when she swaps drive time for diving into a pool of crocs?”
We’re tipping:
Concetta Caristo (now confirmed)
Other speculated names:
KIIS 97.3 Brisbane’s Robin Bailey, with other long-shot guesses including Jackie O Henderson and Bianca Dye.
Why?
Caristo has risen to national prominence as host on triple j Breakfast, before expanding her profile through appearances on 10’s Taskmaster Australia (Season 3) and The Cheap Seats. She most recently co-hosted the ARIAs on 10 late last year. Her participation has too been confirmed by our sources.
An AFL A-Lister
The clue:
“An AFL star is going to have a ball, when we boot him into the jungle,” alongside references to “kicking around the jungle” and not getting “the boot too soon.”
We’re tipping:
Dyson Heppell (now confirmed)
Other speculated names:
Shaun Hampson, Mason Cox
Why?
The repeated football wordplay points clearly to an AFL background, while the “A-Lister” tag suggests a respected, high-profile figure rather than a headline-making wildcard. Heppell was tipped early by former winner Brendan ‘Fev’ Fevola.
A Beauty Bridezilla
The clue:
A reality TV bride whose wedding storyline became one of the most talked-about moments of her season.
We’re tipping:
Cyrell Paule (now confirmed)
Other speculated names:
Lauren Dunn, Jamie Marinos (2025 MAFS Contestants’)
Why?
Cyrell’s Married At First Sight appearance was defined by wedding drama and explosive moments, making this one of the most literal clue matches. She later appeared on 10’s The Challenge Australia in 2022 and The Amazing Race Australia in 2024, further cementing her long-running reality TV profile.
An International Supermodel
The clue:
“An international supermodel is strutting her way into South Africa. She’s connected to rock ’n’ roll royalty,” followed by “We’ll have them crocodile rockin’ to something shockin’.”
We’re tipping:
Rachel Hunter ( now confirmed)
Other speculated names:
Kelly Osbourne, Tyra Banks
Why?
Hunter’s modelling career spans decades and continents, placing her firmly in international supermodel territory rather than the local fashion scene. The “rock ’n’ roll royalty” reference points to her high-profile marriage to Rod Stewart, while the lyrical clue leans into his music catalogue.
A Master Chef
The clue:
“A Master Chef will turn up the heat in the jungle kitchen.”
We’re tipping:
George Calombaris (now confirmed)
Other speculated names:
Various names from the MasterChef franchise were floated early, but the wording strongly narrows it down.
Why?
The clue leaves little room for interpretation, pointing directly to one of the franchise’s most recognisable judges. Calombaris’ casting also fits the show’s long-standing tradition of redemption arcs, with contestants often using the jungle to reflect on career highs, controversies and comebacks. Sources close to the production confirm his involvement.
A 90s Pop Star
A 90s Pop Star
The clue:
“A 90’s pop star is headlining in Africa. There’s no turning back, celebrity status won’t save ’em now.”
We’re tipping:
Deni Hines (now confirmed)
Other speculated names:
Mel B, Vanessa Amorosi
Why?
Hines enjoyed chart success throughout the 1990s and remains a familiar name to Australian audiences through music, television and theatre. The nostalgia-driven framing of the clue fits her era perfectly, with her involvement also confirmed by our sources. Her casting has been confirmed by sources familiar with the production.
A Stand-Up Star
The clue:
“A stand-up star is about to have a mic-drop moment in Africa. They’re going to be a real scream.”
We’re tipping:
Nath Valvo (now confirmed)
Other speculated names:
Tommy Little, Luke McGregor
Why?
Valvo’s career is firmly rooted in stand-up comedy, complemented by regular appearances on The Project and hosting duties on 10’s Just For Laughs Australia. He is a long-time Kylie Minogue superfan, with a tattoo dating back more than a decade, and recently named her as one of his three ultimate campmates in a video shared on the show’s social media.
A Logie-Winning Actor
The clue:
“A Logie-winning actor is about to give his wildest performance,” with references to drama, humour and being laid back.
We’re tipping:
Gary Sweet (now confirmed)
Other speculated names:
Samuel Johnson, Hugh Sheridan
Why?
Sweet is a four-time Logie winner with an extensive career across Australian television, making him one of the most credentialed names linked to the season. In a video shared on the show’s social media, the actor named three sports stars as his ideal campmates, leaning into his long-standing love of sport and his ties to the Glenelg Tigers.
A Jungle Princess
The clue:
“A jungle princess is headed to South Africa, will she have as much fun the second time around?” and “The only likes they’ll be getting are from the leeches.”
We’re tipping:
Mia Fevola (now confirmed)
Other speculated names:
Abbie Chatfield, Stella Klim
Why?
As the daughter of former King of the Jungle Brendan Fevola, the “princess” framing and legacy wording fit neatly. The clue also nods to a return to the jungle environment, with Fevola having previously visited the camp during her father’s winning season.
A Reality Bad Boy
The clue:
“A reality bad boy will leave the island life for jungle strife.”
We’re tipping:
Matthew Zukowski (now confirmed)
Other speculated names:
George Mladenov, Harry Jowsey
Why?
Zukowski rose to prominence on Love Island Australia, where he cultivated a confident, occasionally controversial persona. The “island life” reference ties directly to his reality TV origins, making him a natural fit for the clue.
Soap Royalty
The clue:
“Cue the drama! Cause a soap star is about to get down and dirty in the jungle. She’s gonna have snakes and creepy crawlies as her new neighbours. Who’ll bring the drama?”
We’re tipping:
Rebekah Elmaloglou (now confirmed)
Other speculated names:
Bonnie Anderson, Jackie Woodburne
Why?
With decades of experience across Neighbours and Home and Away, Elmaloglou is one of Australia’s most recognisable soap actors. Her longevity and body of work comfortably justify the “royalty” label used in the clue.
The clues backed up online
As in previous years, internet sleuths have been out in force, with Instagram activity quietly reinforcing what this year’s clues, industry chatter and multiple confirmations have already been pointing to.
Recent following activity involving I’m A Celebrity EP Alex Mavroidakis, several cast members and production-linked accounts shows much of the rumoured lineup already interconnected, neatly aligning with what we already know.
A clever decoy driven by speculation, or an oversight in a season that’s already wrapped?
A season filmed in advance
As previously reported exclusively by TV Blackbox in May last year, the 2026 season has been filmed entirely in advance, wrapping before Christmas and marking a notable shift from the show’s traditional near-live production model.
The move to pre-recording is understood to be linked to broader budget efficiencies, including scaled-back crews in South Africa and the removal of the overnight turnaround previously required to deliver daily episodes during the run.
A tighter weekly schedule
Alongside the production changes, the series will also air on a slightly reduced schedule this year, with episodes screening Sunday to Wednesday nights, and no Thursday night episodes this season.
TV Blackbox also understands the production has again filmed multiple alternate endings, as in previous years, to maintain an element of surprise around eliminations and the eventual winner.
Back home, with familiar faces
The show returns to its long-standing home in South Africa’s Kruger National Park for its twelfth season, with hosts Julia Morris and Robert Irwin once again fronting the series.
This marks Irwin’s third year in the role, with his popularity continuing to surge following his recent Dancing With The Stars U.S. win, while Morris continues her long-running role as one of the show’s most familiar figures.
The majority of the cast, crew and hosts have now returned to Australia ahead of launch.
Sharyn Munro
Sounds like this year’s lineup is going to be interesting.
Stephen Biggs
Billy Williams OMG – I’m a hasbeen get me back on TV living up to usual standards…
But Greg Brady????
Billy Williams would prefer to see Tina Louise
Channel 10 stop the continual ads about this program. Who cares about fighting snakes and spiders and other horrid ideas
Don’t advertise on other shows either, it’s rude
Steven Earl it’s a fake show
Steven Earl Even after 10+ years it’s still a pretty popular show, but the ads are a bit much, huh? – Kyle
TV Blackbox wonder about anyone watching this show and even more worried about contestants. Ads are appaling especially notifications on screen whilst watching another program. Wouldn’t watch it, my stomach couldn’t cope
Steven Earl 🤣🤣🤣 Who on earth is still watching 10?
Nursing Homes and Doctors waiting rooms would be about it (and that’s because no one can find the remote)
🙂
Month after month of ads are overkill…
No one is forcing you to watch this
I myself won’t invest a minute watching this
Suellen Roberts