So, what do you do with the agonising gap between now and November? First, stock up on wine and snacks. You’re going to need them for the nightly montages of rain and arguments about rice. Second, start a pool with your mates to guess which “star” will have a “meltdown” first. Spoiler: it’s always the one who said they “love a challenge” in the pre-show interview.
Also, get ready for the most addictive bit of trivia: the amount of money they’re paid. It ranges from a bus fare and a packet of crisps for the unknowns to a whopping £500,000 for the headliner (usually someone’s ex-husband from a 1990s boy band). You’ll find yourself Googling their net worth while a tarantula crawls over their face. It’s weirdly satisfying.
And let's be honest, the real start date is whenever you first see a news headline that says, “I’m a Celeb star spotted buying a ridiculous hat at Stansted.” That’s your cue. That’s the official trumpet call of the jungle.
Full I’m a Celeb 2026 cast: the 10 stars in the ITV line-up
A Quick Note on the Format (Because It Changes Every Year)
Will they bring back the “Celebrity Cyclone”? Who knows. Will they have a new challenge called “The Dump of Doom”? Probably. One thing is guaranteed: Ant and Dec will look effortlessly tanned while wearing shorts in November, which is frankly an act of war against the British weather. They’ll exchange a look that says, “We are getting paid a fortune, and you are eating a kangaroo penis.” It’s the highlight of the year.
