Entertainment • Australia • Updated: January 14, 2026

Channel 10 has confirmed the first celebrity joining I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Australia 2026, after weeks of teasing clues. Here’s what we know about the “Rugby Romeo”, what to expect from the new season, and why this casting choice is already sparking big chatter online.

Channel 10’s first I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Australia 2026 clue has finally been cracked — the teased “Rugby Romeo” is officially heading into the jungle, just days before the season premiere. After weeks of fan sleuthing and teaser promos, the mystery contestant confirmed the news in a social post, promising “fear-instilling trials” and whatever the hosts have “cooked up” for him.

If the clues felt familiar, it’s because this star has lived three very different public lives: professional footy, reality TV romance, and a surprise third act as a BookTok favourite with hundreds of thousands of followers. The first confirmed campmate for 2026 is former NRL player and TikTok creator Luke Bateman.

What Channel 10 has confirmed so far

Bateman is the first contestant revealed ahead of the new season, which premieres on Sunday, January 18 on Network 10. The 2026 series is hosted by Robert Irwin and Julia Morris, with the celebrities returning to the show’s South African setting. If you want the official schedule and streaming info, you can check Network 10’s hub for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! on 10/10 play.

This season’s rollout has been clue-heavy from the start — the “Rugby Romeo” tease first had fans guessing a footy name, but the extra hints (and the online following) narrowed the field quickly. The confirm came straight from Bateman, who told followers he’s trading home comforts for the African jungle and can’t wait to see what the hosts have in store.

Who is Luke Bateman?

For footy fans, Bateman is best known for his time with the Canberra Raiders, where he built a reputation as a tough, reliable forward. He stepped away from the NRL young, later speaking openly about the toll injury, mental health struggles and gambling took during his playing years. (For more background on that conversation and how he’s talked about the culture around it, ABC has previously covered his story: Luke Bateman on gambling addiction, football culture and BookTok.)

Then came the second chapter: reality TV. Bateman appeared on The Bachelor Australia, which introduced him to a wider mainstream audience beyond rugby league. But it was the third chapter — his TikTok era — that flipped his public image again.

How he became a BookTok favourite (and why it matters for the jungle)

Bateman’s online popularity surged after he began posting book videos — especially fantasy and romance recommendations — and the account quickly turned into a community. In a cast full of performers, athletes and headline-makers, that bookish corner of the internet is a different kind of fanbase: loyal, loud, and very ready to follow him into prime time.

The timing is handy, too. Bateman is also linked to a future fiction release, with reports that he has a publishing deal and a debut novel slated for 2027. Whether the jungle becomes part of that origin story (or simply a chaotic detour) is exactly the kind of narrative reality TV loves.

What he’s said about the experience

On the way in, Bateman has leaned into the show’s trademark mix of comedy and discomfort — the strange meals, the creepy-crawly challenges, and the fear-based trials. He’s also shown he’s comfortable being candid on camera, which could translate into strong confessionals once the hunger hits and the pressure builds.

In pre-show interviews, he’s even joked about some of the wild messages he receives online — the kind of detail that usually becomes campfire conversation within the first week. On a series where personality can matter as much as performance in trials, that self-aware humour could go a long way.

Who else might be joining the cast?

Right now, Luke Bateman is the only confirmed contestant — but Channel 10 has been dropping more clues for the rest of the lineup, including hints about a “Hollywood sitcom star”, a “reality bridezilla”, an “international supermodel”, a “MasterChef” figure, and more. Entertainment site Pedestrian has rounded up the current clue list and fan theories here: I’m A Celebrity 2026 cast clues and speculation.

Expect the next announcements to land fast as premiere night approaches — and once the full cast is out, the real game begins: who gets the first big trial, who bonds, who clashes, and who manages to turn one “Rugby Romeo” tease into a genuine King-of-the-Jungle run.

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