Wayne Rooney Reflects on Reality TV and Career Moves

Wayne Rooney has traditionally been unable to accept offers from ITV due to his extensive commitments in professional football. After an illustrious playing career with clubs such as Manchester United and Everton, he transitioned into coaching with Derby County upon his retirement in 2021. Rooney has since gained managerial experience with D.C. United, Birmingham City, and Plymouth Argyle.

While managing at Home Park, Rooney watched from a distance as his wife, Coleen, participated in the 2024 season of ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’, where she faced various Bushtucker Trials. After leaving his role at Plymouth in December 2024, he returned to his punditry duties with both ‘Match of the Day’ and Amazon Prime.

With upcoming contestants reportedly including his close friends Angryginge and Aitch, Rooney has been speculated to be lured back to Australia. However, he firmly stated that he will not be joining them this time. In a recent episode of ‘The Wayne Rooney Show’, he shared his thoughts on potentially joining Angryginge in the jungle: “I spoke to him last night and he was still in England… Ginge is a great lad, and if he’s in there, I’m sure he’ll be really entertaining. If Aitch is also participating, I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t go in as it would have been a lot of fun.”

Rooney expressed that while he could handle the food situation, he finds some of the challenges daunting, particularly those involving snakes or large animals. He enjoys the show, having seen Coleen’s participation last year, but he confirmed, “Not this year, unfortunately.”

When discussing reality TV, Rooney mentioned, “Definitely not Strictly! I can’t dance. But ‘I’m A Celebrity’ is something I would never completely dismiss. I previously indicated that it was a show we both enjoyed watching. You never know what the future holds, but I have other projects on my plate for now.”

Coleen is currently thriving in Australia, gaining a new audience and establishing herself as a significant brand in her own right, surpassing her identity as merely Wayne Rooney’s wife. Celebrity and PR expert Chad Teixeira remarked, “If she continues to manage her career wisely, she could earn up to £40 million across various ventures over the next five years.”

This change in visibility has enabled the Rooneys to secure a reported £10 million ($13 million) deal with Disney+ for a documentary series titled ‘At Home With’. Wayne is set to appear prominently, with insiders suggesting that their celebrity status could rival that of notable figures like the Beckhams and Kardashians. Despite the setbacks in Wayne’s managerial career, the couple sees this as a new chapter and intends to clarify some of the rumors surrounding them.

With the documentary in the pipeline and ongoing match coverage commitments for the current Premier League season and the upcoming 2026 World Cup, it appears that Wayne Rooney will take at least another year before contemplating participation in ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’.