The wait is finally over. The first celebrity heading into the jungle for I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Australia 2026 has been confirmed, with Ten officially unveiling former NRL player and reality TV star Luke Bateman as the season’s opening contestant.
Fans had correctly decoded the network’s earlier “Rugby Romeo” clue, which teased: “A Rugby Romeo will be trading scrums for chum as he gets his kicks from tucker trials.”
From the footy field to the jungle
Bateman becomes the first confirmed campmate following the announcement that beloved hosts Robert Irwin and Julia Morris will return to front the series.
The former Canberra Raiders player made his NRL debut in 2015 before injuries cut his career short.
He departed the club in 2019, stepping away from professional football amid ongoing physical setbacks.
“It’s been a frustrating period for me with injury, and with my contract up at the end of the season and uncertainty about what my future may look like, I’ve decided to finish up with the Raiders and head home and work for a while and get away from footy for a bit,” Bateman said at the time.
Reality TV fans will recognise him
Bateman later found a new audience as one of the three leads on The Bachelor in 2023, a season that was ultimately binned by Channel Ten.
Bateman went through a series of pairs and landed up with Beauty therapist Elle Rolfe at the end of the show.
“I once told you that I’ve only ever felt this way towards someone twice in my life, I now realise that was a lie,” Luke told her during the final vows.
“Ellie, I’ve never felt the way I do for you, for anyone else.”
But, soon after six months, the pair got split into two.
“Ellie and I have separated and would like to keep our relationship private,” Luke told Yahoo! Lifestyle at the time.
He has since remained a familiar face in reality TV fandom circles.
The jungle announcement was confirmed via Bateman’s Instagram, where he shared his anticipation for what lies ahead.
View this post on Instagram
“I’m very excited to see what Robert [Irwin] and Julia [Morris] have cooked up for me,” he said.
I’m sure there will be some delectable food items and some fear instilling trials.”
“I can’t wait. I’ll see you all in the jungle.”
Speaking openly about addictions
Bateman has also been open about personal struggles following his football career, including gambling addiction and mental health challenges.
“It was horrible. I was at the point of suicide. I was at the end of the tracks and I had no hope left,” he previously told news.com.au.
“When I was in that place, I caused a lot of pain for my loved ones, my family.”
Since then, Bateman has forged an unexpected new path as a romance and fantasy novel reviewer, amassing more than 400,000 followers on TikTok.
@inthegoodbooks_podcast Who else was NOT emotionally prepared for this 😭 #reading #books #lukebateman #inthegoodbooks #podcast @Luke Bateman ♬ original sound – In The Good Books
He also co-hosts a podcast, In the Good Books, where he discusses literature and interviews fellow readers.
More jungle stars still to come
With the sports quota now filled and the series set to premiere on Sunday, January 18, Channel Ten has yet to confirm the rest of the celebrity lineup.
The remaining clues released so far include:
- Jungle Princess (returning royalty)
- Radio Queen
- Reality Bad Boy
- Logie-winning Actor
- AFL A-lister
- MasterChef Star
- Soap Star / Soap Royalty
- Hollywood Sitcom Star
- International Supermodel