There was a time, not so long ago, when I’d dread the announcement of the I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! line-up. For years the Australian jungle has had to endure wannabes, has-beens and – worst of all – politicians trying to rehabilitate their image and endear themselves to the viewing public. But this year, finally, is different. 

Announced last night, this year’s cohort are a really likeable bunch. The headline name is, of course, Wayne Rooney, who is following in the footsteps of his wife Coleen, who came runner up to King of the Jungle Danny Jones when she took part in the 2024 series.  

Anyone who’s watched the couple’s Disney+ series  will know how much Coleen credits with helping the public see her as more than Mrs Rooney. But Mr Rooney doesn’t exactly need that promotion – he’s a bona fide football legend, with a cushty job as a BBC pundit. He’s not exactly got a reputation to repair; he’s generally well liked (well, apart from among Liverpool fans), and he certainly doesn’t need the money. I can’t help but think he’s there simply to have a good time – and that’s what makes for good TV. 

His casting is light years away from the likes of Nigel Farage and Matt Hancock – two politicians who used the show to shamelessly ingratiate themselves with viewers and pitch themselves as “just normal guys!” Worse, still, it worked. 

Hancock entered the jungle as a late arrival in 2022 alongside comedian Seann Walsh (who was, incidentally, also there to revive his career after having a very public affair on ). Under the guise of promoting a dyslexia campaign, Hancock clearly hoped to be forgiven for his behaviour as health secretary during the Covid-19 pandemic, during which he broke his own lockdown rules by snogging his then aide while thousands of Brits died from the virus. Somehow, he came third. 

As did Farage, who wasn’t even an MP when he took on the jungle in 2023. Now look at him: leader of a hateful, anti-immigrant party with eight Members of Parliament and predicted to give the Tories a run for their money in the next general election.

This was certainly lowest point – a desperate attempt to make headlines and draw in viewers who wouldn’t normally spend their evenings watching celebrities eating blended kangaroo testicles. Like it or not, the show had a part to play in how popular – and populist – Farage is three years on from his stint in the jungle. 

Thankfully, those days are seemingly over. Joining Wayne Rooney in Australia this year are a bunch of refreshingly uncontroversial figures. There’s Ricky Wilson, singer in Kaiser Chiefs and former coach on The Voice UK; Joanna Page, who plays Stacey in the country’s most beloved sitcom Gavin and Stacey; charming presenter of AJ Odudu; and TV presenter and gold medal Paralympian Ade Adepitan. The spikiest camp member this year is journalist and panellist Mariella Frostrup – hardly in the leagues of Farage. 

The concern is, of course, that  might be a more boring show without these controversial characters. Isn’t the drama caused by divisive celebrities part of the fun? I thought so too, until last year’s equally drama-free line-up made a joy to watch. It was won by Angry Ginge – an endearing young YouTuber whom I’m sure most of us had never heard of before – and proved that watching the campmates get on, share their life stories and be generally nice people (a truly underrated quality in showbiz) makes for a much more entertaining viewing experience.  

I hope that’s the case again this year and that none of the incumbent celebrities are hiding a dark side. Times are a’changing on reality TV – and I’m glad has finally learned its lesson. 

‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ starts on Monday at 9pm on ITV