Nervous Wayne Rooney Faces His Biggest Fear in Dramatic I’m a Celebrity Skydive as First-Look Footage Reveals Beach Landing
Wayne Rooney has finally faced one of his biggest fears, leaping from a helicopter and parachuting onto an Australian beach in a daring first challenge for I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
The former England and Manchester United striker, 41, appeared visibly delighted as he touched down safely on Main Beach at Surfers Paradise on Australia’s Gold Coast. But the spectacular arrival was no ordinary entrance for the football star, who had previously admitted that heights were his greatest fear.
Rooney was accompanied by a tandem skydiving instructor as he made the jump, marking a major personal milestone ahead of his first appearance in the jungle.
The landing was part of the opening challenges for the new series, which sees celebrities divided into two teams before beginning their Australian adventure.
Wayne Rooney Finally Takes the Plunge After Three Failed Attempts
Rooney had previously spoken openly about his fear of heights, admitting that jumping out of an aircraft was something he found particularly terrifying.
“My biggest fear is probably to stand on the edge of a plane and jump out, that’s terrifying,” he said ahead of entering the camp.
His anxiety was not simply talk. The footballer had reportedly booked himself in for skydiving experiences on three separate occasions, only to change his mind at the last moment each time.
This time, however, he went through with it.
Footage from the challenge showed Rooney descending towards the beach with his parachute before making a successful landing. Despite the nerves associated with confronting such a long-standing fear, he appeared to be in high spirits once his feet were back on the ground.
The moment promises to be one of the standout scenes from the show’s opening episode, particularly given how openly Rooney had discussed his reluctance to jump.
Ade Adepitan Also Makes a Dramatic Helicopter Entrance
Rooney was not the only celebrity taking to the skies.
Former Paralympic basketball player Ade Adepitan, 53, also completed a tandem skydive, landing on the beach after jumping from a helicopter.
He appeared to experience a mixture of excitement and nerves as he approached the ground.
After arriving, Ade was seen using an all-terrain power chair on the beach, a piece of equipment he has previously discussed on social media.
The remaining celebrities arrived by a different route, with several familiar faces gathering on the sand in front of a fleet of large beach buggies.
Loose Women star Mariella Frostrup, 64, comedian Jack Skinner, 38, Love Island personality Chloe Burrows, 31, and presenter AJ Odudu, 38, were among those seen greeting one another.
The group appeared to be enjoying their first moments together before all six celebrities were later caught reacting to something unexpected in the distance.
The exact cause of their apparent surprise was not immediately clear from the first-look footage.
Rooney was subsequently pictured chatting with Ade and Mariella after completing his beach arrival, giving viewers an early glimpse of the interactions between the new campmates.
Celebrities Split Into Two Teams for the Opening Challenge
The dramatic skydives and beach buggy arrivals form part of Monday night’s launch show.
As previously revealed, the celebrities will be divided into two teams, with some facing the challenge of jumping from helicopters while others make their way to the meeting point in beach buggies.
The format will give the contestants their first opportunity to meet one another before their journey into the camp in New South Wales begins.
The new series is scheduled to premiere on Monday, November 16, with filming having already started over the weekend.
For Rooney, the opening challenge represents a particularly significant introduction to the programme. Having spent years as one of England’s most recognisable footballers, he is now stepping into an entirely different environment, where physical challenges, unfamiliar surroundings and unexpected encounters await.
Wayne Rooney Keeps His Plans for the Jungle Under Wraps
Rooney arrived in Australia on Monday, dressed casually in an all-grey outfit and a baseball cap.
The footballer remained relatively reserved when speaking to reporters at the airport, although he did reveal that this would be his first visit to Australia.
“Yeah I’ve never been to Australia,” he said.
“I was meant to come once when doing Thailand,” he added.
He also appeared amused when asked whether he might take part in karaoke during his time in camp.
The question was particularly relevant given the programme’s tradition of bringing celebrities together for jungle parties, where contestants have frequently taken turns singing into the microphone.
Rooney’s reaction left his potential musical ambitions something of a mystery.
Meanwhile, fellow contestant and YouTuber Sharky, 30, seemed considerably less concerned about the prospect of encountering creepy crawlies in the Australian jungle.
Rather than worrying about insects and other unwelcome visitors, he suggested he was already accustomed to dealing with them at home in Britain.
“There’s cockroaches right now in my living room, so I’ll be fine. I’m fine,” Sharky said.
Who Else Is Joining the 2026 I’m a Celebrity Line-Up?
The 12-person celebrity line-up features a mixture of television personalities, entertainers, sporting figures and social media stars.
Among the confirmed names are Gavin and Stacey actress Joanna Page, Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney and Victoria’s Secret model Leomie Anderson.
They will join Rooney, Adepitan, Frostrup, Skinner, Burrows, Odudu and Sharky for the latest instalment of the long-running reality series.
With the celebrities now beginning their jungle adventure, Rooney’s decision to confront his fear of heights has already provided an early talking point.
Whether the former England captain will be equally comfortable when faced with the programme’s other challenges remains to be seen. For now, however, he has successfully overcome a fear that had stopped him from skydiving on three previous occasions.