I'm A Celebrity 2026's launch show 'hit with big schedule change' as ITV lands major football coverage deal
Fans could have to wait a little longer for the opening episodeI’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! is facing a major schedule shake-up to the highly-anticipated launch show, reports claim.
The change follows a clash between the popular show’s planned return and ITV’s coverage of England against Spain in the UEFA Nations League.
Both were due to occupy prime time on the same Sunday evening this November.
ITV is said to have now shaken up the schedule as a result.
The reported switch means viewers may have to wait an extra day to see Ant and Dec welcome a new group of celebrities to the jungle.
I’m A Celebrity 2026 launch show ‘clash’
I’m A Celebrity 2026 is now expected to begin on a Monday night, instead of the show’s traditional Sunday evening launch.
According to The Sun, ITV bosses wanted to launch the series at 9pm on Sunday 15 November. This is in keeping with last year’s launch weekend in November.
A source told the publication: “I’m A Celeb has always benefited from the Sunday night prime-time slot, but this year it’s all change.
“Now ITV has the rights to the UEFA Nations League bosses have had to go back to the drawing board.”
England’s UEFA Nations League match against World Cup winners Spain is scheduled to kick off at 8.45pm on Sunday 15 November. The fixture is due to be played at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid.
That kick-off time falls only 15 minutes before the slot reportedly earmarked for the I’m A Celebrity launch. This creates the direct scheduling clash.
Moving IAC, however, would allow ITV to give both its international football coverage and the I’m A Celebrity launch their own prime-time slots across consecutive nights.
A second source claimed the channel had “pulled out all the stops” to ensure the new series begins with a must-see opening episode.
TVGuide has contacted ITV for comment.
I’m A Celebrity 2026 rumoured campmates
Several famous names have already been linked with the new series.
YouTube creator Sharky, whose real name is Sharmarke Mohamud, is reportedly in talks to enter the jungle. He is a member of social media collective Beta Squad.
It’s claimed that ITV hope he will appeal to younger viewers. Sharky’s possible appearance would follow Angry Ginge’s victory in the previous series.
Gavin & Stacey actress Joanna Page is also rumoured to be heading Down Under this year. Other rumoured names include presenter Ade Adepitan and Olympic ice-skating star Christopher Dean.
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 2026 launches on ITV1 later this year.
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