The women reportedly paid the most for I’m A Celebrity - and how their fees compare with the men
As I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is almost back in business, we’re taking a look back at some of the best-paid women who have appeared on the premier ITV show—and how male contestants fared in comparison.
Next week (16 November), the competition takes over the Australian jungle once more for its 26th outing, bringing a roster of superstars, including Wayne Rooney, AJ Odudu, and Chloe Borrows, face-to-face with their deepest, darkest fears.
As well as the draw of taking on dingo dollar challenges and competing in goosebump-raising Bushtucker Trials, celebrities are likely lured to star on I’m A Celebrity by lucrative apperance fees.
Sadly, ITV has never officially released details of how much it pays its reality TV contestants, but various PR experts and insiders have offered reports over the years.
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There are also some gaps in the figures; many of the early contestants’ apperance fees on I’m A Celebrity were never discussed.
Bearing that in mind, here are some of the rumoured best-paid stars to ever appear on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! including a retired Olympian and a former Celebrity Big Brother icon.
I’m a Celeb’s highest-paid women contestants of all time
Coleen Rooney - 2024
Reported payout: £1.5 million
Powered by the controversy surrounding the now-settled ‘Wagatha Christie’ case, Coleen Rooney was the ultimate signing for 2024—and ITV paid big bucks for her.
The Liverpudlian was pipped to the post by McFly’s Danny Jones, but she still exited the programme with her jaw-dropping £1.5 million paycheck intact, as per PR expert Riley Gardiner.
It’s said that Tulisa Contostavlos of N-Dubz fame and former Strictly star Oti Mabuse may have earned around £200,000 each for their appearances in 2024, while ITV apparently spent £150,000 to secure eventual winner Jones.
Funnily enough, Coleen’s husband Wayne is also set to be the highest earner on the forthcoming season of I’m a Celebrity, according to reports.
The pundit is allegedly earning £800,000. That’s a staggering 46 percent less than his wife did two years ago.
Caitlyn Jenner - 2019
Reported payout: £500,000
American media personality and retired Olympian Caitlyn Jenner made history as the first-ever transgender contestant to compete on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
She placed a respectable sixth during season 19 of the show, which aired in November 2019, and was apparently paid a cool £500,000 just for showing up.
While Jenner topped the bill, Ian Wright followed closely behind her in terms of apperance fee.
Rumour has it he walked out of the programme with a very respectable £400,000 payday, according to reports.
Girls Aloud icon Nadine Coyle apparently commanded £250,000, while Coronation Street’s Andy Whyment was the fourth highest-paid star on the roster, receiving a reported fee of £100,000.
Katie Price - 2009
Reported payout: £450,000
There for a good time, not a long time: Katie Price’s second stint on I’m A Celebrity ended with her walking after more than a week's worth of back-to-back Bushtucker Trials, including tasks named ‘Deathly Burrows’ and ‘Vile Vending’.
She was apparently given £450,000 to appear on the ITV show beside the likes of the late How Clean Is Your House?presenter Kim Woodburn, chef Gino D’Acampo, and Mis-Teeq’s Sabrina Washington.
Sadly, the rest of the 2009 cast’s apperance fees were largely kept private by ITV—but you can probably bet Katie was among the best-paid.
I’m a Celeb’s highest-paid male contestants of all time
Nigel Farage
Reported payout: £1.5 million
In December 2023, British broadcaster and politician Nigel Farage took part in series 23 of I’m A Celebrity.
According to reports, the third-place star received a whopping payday of £1.5 million from ITV—the same as Coleen Rooney.
The Tab reported that his campmate, Jamie Lynn Spears, was second in the rankings with a £250,000 apperance fee, while First Dates’ Fred Sirieix got £150,000.
Meanwhile, YouTuber Nella Rose was apparently only paid £40,000 for the series.
Noel Edmonds
Reported payout: £600,000
Ex-Deal or No Deal host Noel Edmonds was reportedly given £600,000 by ITV to appear in the 2018 series of I’m a Celebrity with Ant and Dec.
Eventual winner Harry Redknapp was the only 2018 contestant to come close to the amount, apparently taking home £500,000.
Reports claim that Rita Simons, best known for playing Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders, was the highest-paid woman that year, receiving £100,000.
Boy George
Reported payout: £500,000
Behind Nigel Farage and Noel Edmonds, and on par with Harry Redknapp sits singer Boy George, who appeared on the beloved reality show in 2022.
His apperance was marred by misogynistic allegations, and reports that he tried to quit four times in clashes with producers.
Regardless, he walked away with a cool £500,00 payday, according to reports. Others have said the amount was closer to £600,000. Sadly, we will probably never find out the true number.
Matt Hancock, former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, appeared on the same series and apparently got a £400,000 apperance fee, as per The Independent.
EURO winner Jill Scott, who went on to win the programme, claimed she was paid ‘much less’ than Hancock for her stint in the jungle.
In an interview, she claimed she could have opened another coffee shop if she’d earned as much.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! returns to ITV on Monday 16 November at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Topics: Celebrity, Im A Celebrity, TV And Film, ITV, Reality TV
Ella Scott
