Could Olympic legend Christopher Dean be swapping the ice rink for the Australian jungle?
Months before I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! returns, speculation is already building over this year’s celebrity line-up—and one of the biggest names linked to the show so far is former Dancing On Ice star Christopher Dean.
The 67-year-old Olympic gold medallist is reportedly in discussions with ITV bosses about joining the 2026 series, marking what would be a dramatic new chapter following his retirement from television skating.
A Fresh Challenge After Retirement
According to reports, Christopher had previously dismissed the idea of taking part in the hit reality show. However, his outlook is said to have changed since stepping away from Dancing On Ice.
A source told The Sun that the former skating champion is now open to embracing a completely different kind of adventure.
“When bosses came knocking this year, he saw it in a different light. He’s recently retired and is looking for a new challenge. I’m A Celebrity is certainly that, so he has met with producers a few times already to talk through being a campmate for this year’s Australian series.”
The insider added that ITV executives are hopeful they can persuade Christopher to officially sign on the dotted line.
If he agrees, viewers could soon see the Olympic icon facing terrifying Bushtucker Trials instead of perfecting routines on the ice.
Jayne and Chris famously took home gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics with their iconic Bolero routineCredit: Getty
Chris always declined offers to go on I’m A Celeb before finally entering into talks this time aroundCredit: PA
Ben Stokes Also Linked to the Jungle
Christopher isn’t the only famous face being tipped for the upcoming series.
Former England cricket star Ben Stokes has also emerged as a name to watch after announcing his retirement from professional cricket at the end of last month.
His decision immediately fuelled rumours that television could be next, with bookmakers already placing him among the favourites for the jungle.
Ladbrokes spokesperson Alex Apati joked that Ben could soon be “swapping cricket for crickets” if the betting odds prove accurate.
When Will I’m A Celebrity Return?
Although ITV has yet to confirm this year’s official cast, the 2026 series is expected to launch in mid-November, following the show’s traditional schedule.
Last year’s edition premiered on November 16 before concluding three weeks later on December 7, and fans can expect another star-studded line-up to be revealed closer to launch.
Meanwhile, excitement is also growing for the franchise’s special 25th anniversary spin-off, I’m A Celebrity: The Wild Frontier, which is expected to air next spring.
Like the previous South Africa all-stars series, the new edition will be pre-recorded and filmed in Canada later this year. Early reports have already linked Boyzone stars Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy to the anniversary project.
With rumours gathering momentum months before filming begins, Christopher Dean’s name is already generating plenty of excitement—and if the reports are true, the Olympic legend could be one of the biggest surprises to enter the jungle in years.
