Channel 10 has lifted the curtain on two more names heading into the jungle for the next season of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, and one reveal is already turning heads.
The network has confirmed international supermodel Rachel Hunter and former Essendon captain Dyson Heppell will join the 2026 cast, adding serious star power from both the entertainment world and Australian sport.
Both contestants will make their first jungle appearance alongside Luke Bateman and several other well-known faces when the new season premieres tonight at 7pm on Channel 10.
Rachel Hunter: A 90s icon enters the jungle
For weeks, Channel 10 teased the arrival of an “international supermodel” — and now the name behind the clues is official.
Rachel Hunter, one of the most recognisable modelling figures of the 1990s, is heading into the Australian jungle.
Born in New Zealand, Hunter rose to global fame during the peak of the supermodel era, appearing on the covers of some of the world’s biggest magazines. Her work included high-profile spreads for Sports Illustrated, Cosmopolitan and Vogue, cementing her status as an international fashion icon.
Why Rachel Hunter Still Draws Public Interest
Beyond her modelling success, Hunter has remained a subject of public fascination due to her past relationship with singer Rod Stewart.
The pair married in 1990 and welcomed two children together before separating eight years later. Stewart is 24 years older than Hunter, a detail that continues to attract attention decades on.
Speaking earlier this week, Hunter acknowledged that public curiosity around her former marriage hasn’t faded — but said it’s not something she enjoys revisiting repeatedly.
She explained that while they once shared a happy marriage, both have long since moved on with their lives.
Respectful Boundaries Around a High-Profile Past
Hunter also made it clear she prefers to keep details of her previous marriage private, particularly out of respect for the wider family involved.
Stewart, now 81, is married to his third wife, Penny Lancaster. Together, they share two children, bringing his total number of children to eight across all relationships.
Hunter noted that the extended family remains close, including all the mothers, and said she chooses not to comment further as a matter of respect.
It’s a measured approach that reflects the tone she’s bringing into the jungle — open, but guarded.
A Career That Reaches Beyond the Runway
While many Australians know Hunter for her modelling years, her career didn’t stop with magazine covers.
She has appeared in a range of television shows over the years, including The Drew Carey Show, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, and the British comedy classic The Vicar of Dibley.
Her screen work has helped her remain a familiar name well beyond the fashion world, particularly among international audiences.
The Music Video That Became a Pop Culture Moment
One of Hunter’s most unexpected career moments came in 2003, when she appeared in the music video for Stacy’s Mom by Fountains of Wayne.
The clip quickly became one of the most recognisable music videos of the era, replayed endlessly on music television and later online.
Hunter later revealed she never anticipated how big the song — or the video — would become.
She said she accepted the role without fully understanding the lyrics and only grasped the song’s meaning after it was released, a realisation she described with laughter.
An AFL Favourite Steps Into a Very Different Arena
Joining Hunter in the jungle is Dyson Heppell, a familiar name to Australian sports fans.
Heppell played more than 250 AFL games for Essendon before retiring in 2024, building a reputation as both a leader on the field and a respected figure off it.
At 33, the former captain is stepping away from the structured world of professional football and into one of Australia’s most unpredictable reality TV environments.
Why Dyson Heppell Said Yes to the Jungle
Asked about his decision to join I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, Heppell said the experience appealed for simple reasons.
He explained that he wanted to meet new people, challenge himself, and enjoy time away from constant phone use.
For someone used to high-performance routines and packed schedules, the jungle offers a rare chance to disconnect — even if it comes with snakes, hunger and sleep deprivation.
A Different Side of a Familiar Footy Figure
Among fans and former teammates, Heppell is widely regarded as a “top bloke.” But even he admits the jungle could bring out a side Australians haven’t seen before.
He joked that hunger and lack of sleep might push him into unfamiliar territory, warning that going quiet could be a sign he’s close to snapping.
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It’s that mix of self-awareness and humour that could make him one of the season’s more relatable contestants.
What to Expect From the Season Opener
Hunter and Heppell will enter the jungle during tonight’s season-opening episode, alongside Luke Bateman and other celebrity arrivals yet to be fully revealed.
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The premiere airs at 7pm on Sunday, January 18, on Channel 10.
With a blend of international fame and Australian sporting credibility, the early cast announcements suggest Channel 10 is aiming for a season that balances nostalgia, personality and genuine curiosity.
Why This Season Already Feels Different
Casting a 90s supermodel alongside a recently retired AFL leader signals a deliberate mix of global recognition and local connection.
For Australian viewers, it creates a familiar yet unpredictable lineup — one that invites both entertainment value and human moments under pressure.
As the jungle doors open, all eyes will be on how these well-known faces adapt when comfort, control and reputation are stripped away.
And judging by the early reveals, this season is already shaping up to be one worth watching.
I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! premieres Sunday, January 18 at 7pm on Channel 10.