Robert Irwin has finally broken his silence on whether he will be continuing on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Australia on Channel Seven.
The wildlife warrior, 22, has hosted the show for three years alongside Julia Morris on Channel 10, but the news that it is moving homes has sparked much chatter around its future hosts.
There’s been no official announcement about who will be taking over, but New Idea understands that Seven is keen to keep Robert on board, while Julia won’t be returning.
Now, Robert has finally addressed the chatter in a new interview on The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick, sparking speculation that he won’t be continuing to host with a telling comment.
“There’s been so much change with I’m A Celeb, I know as much as you guys do,” Robert told host Brendan Fevola.
When pushed for an answer, Robert cryptically said it has been a “reflective” time since the news that the show was moving to Channel Seven, but refused to address his future on it.
“Well, I love it! Every single year we watch people have these life-changing experiences, but I really feel that for the first time, Julia and myself had this opportunity to look back and go, ‘Wow! What an incredible time that was’,” he shared.
“It’s been very reflective, and I don’t know what the future of the show looks like, but I will say that I was very proud when I came on board because I said we can’t eat the African wildlife, and they were great with that. As long as that continues, I’ll be a supporter of that show forever!”
With Robert due to host the TV Week Logie Awards on Channel Seven, chatter has been swirling that this is the start of his TV future on the network, with bosses said to be keen to lock him down for IAC.
However, Robert has also signed on as the host of the newly rebooted Ninja Warrior on Channel 10 with Beau Ryan and Georgie Tunny, leaving question marks over his future on IAC.
Channel Seven confirmed that they would be taking over IAC two months after the news originally broke that it was axed from Network 10.
“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with the Seven Network to unleash the next massive evolution of I’m A Celebrity… in 2027,” David Mott, ITV Studios Australia’s CEO & Managing Director, said in a statement.
“For over ten years, Australian audiences have loved this iconic show, and with terrifying trials, hilarious camp drama and heartfelt celebrity revelations, ITV Studios Australia is ready to deliver a brand-new era for the Jungle.”
Meanwhile, Angus Ross, Southern Cross Media Group’s Managing Director, Television and Streaming, added, “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! is one of the world’s most recognisable entertainment formats, and we’re incredibly excited to welcome it to Seven in 2027.”
“This is a proven franchise with a passionate fan base, and we look forward to bringing our own fresh energy and ambition to its next chapter.”
All eyes have been pointing towards Robert to host, given he has just been signed up to host the 2026 Logies and is Australia’s TV and wildlife golden boy.
According to New Idea‘s insiders, the network is looking to give the long-running format a younger, fresher feel, with Seven rushing to lock down Robert alongside another TV star.
As for Julia, she has suggested that she won’t be returning to the franchise, recently telling New Idea she was looking forward to taking a break from the show.
Our insiders say that Seven had instead been trying to bag Ricki-Lee Coulter to host alongside Robert; however, she is no longer in the running.
“Ricki-Lee was certainly someone Seven considered early on and was almost a lock,” an industry insider tells New Idea.
“She ticks a lot of boxes for the network, but her existing commitments with Australian Idol, Sydney breakfast radio and other projects have made the timing difficult.”
In a link to the IAC universe, former I’m A Celebrity host Dr Chris Brown, who helmed the show alongside Julia until 2027, signed on with Seven back in 2023. So, could he be returning to the gig?
According to multiple television insiders, Seven is now focusing on a shortlist that includes a well-known Australian actress and a popular radio personality.
Sources have signalled that Carrie Bickmore could be the radio star in the running, claiming that Seven is keen to pair Robert with another female co-host to appeal to a wider audience.
“The brief has shifted slightly,” they claim. “They’re looking for someone who feels fresh but is already loved by Australian viewers.”
Talent agents are expected to begin receiving approaches in the next week, with Seven eager to lock down Robert to continue on I’m A Celebrity without Julia, who had hosted the show for 12 years.
“Don’t be surprised if plenty of Seven stars get the call,” the source says. “Home and Away favourites, television presenters and sports personalities are all obvious targets because audiences already know them.”
Production is expected to return to South Africa, although sources say discussions are continuing over whether the series will air live or be pre-recorded.
Behind the scenes, the jungle reboot is also expected to fill the programming gap left by SAS Australia, rather than replacing The Voice Australia, which remains one of Seven’s strongest-performing entertainment franchises.
“The jungle is a recognisable brand with plenty of life left in it,” says the insider. “The challenge now is making it feel fresh for a new audience while keeping everything viewers loved about the original.”
Sources say that Julia is devastated by the turn of events, and she has signalled in recent interviews that she won’t be returning to the franchise.
Speaking to New Idea about the news at the 2026 TV Week Logie Awards nominations, Julia joked that her bank account would be getting a “rest” after the news of I’m A Celebrity‘s axing from Ten.
“I feel like I don’t know whether to be sad or whatever, but I know that whenever we go over there, we have the time of our lives,” she told us.
Speaking to our sister publication TV Week, Julia shared her sadness over the show leaving 10 and acknowledged that it may have a future on another network without her.
She said that she spoke to Robert directly after finding out the news and encouraged him to take on the opportunity if he was offered it.
“I rang him when it all went down and said: ‘I know you don’t need it, but if the show went somewhere else with someone different, I’m aware I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. Your message [of conservation] is more important than my ego, so please, go forth,” she shared.
However, she claimed that he said he wouldn’t do it without her, adding, “He’s a beautiful man, and I love him so much.”
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