Content warning: This article mentions suicide and mental health struggles. Help is always available. If you, or someone you know needs support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or go to their website. You can also contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or visit their website.
Luke Bateman has signed up for a jungle adventure on the 2026 series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Australia.
The former rugby league player, 30, was the first celebrity confirmed by Channel 10 to be among the cast for the 2026 season.
“I’m very excited to see what Robert [Irwin] and Julia [Morris] have cooked up for me,” he said in a video announcement.
“I can’t wait.”
As well as being a sportsman, you may recognise Luke from his previous reality TV fame, having been cast on The Bachelor in 2023.
Scroll on for everything you need to know about the “Rugby League Romeo”.
Was Luke Bateman on The Bachelor?
Yes! Luke was The Bachelor on the final Australian series before Channel 10 cancelled the show the following year.
He made his reality TV debut as one of three bachelors on the 11th series after retiring from the NRL.
Luke courted a whole host of potential suitors before ultimately choosing beauty therapist Ellie Rolfe at the end of the show.
“I once told you that I’ve only ever felt this way towards someone twice in my life, I now realise that was a lie,” Luke told her during the final vows.
“Ellie, I’ve never felt the way I do for you, for anyone else.”
Are Ellie Rolfe and Luke Bateman still together?
No, Luke and Ellie went their separate ways in March 2024 after dating for more than six months.
“Ellie and I have separated and would like to keep our relationship private,” Luke told Yahoo! Lifestyle at the time.
Ellie has a soul that lights up every room she walks into and I will sorely miss it in my life.”
Fans noticed they had unfollowed each other on social media the month before, and deleted all photographs of them together from their respective pages.
Why did Luke Bateman retire?
Luke played 71 NRL games for the Canberra Raiders between 2015 until 2019.
Then, at 27 years old, Luke decided to retire after battling a knee injury and mental health issues.
He had been contracted to the club for the 2020 season but decided to terminate his contract early.
“It’s been a frustrating period for me with injury and with my contract up at the end of the season and uncertainty about what my future may look like, I’ve decided to finish up with the Raiders and head home and work for a while and get away from footy for a bit,” he said.
“I’m not retiring from the game and I hope to play again in the future, but at the moment this is the best decision for me.”
He has since opened up about struggling with a gambling addiction at the height of his sporting success.
“It was horrible,” he told news.com.au in January 2026. “I was at the point of suicide. I was at the end of the tracks and I had no hope left.
“When I was in that place, I caused a lot of pain for my loved ones, my family.”
He admitted he wouldn’t wish it upon his “worst enemy”, and said seeking out help “saved his life”.
What does Luke Bateman do now?
Since stepping back from the NRL, Luke has taken a major career change and entered the online book community.
He has become a social media sensation with his reviews of popular romance and fantasy novels.
Luke has amassed more than 400,000 followers on TikTok and has reviewed popular releases, including The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Heated Rivalry.
He also has a podcast, In the Good Books, where he discusses his thoughts on a range of books and speaks to other readers.
Did Luke Bateman get a book deal?
In May 2025, Luke secured a book deal of his own, and is gearing up to release his first ever fantasy series.
He was signed by Simon & Schuster’s branch Atria Books Australia, and his series is expected to land in 2027.
Why has BookTok turned on creator Luke Bateman?
His book deal led to a very divided reaction on BookTok, as many questioned how he had secured the contract.
Some fans questioned how he had secured a two-book deal with no prior writing experience, citing his public profile.
However, other fans were quick to jump to Luke’s defence, pointing out that he has long shown an interest in books and writing.
In response to the backlash, Luke acknowledged that he had “advantages” compared to other people in the industry.
“I can wholeheartedly understand how angry and resentful these things would make people,” he said, according to Marie Claire Australia.
“I obviously have advantages that other people don’t, how do I capitalise on those to help lift everyone up?
“Dragging everyone down leaves everyone at the bottom, whereas a rising tide lifts all ships.”
