Nigel Farage is giving “very serious consideration” to an offer to join the lineup of I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!
The former leader of Ukip and the Brexit party has been courted by the ITV show several times in the past, but previously ruled out an appearance, saying the reality show was “humiliating”.
However, he may be tempted by the size of the fee being floated. Farage, a controversial public figure, is likely to attract large numbers of viewers and publicity for the programme.
During his GB News show on Monday, he said: “Several times since 2016 I’ve had I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! from ITV saying to me: ‘Come into the jungle’.
“And they’ve always offered me really quite substantial sums of money to do so, and I have always thought, ‘No, it’s probably not the right thing for me to do.’”
Farage said the show had approached him again this year but “unlike previous years” he was “giving it very, very serious consideration”.
He said he felt there were “downsides” to him doing the show but said he would give an “absolute definitive answer within the next 48 hours”.
A spokesperson for the programme said: “Any names suggested for I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! are just speculation. We’ll announce our lineup in due course.”
Contestants for the programme are customarily revealed shortly before the start of the series, which is hosted by Ant and Dec and filmed in Australia. The 2023 series is expected to begin airing later this year.
Last year, the former health secretary Matt Hancock was paid £320,000 for his appearance on I’m a Celebrity. The politician, who was forced to resign from the government for breaking Covid rules, donated 3% of the fee to charity, according to the register of MPs’ financial interests.
Other politicians, ex-politicians and relatives of politicians to star on the show include Nadine Dorries, who was censured by the parliamentary standards committee for failing to declare her fee for appearing in 2012; Edwina Currie, who appeared in 2014; and Stanley Johnson, Boris Johnson’s father, who appeared in 2017.
Farage’s possible inclusion in the next series is reportedly being negotiated by the Visionary Talent Agency. The company, which represented Georgia Toffolo, the 2017 winner of I’m a Celebrity, has been contacted for comment.
Last year, Farage confirmed he had been approached several times by I’m a Celebrity. “I’ve always ruled it out. I’ve never thought it would be a good thing to do,” he said on his GB News show.
“I thought it’s all rather humiliating, frankly. But I suppose you can never ever say never.”
Gawain Towler, a friend and former colleague of Farage, said: “My feeling is he’ll do it, and he’ll be good. He won’t whinge and whine, he’s game for a laugh, he’s not squeamish and he doesn’t take himself too seriously. People will warm to him.”
This year’s lineup is also rumoured to include Frankie Dettori, the former champion jockey, Josie Gibson, presenter of This Morning and Fred Sirieix of First Dates.
Hancock’s appearance last year infuriated some, who said his participation made him unable to represent his constituents as an MP.
As a result of the appearance, he lost the Tory whip. The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said he was “disappointed” at Hancock’s decision to travel to Australia.
Hancock finished in third place.
