Will you be boycotting I'm A Celeb over Nigel Farage - vote in our poll

15 November 2023 , 14:10

817     0

Nigel Farage will star in this year's series of I’m A Celebrity

I’m A Celebrity fans are threatening to boycott the ITV show over the controversial decision to invite Nigel Farage into the Australian jungle - and we want to know what YOU think.

Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly will welcome the former UKIP and Brexit Party leader into the camp, along with the celebrities, on Sunday, November 19 - but Farage’s inclusion has left many enraged. Campaign group Best for Britain is urging the public to boycott the show, in a bid to remove the GB News presenter from the line-up.

Since launching the campaign, more than 1,000 people have written to ITV to protest against the call. Naomi Smith, CEO of Best for Britain, said: "While the thought of Farage mingling with other creepy-crawlies may seem appropriate, anything that normalises or amplifies his toxic views must be opposed.

"After a weekend that saw police injured at the hands of a far-right mob, and after years of his politics poisoning our society, we want the public to send a clear message to Ant and Dec, ITV and the media at large, that giving a divisive populist like Farage a nightly primetime platform is not good for our country."

"The decision to pay Nigel Farage £1.5m (the highest anyone has been paid to appear on the show) is completely incompatible with ITV’s values and goals," added the Best for Britain website. Farage has been accused of racism, sexism and xenophobia over the course of his career which has rattled viewers of the ITV show.

Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade

On Monday (November 13), I’m A Celebrity shared a video on X which revealed the 2023 campmates, but many users criticised Farage being on the show. Responding to the post, one user vented: "There’s some fantastic people on the line up but it’s overshadowed. I am appalled at the platform and presenters. The hatred whipped up by farage and his friends has seen increases in hate crime across our country. Disgusted."

Another echoed: "Shame on you @ITV @imacelebrity for putting Farage in there. Someone who has incited so much hate and division should not be given a platform." Meanwhile, the hashtag #BoycottImACeleb is currently trending, with comments including: "Hancock was bad enough but I can't even look at Farage. Do itv realise how many viewers they will lose with this decision #BoycottImACeleb."

ITV has now responded to the backlash, saying in a statement: "I’m A Celebrity has always featured a diverse cast from all areas of public life and has a history of featuring political figures throughout its 20 years on screen. As with any camp mate, viewers are invited to form their own opinions when the show begins on Sunday." Following the announcement, we want to know if YOU will be boycotting I’m A Celebrity. Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

The Mirror will also be discussing the topic with you in the comments section below and you can join in! All you have to do is sign up, submit your comment, register your details and then you can take part.

Freya Hodgson