'Nigel Farage wants to become next reality TV star - it will be hard to stomach'

18 November 2023 , 15:42

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Nigel Farage on I'm a Celebrity (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

As if there isn’t enough bad stuff going on in the world right now, tonight Nigel Farage will be in my living room.

Well, not literally. I didn’t invite him over. But TV bosses at I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! have thrown him on to our screens, presumably hoping the nation wants nothing more than to see the loudmouth Brexiteer swallow a sheep’s testicle or kangaroo anus.

Fans have already threatened to boycott the show, accusing ITV of a tone deaf decision to sign up the slippery former UKIP politician. And who can blame them? The 59-year-old GB News host, who is reportedly trousering £1.5million for the appearance, is known for his right-wing stance, having long been accused of spewing fascist, anti-Semitic and ­xenophobic views.

Never mind the vomit-inducing Bushtucker Trials, it’s Farage who is going to be hard to stomach. It’s a cynical bid to boost ratings to give publicity to such a deeply divisive figure. Why give him such a big platform?

I’m A Celeb has already launched the reality show career of former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who used the show for a post-Covid PR image overhaul. What’s next, Boris on Bake Off? Suella does Strictly? Is no TV show sacred any more? This is not what primetime entertainment telly should be doing. For over 20 years, I’m A Celeb has been the biggest autumn show on the box, bringing silliness and laughs to our screens from the Australian jungle just as the weather turns cold.

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Viewers want comic relief, squabbles over snoring and beans – a distraction from everyday life. We want to enjoy this mildly disgusting, ridiculous show as a united community. We do not want to be confronted with antagonistic politicians with a reputation to repair.

Nauseatingly, Farage is currently the bookies’ fourth-favourite to win. He’ll be voted for every awful trial, giving him more airtime and exposure. And there will, by the law of averages, be moments when he is funny, or helpful or, dare I say it, charming… and that’s the danger.

Before we know it, just because he emptied the dunny, won a star and bantered with Ant and Dec, he’s a popular panel show guest, spouting his views on every sofa in town, with a book out by Christmas and a spot on Celebrity MasterChef. Like many, if I watch at all, I’ll have one finger poised over the “off” button. But just think of those poor other campmates. They signed up to be stuck in the jungle with snakes and creepy crawlies… they could never have imagined this.

Sara Wallis