Nigel Farage says it was 'worth the gamble' despite I'm A Celeb losing viewers
Nigel Farage has defended his stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! following the ITV series' final losing millions of viewers compared to last year's concluding episode.
ITV bosses have possibly been left wondering if booking another controversial political figure was worth the hassle, thanks to fans seemingly boycotting this year's series due to Farage's inclusion on the star-studded line-up.
Sunday night's big finale attracted 3.6million fewer viewers compared to last year's viewership, with many pointing the blame at Farage for fans failing to tune in to see Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson crowned King of the Jungle. But former UKIP leader Farage is adamant it was a good idea for him to appear on the reality TV show.
Farage has made various TV appearances since coming out of the jungle (ITV)The GB News host, 59, landed just over a quarter of the votes to win, with 25.78% while Sam Thompson gained 56.64% and Tony - 43.36%. He managed to come in third place, losing out to runner-up Tony Bellew and eventual winner Sam Thompson. Farage claims that his close pals and political figures warned him to not appear on the reality star as it would 'demean' him.
The former Brexit Party leader revealed some of them even advised him to turn back on his decision. However, Farage now says it was 'worth the gamble.' Returning to GB News studio on Wednesday, December 13, to discuss PM Sunak's Rwanda Bill and his three-week in the jungle.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
Farage - who was reportedly paid £1.5million to appear on the ITV show, shared: "A lot of people said to me, don't do it, it'll be a disaster. It'll demean you. People will never look at you seriously again. I said to them all ‘Don't be such stuffed shirts.’ I think it is worth the gamble and people will see who I really am, as opposed to who they think, perhaps I am."
Discussing a survery by JL Partners that claims Farage boasts a net popularity rating of 18 with 2019 Conservative backers compared to Rishi Sunak who scored minus four, the I'm A Celebrity star said: "I'm stunned by the numbers. I mean, that is an extraordinary shift in polling terms. And to sit here and think I’m 21% more popular with Conservative 2019 voters than the Conservative Prime Minister, and I’ve not even been a member of their party since 1992, it's remarkable. I'm flattered by it.
"It shows, partly, just how much trouble they're in. I think what it also shows is people want political figures, thought leaders, to be approachable human beings, with all their flaws, and I've got a couple of those, as opposed to this sort of political class of almost non entities. I'm thrilled and it absolutely backs up my decision to go and do it."
Farage embraced his secret French girlfriend on the I'm A Celebrity bridge after his elimination on Sunday. He insisted he was thrilled with being third and hoped he had changed some of the public's opinion of him. During his chat with Ant and Dec, he said: "I came into it with a positive attitude. I haven't done anything like camping since I was a teenager.
"But I was going to be 60 next birthday and getting to the stage where I wouldn't be able to do it. It is very physical, carrying the a water up the hill. So I threw myself into everything 100%." The 59-year-old Brexit campaigner is reportedly one of the highest paid contestants ever to appear on the show, managed 23 days in camp.
When asked if he was surprised to come third, he added: "I'm not surprised, I am absolutely thrilled. Not everyone likes the stuff I campaigned for over the years. But I hope this show has shown I am as human as anybody," he said. "I threw myself into camp life 100%. If you asked me would I do it again, I think I probably would. Obviously there were people there who took different views to me on Brexit but I think I managed to persuade them to respect other opinions. The other candidates respected my point of view.
Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on , , , , and .
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
