Nigel Farage is in final stage talks about going into the I’m A Celebrity jungle. Despite reports, he told us he’s still not “100% confirmed” but is talking with lawyers and drawing up a contract reportedly worth £1 million. “I’ve got a big decision to make, haven’t I?” he said.
Does the prospect of eating kangaroo testicles and lying in a coffin full of cockroaches daunt him? “Not particularly, no. No more than anybody else,” he said airily. Nor does he have any phobias, “although I do struggle a bit with Remoaners,” he quipped. Har har. “I think the worst thing would be not having any access to news,” he added. What will become of his GB News show? “Perhaps I’d better talk to them as well!”
Farage is the channel’s most popular presenter and hosts a programme four evenings a week. But GBN has former prime minister Boris Johnson coming in soon. Maybe he could take the slot? "That will be up to them, not me." The only real problem in the jungle will be a lack of ciggies. Cold Turkey? “I expect so.”
He may be hoping to do one better than Matt Hancock, who came third in the last season of the show. The former health secretary was paid £320,000 for his stint in the jungle, so Farage is shaping up to receive triple the fee of his political foe, if reports are correct. Farage has previously called Hancock a "pipsqueak".
Will Farage, who reckons he will be leader of the Tories by 2026, be able to win over the voting public? “See what happens!”
The new series starts on Sunday 19th November.
