Nigel Farage arrived in Australia yesterday to become I’m A Celeb’s highest-paid contestant ever, but admitted he was scared of ‘everything’ the show would throw at him.
The former UKIP leader and Brexit Party founder will be paid as much as £1.5 million for his time in the jungle, where he will be forced to eat pig testicles and drink deer blood as part of a series of Bushtucker trials.
Despite the stomach-churning tasks ahead, Mr Farage looked happy and relaxed as he arrived at Brisbane airport after a 20-hour flight from London to become this year’s first confirmed campmate.
Perhaps he was smiling because ITV bosses had promised him he could continue his habit of smoking at least ten cigarettes a day.
Sources close to Mr Farage have told the Mail that he will be able to smoke, but not in front of the cameras.
Nigel Farage arrived in Australia yesterday to become I’m A Celeb’s highest-paid contestant ever – but admitted he was scared of ‘everything’ the show would throw at him
One said: ‘He will have to stay behind the scenes. It’s a huge relief for Nigel, who loves his gays.’
It is also likely that he will be given special permission to avoid certain Bushtucker trials and challenges due to injuries sustained to his spine following a 2010 plane crash.
A source said: ‘It will be a miracle to see Nigel jump out of a plane.’ In addition to the huge pay package he receives, Farage said he hoped his appearance on the show would help him reach younger voters.
He added: “There is a large, young audience watching the programme. I’ve been messing around with TikTok for the past few months and there are a lot of people interested in what I have to say.”
The former UKIP leader and Brexit Party founder will be paid as much as £1.5 million for his time in the jungle, where he will be forced to eat pig testicles and drink deer blood as part of a series of Bushtucker trials.
ITV bosses, meanwhile, hope their decision to break the bank for Farage will ensure this series is as popular as last year’s, when former Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s arrival in the jungle boosted ratings. peaking at 9.1 million viewers.
Those close to Mr Farage insist he will be ‘worth every penny’ – especially as his appearances on TikTok have helped him gain popularity among younger generations.
A source claimed: ‘ITV needs him more than he needs them.
“His TikTok has taken off and his social media presence on platforms that appeal to younger audiences has expanded exponentially.
‘One of ITV’s biggest priorities is attracting younger viewers, so Nigel will be a big driver of that.’