He’s been paid a rumoured £1.5m to appear on this year’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here – but Nigel Farage might be questioning whether it’s enough after Monday’s show.
The former UKIP leader took part in a gruesome food challenge that saw him eat a four-penis pizza, camel udders and a cow teat in a bid to win meals for his campmates.
The broadcaster, 59, pulled a series of hilarious grimaces as he tucked into the dishes as part of the Jungle Pizzeria Bushtucker Trial alongside TikTok star Nella Rose, 26.
While some viewers may have doubted them, the unlikely pair managed to secure an impressive nine out of ten stars with Farage trying all of his dishes.
That included the ‘Quattro For-gag-io’, a four-penis pizza that had the testicles of sheep, bull, pig and crocodile as toppings on the dough.
Disgusting: He’s been paid a rumoured £1.5m to appear on this year’s I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here – but Nigel Farage might be questioning whether it’s enough after Monday’s show
Brutal: The former UKIP leader took part in a gruesome food challenge that saw him eat a four-penis pizza, camel udders and a cow teat in a bid to win meals for his campmates
He also had to eat fermented vomit fruit and fermented plums, saying: ‘Good God, is this what it’s come to?’
Nella refused to eat a Surstromming – a strong-smelling, salted and fermented sea herring – saying: ‘That smells like death, I’m not doing it.’
After watching the hilarious trial, one fan wrote on Twitter: ‘Don’t know how Nigel and Nella managed that task’
Another penned: ‘How serious Nigel’s face is when he’s trying to motivated Nella is sending me’
A third added: ‘Nigel and Nella are going to be the best of friends’
Struggling to eat the body parts which were artfully topped upon a slice of pizza, presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 48, mercilessly mocked the controversial figure.
‘It’s a bit bloody tough,’ Nigel said, forcing it into his mouth. ‘Did you prepare this yourself, guys?’
Ant and Dec said they hadn’t and Dec teased Nigel by saying: ‘It does look quite moist, quite creamy.’
Nella could be heard shouting: ‘Oh Farage, Farage! Boys, do you have to describe it in front of him while he is eating?’
It comes as no surprise that Farage has been selected to take on the first trial, because his signing caused viewers to switch off in their millions after it emerged he has received a reported £1.5million to appear – the biggest I’m A Celeb pay cheque ever.
Not a great day for Nigel: Presenters Ant and Dec mercilessly mocked the controversial figure as Nella, (left), became increasingly vocal during the hilarious scene
Gross: That included the ‘Quattro For-gag-io’, a four-penis pizza that had the testicles of sheep, bull, pig and crocodile as toppings on the dough
Sunday night’s show launched with a peak audience of 7.8 million (average 7 million), down 2.2million from the show’s launch the year before.
In 2022, the I’m A Celebrity… launch got an audience of over 10 million people at its peak – up two million from the previous year.
That was despite former health secretary, Matt Hancock being paid £400k to join the line-up, donating 3% of that fee to charity.
Last week, fans threatened to boycott the new ITV series over their ‘tone-deaf’ decision to let Farage enter the jungle.
The signing of the GB News star has proved controversial as Nigel is a famously divisive figure, who is known for his right-wing views on immigration and gender pay gaps.
Nearly 10,000 people have been using the hashtag ‘Boycott I’m A Celeb’.
Elsewhere during the episode, Farage was grilled by campmates over Brexit and was forced to defend himself during a heated discussion with First Dates’ Fred Sirieix.
‘It’s a bit bloody tough,’ Nigel said, forcing it into his mouth. ‘Did you prepare this yourself, guys?’
After watching the hilarious trial, one fan wrote on Twitter: ‘Don’t know how Nigel and Nella managed that task’
‘What’s the benefit of Brexit then? If you are an average person from Britain, what’s the benefit?’ asked Sirieix.
‘To know that we’re independent, we stand on our own two feet in the world,’ Farage responded.
Sirieix added: ‘Brexit was about immigration, I remember your poster. I thought it was shameful what you did Nigel. Shameful.’
Sirieix went on to say his campaign was about ‘demonising migrants’, to which Farage responded: ‘No it wasn’t. In your view it was, but it wasn’t.’
The First Dates star then told him that ‘the average person in the UK has lost out because of what you’ve done’, while Farage hit back: ‘They haven’t lost out.’
Speaking later in the Bush Telegraph, Farage said: ‘I knew it wouldn’t take long, I knew politics would rear its head as indeed it did. And Fred feels very strongly about it.’
Ratings: Fans have been vocal about boycotting the show over Nigel Farage’s £1.5m signing and Sunday’s launch was down 2.2million viewers from the 2022 launch
Jamie Lynn Spears, 32, said she’d made peace with older sister Britney before coming into the jungle and broke down in tears as she spoke about her teenage pregnancy.
‘I think every family fights and has their stuff but I talked to her before I came here and we love each other,’ she said during a conversation with Sirieix.
On having a baby at 16, she tearfully said: ‘I just wanted to be normal. I wanted my baby to be normal. Everybody told me I was going to be a horrible mum. So I was like I’ve got to raise this baby by myself and I did.’
She added: ‘They didn’t want me to have the baby. A lot of people around me.’
I’m A Celebrity …Get Me Out Of Here! continues Tuesday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
I’m A Celebrity 2023: Meet the campmates
NIGEL FARAGE
Claim to fame: Former leader of the UK Independence Party and leader of the Brexit Party.
Phobias: Nobody likes rats, snakes and I am dreading anything to do with heights.
Biggest misconception you want to dispel?: I have been demonised over the years and so it will be nice to show people I am not nasty.
Role in camp: Lead on starting up plenty of campfire discussions.
Aside from your family, what will you miss the most whilst in camp?: A pint in the pub and the news.
Best & worst attributes: I hope to cheer people up when they are down. Worst? I am impatient and I do snore.
Dream camper: As a controversial political media figure, I never name names… But I am looking forward to meeting interesting people from all different fields
DANIELLE HAROLD
Claim to fame: EastEnders actress.
Phobias: Rats. I hate them!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the jungle?: I can be a little ditzy at times but I am definitely not a ‘dumb blonde’. I want to show I can do the trials, challenges and get stuck in.
Role in camp: Shoulder to cry on, help others if they are feeling low in camp.
Aside from family, what will you miss most whilst in camp?: Snacking. I am a little muncher and I am going to miss my morning cup of tea, too!
Best & worst attributes: I’d like to think I will be good if people are really struggling. I am not, however, very good at being bored, nor am I a morning person either.
Dream camper: Ed Sheeran. If he brings his guitar into camp, he can sing for us.
FRED SIRIEIX
Claim to fame: First Dates star.
Phobias: I am scared of everything. I am dying to find out how vile the food will be!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the jungle?: I don’t think there is anything but I am looking forward to learning more about myself during my time in the camp.
Role in camp: I will definitely muck in with all the jobs. I don’t mind cooking or cleaning the toilets.
Aside from your family, what will you miss the most whilst in camp? My bed. It’s super comfy. I will also miss a cup of coffee in the morning.
Best & worst attributes: I like to have fun but I do snore and I am impatient!
Dream camper: It’s going to be nice to meet everyone but I’d love to see Dolly Parton, The Rock or Snoop Dog in there.
NELLA ROSE
Claim to fame: YouTuber and Catfish UK star.
Phobias: I am fearful of everything!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the jungle? I am a pretty open book.
Role in camp: Keep the morale and humour high.
Aside from your family, what will you miss the most whilst in camp? My phone… I am always on it!
Dream camper: Alison Hammond or Adele.
NICK PICKARD
Claim to fame: Hollyoaks star.
Phobias: I am a bit scared of the dark. When you go to the House of Horrors at Halloween and things jump out at you, I am not very good when I can’t see!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the jungle: It will be nice to go in as me and not as my Hollyoaks character.
Role in camp: Grafter or chef, I am quite good at cooking. But I’ve never cooked on a fire before. Aside from family, what will you miss most whilst in camp: Football and my creature comforts.
Best & worst attributes: I’d like to think I am a nice person and a good team player. I am not lazy but I do have a few bad habits like picking my nose. My girlfriend has been trying to train me to stop!
Dream camper: Sir Alex Ferguson or Neil Warnock.
JAMIE LYNN SPEARS
Claim to fame: Zoey 101 and Sweet Magnolias star.
Phobias: I am scared of everything.
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the jungle?: I think this is a nice chance to show who I really am.
Role in camp: Hopefully I will be the one who can support everyone.
Aside from family, what will you miss the most whilst in camp? A normal bathroom, air conditioning and my bed.
Best & worst attributes: I think my best quality is it takes a lot to hurt my feelings; but I am impatient and my family would say I get in a bad mood a lot.
Dream camper: Nicole Kidman, she is my favourite actress in the whole wide world, or Reece Witherspoon.
SAM THOMPSON
Claim to fame: Made In Chelsea star and radio presenter.
Phobias: I am not a creepy crawly guy and I hate anyone or anything touching my neck.
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the jungle?: Since the age of 21, I’ve spent my whole life on TV and so I feel whether people have a good or bad opinion of me, it’s probably warranted!
Role in camp: I’m a ‘yes’ man so cooking, cleaning I will do whatever they want me to do.
Aside from family, what will you miss most whilst in camp?: I know this sounds lame but gaming.
Best & worst attributes: I’d like to think I am the court jester and I don’t take things too seriously, so if anyone is having a bad day I would like to put a smile on their face. Worst? I am quite forgetful and I am bad at focusing on things.
Dream camper: Stephen Fry. I think I would self-combust if he was going in the jungle!
JOSIE GIBSON
Claim to fame: This Morning presenter.
Phobias: Insects and I freeze every time I see a spider and I am not sure what I am going to do if I am in a trial with them!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the jungle?: I would like people to know I am very clever at knowing useless information!
Role in camp: Mum. I am very motherly and I also love chatting to people.
Aside from family, what will you miss most whilst in camp?: Getting up to blow dry my hair and putting a bit of make-up on!
Best & worst attributes: I am an optimist and I love meeting people from all walks of life. Worst? I can be quite nosey and I am worried about my temper if I am too hungry.
Dream camper: Dawn French, I love her.
MARVIN HUMES
Claim to fame: JLS star.
Phobias: Heights. I have pulled out of a skydive with JLS in the past because I was too scared!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the jungle: To show I am not just a member of a boy band. It will be nice for people to learn more about me.
Role in camp: I’d like to think I will be a shoulder to cry on and a mediator.
Aside from family, what will you miss most whilst in camp?: My fantasy football app! I am obsessed with it! Four weeks without music is a long time, too.
Best & worst attributes: I’ve got three children under the age of ten and you definitely need a lot of patience for that! Worst? Rochelle would probably say I get ‘hangry’ if I don’t have enough food.
Dream camper: Paddy McGuinness – I’ve done Soccer Aid with him before and I know he’s funny, he gets stuck in and he is hands on.
GRACE DENT
Claim to fame: MasterChef star and food critic.
Phobias: Horrible people.
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the jungle: People think I am quite forthright and scary but I don’t think I am scary! Hopefully people will see this.
Role in camp: Shoulder to cry on and I am a practical cook so I can help out.
Aside from your family, what will you miss the most whilst in camp? My three cats and my make-up bag. I love a bit of glamour.
Best & worst attributes: I would like to think I am funny! My worst quality is lack of sleep. I like my sleep.
Dream camper: Queen Camilla. She would be very practical. And Madonna – she could perform tracks from her Greatest Hits tour!
