I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! returned for the 2023 series on Sunday, November 19, but some ITV viewers were left threatening to boycott the show just minutes after it started. In fact, the hashtag #BoycottImACeleb is currently trending on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.
The anger is directed at former politician Nigel Farage, with his inclusion in the ITV series proving massively controversial for many who have slammed show bosses for giving him a platform. The former leader of UKIP and MEP is taking part in the series alongside Britney Spears' sister Jamie Lynn Spears, This Morning presenter Josie Gibson, First Dates star Fred Sirieix, and YouTuber Nella Rose.
As well as Made in Chelsea's Sam Thompson, food critic Grace Dent, JLS singer and presenter Marvin Humes, Danielle Harold, who is best known for EastEnders, and Hollyoaks Icon Nick Pickard. You can see the line-up in full here.
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I'm A Celebrity viewers were further annoyed when it was announced Nigel would be exempt from some trials on medical grounds and reports that he's being paid £1.5 million to take part haven't helped things either.
One viewer wrote: "@ITV @imacelebrity you should be utterly ashamed of yourself for bringing in and paying an obscene amount of money to the disgusting and vile human being @Nigel_Farage. Shame on you! #itv #ImACeleb #disgraceful #belowthebelt."
While another added: "Every year, about this time, I’ll crack open the Quality Street and settle in for 3 weeks of the only reality TV show I don’t actively hate: #ImACelebrity. Putting Hancock in last year was a terrible move. But Farage is beyond the pale. I’m not watching it."
Just minutes into the show, presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly appeared to confront the backlash head-on as they made a savage dig at Nigel, who is also a presenter on GB News. Speaking to viewers at home, Dec said: "There's the man who's got everyone talking. Nigel Farage," before Ant interjected: "Nigel now, not just known for his controversial political career, he's also got his own show on GB News."
"Now of course, he won't be presenting that show over the next three weeks. So we'd like to take this opportunity to apologise to all of GB News viewers," Dec continued, before Ant then stepped in and quipped directly to the camera: "Sorry Keith, sorry Linda." You can read more on this here.
It comes after Ant and Dec faced backlash last week over the decision to let the controversial former politician fly out to the jungle, with some fans threatening to boycott the show before it even began, reports The Mirror.
ITV responded to the backlash at the time by telling the publication a statement: "I’m A Celebrity has always featured a diverse cast from all areas of public life and has a history of featuring political figures throughout its 20 years on screen. As with any campmate, viewers are invited to form their own opinions when the show begins on Sunday." For more showbiz and television stories, get our newsletter here.
