Lorraine Kelly sparks backlash after ‘below the belt’ jibe about TV star

Lorraine Kelly has been slammed after making a comment about Nigel Farage’s face.

The former UKIP leader is currently one of the famous faces appearing on the latest season of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!

Since being announced as part of the line-up, his casting has been met with significant backlash, with some even calling for a boycott of the series.

But now a comment by presenter Lorraine, 63, has seen many people rushing to defend him.

During Tuesday’s show, the host was speaking about the latest episode of the reality TV series when she mentioned how This Morning star Josie Gibson got more than she bargained for when stumbling across Farage in the shower and seeing his bare bum.

Chatting to former politician and campmate Edwina Currie about why Farage had signed up for the show, she explained that he likely thought he could ‘enhance his reputation’.

Lorraine Kelly has been slammed for making a ‘below the belt’ comment about Nigel Farage (Picture: ITV)

‘What’s he in for? I think he is in there because he thinks he can enhance his reputation and be seen as a responsible and intelligent and worthy person of some kind or other and pherhaps…he’s only what…59?’ Currie said.

‘He’s got plenty of years ahead of him.’

However, Lorraine jumped in and was clearly shocked by Farage’s age, exclaiming; ‘Oh, is he?’

Reporter Lucie Cave was shocked by what was said (Picture: ITV)

‘Is he only 59? I thought he was a hell of a lot older than that. That’s astonishing,’ she said.

‘That shows you that you get the face you deserve.’

‘You really do,’ she added, as showbiz reporter Lucie Cave burst out laughing in shock.

Farage is one of the famous faces starring on this season of I’m A Celebrity (Picture: James Gourley/ ITV/ Shutterstock)

While Lorraine continued on the conversation, her comment was slammed by many viewers.

‘I’m not fan of Nigel but Lorraine that comment was below the belt. You never would say that about a woman,’ one person posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Others called it ‘childish behaviour’, ‘double standards’ and accused her of ‘body shaming’.

Meanwhile another viewer urged her to ‘be kind’.

There were some people who did see the funny side of Lorraine’s comment, with one calling it a ‘little gem’ and another sharing they found the ‘savage’ comment hilarious.

Following in the footsteps of former health secretary Matt Hancock, Farage is set to become the highest-paid campmate ever after reportedly negotiating a £1.5 million deal for his appearance.

The former politician’s casting was met with backlash (Picture: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

Ahead of entering camp, the former politician said he believed ‘millions of people’ hated him and was also expecting a ‘frosty’ reception from some of his campmates.

Reflecting on why he thought viewers would vote for him, he said: ‘Given millions hate me, I do expect people will vote for me to do trials!’

Amongst his controversial comments, Farage has said in the past who could migrate to the UK are: ‘People who do not have HIV, to be frank. That’s a good start. And people with a skill.’

He went on to say that he believed he’d been ‘a little bit demonised’ over the years but was hoping those who have strong feelings might warm to him a little during his appearance on the reality series.

I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! continues tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

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‘This is childish behaviour.’