We have Ant and Dec to blame for Nigel Farage being on I’m A Celebrity

Nigel Farage has shared an old clip of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly throwing their support behind him being cast.

The former UKIP leader is currently in Australia preparing for his stint in the jungle alongside other famous faces including Josie Gibson, Sam Thompson, and Jamie Lynn Spears.

But his casting has been met with significant backlash, with some even calling for a boycott of the series.

Many have also called on the hosts, who have fronted the series since it premiered back in 2002, to address people’s anger at Farage, 59, being part of the line-up.

While they’ve yet to comment, Farage has instead posted a video on social media in which the pair actually reveal they’d like him to take part.

Last year the hosts regularly held live video chats with fans to discuss what had been playing out on the show and to get their opinions on what they were watching.

I’m A Celebrity hosts Ant and Dec actually backed Nigel Farage joining the reality series (Picture: ITV)

One of them included a fan suggesting that Farage should be cast for the next season.

Reading out the message they’d been sent, Dec said: ‘Dan says Nigel Farage.’

He then turned to his co-host, who replied: ‘Dan that is a very very good idea. Very good idea.’

Dec then said he would ‘like to see that’.

Re-sharing the video this week, Farage posted a side eye emoji, tagging the pair and writing: ‘Give the people what they want!’

An old clip shows them saying his casting would be a ‘very good idea’ (Picture: ITV/Charlie Sperring/Shutterstock)

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.

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!’

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

Metro.co.uk has contacted ITV for comment.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2023 starts on November 19 on ITV1 and ITVX.

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‘Give the people what they want!’