It’s that time of year again when Ant and Decs faces are gracing our TV screens again for a brand-new season of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. This year has a decent array of famous (ish) faces such as Marvin from JLS, Fred off first dates and Britney Spears’ sister but, the one name on everyone’s lips seems to be that of former UKIP leader Nigel Farage. ITV seems to be making a habit of having controversial political figures feature on I’m a Celeb. The addition of Matt Hancock to last year’s lineup certainly raised a few eyebrows, even more so when he managed to come in 3rd place. The inclusion of these politicians certainly gets people talking but is giving such controversial figures a spot on one of the countries biggest and most loved TV shows such a good idea.
Mr. Farge has reportability been paid £1.5 million for his adventures in the jungle. ITV seems to have no problem funding Nigel’s possible return to politics or at the very least his beloved European holidays. For those of us who don’t indulge in the high-quality content of GB News thought we’d seen the last of ‘The Man Behind Brexit’ but like a cold sore in the winter he’s come back round again. But why is Nigel Farage so controversial and why do many think ITV are wrong for re-introducing him onto the nations teles. Farage is known for his very strong nationalist political stance with strict views on immigration and of course his defense of misogyny, homophobia, and xenophobia. He’s said some pretty questionable stuff throughout the years such as telling women who breastfeed in public to ‘sit in the corner’, defending the use of slurs against Chinese and Romanian people, and blaming basically any problem the county has on immigration.
Although ITV are going to drown him in cockroaches and make him eat animal genitals, they are still giving him a platform to showcase the so called ‘real him’. Other than the 1 and a half million quid he’s been so generously offered, I’m sure he is using the show to give him a much-needed popularity boost. I fear some will feel sorry for him or begin to view him as some ‘funny sound bloke’ all because he comes across somewhat charismatic on a reality tv show. His controversial history of a whole manner of vile things cannot simply be ignored for a few cheap laughs, even if they are at his expense. No matter how many targeted jokes Ant and Dec continue to make it does not erase the potential repercussions of platforming such a divisive figure who will go on to support him after the show has finished. ITV amplifying voices like Nigel Farage’s could be harmful to so many marginalized groups and paints the picture that no matter what horrid things you support you can still land a place on Britian’s favorite show.