Jungle-dwelling Nigel Farage insists his experience in Parliament and the European Union will help him in his latest TV project – because he is used to “dealing with snakes”.
The GB News broadcaster and former UKIP and Brexit Party leader is believed to have paid a whopping £1.5 million for a potential three-week stay in rural Australia for the latest series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! earned.
But he admits he’s ready for whatever the jungle throws at him as he enters camp ahead of the returning show’s launch on November 19.
Farage, 59, addressed GB News viewers in a pre-recorded video on Monday, saying: “So the speculation is over, I’m going into the jungle but that’s fine because I’m used to being there with snakes and other terrible reptiles. “Brussels and here in Westminster – I am sure I can survive.”
The pint-loving former politician also revealed he was preparing for a life of enforced sobriety in the jungle by temporarily giving up alcohol and caffeine five days before flying to Australia.
Joke: Nigel Farage insists his experiences in Parliament and the European Union are the perfect training ground for I’m A Celeb – because he’s used to “dealing with snakes”.
Lucrative: The GB News broadcaster and former UKIP and Brexit Party leader is believed to be earning the princely sum of £1.5 million to appear on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! to perform!
He said: “No, there’s no alcohol in it, which I think is a pretty serious situation.”
“Equally, and funnily enough, just as important are tea and coffee. “As a little practice for the trip into the jungle, I haven’t drunk alcohol, a cup of tea or coffee for five days now.”
Farage revealed that show producers first approached him seven years ago, shortly after Britain voted to leave the European Union following a referendum which he loudly supported.
“I have been asked to go to the jungle every year since 2016. I always thought it wasn’t the right time for it,” he said.
“But I can’t do it next year because we have a general election, we have an American presidential election, so in a way I have the freedom to do it this year.”
He added: “You know, the (Brexit) referendum was a long time ago, there are a lot of young people who don’t know who I am, don’t know what I stand for.”
“This is my big chance to reach a really big young audience, which I think will be good for me and also very good for GB News. “That’s a reason to do it.”
When Farage lands in the jungle, he will be joined by a number of pop stars, actors and social media influencers, including TikTok star Nella Rose – a staunch leftist who disagrees with his right-wing political views.
Alright: But he admits he’s ready for whatever the jungle throws at him as he enters camp ahead of the returning show’s launch on November 19
A sobering experience: The beer-loving former politician also admitted he was preparing for a life of enforced abstinence in the jungle by temporarily giving up alcohol and caffeine
Hinting at a possible clash with his impending roommate, he added: “Worst nightmare?” That’s easy – there are thousands of them. “Anyone who is an aggressive complainer would be their worst nightmare.”
The broadcaster also stressed that the biggest challenge will be getting out of his comfort zone after years of living in a political bubble.
“I lived on news, numbers and information,” he said. “Getting away from it for several weeks is a really big challenge: dealing with things that are obviously scary, but you have to deal with them and get through them.”
“The advantages are apparent. They are obvious. You reach a whole new, big audience, you expose yourself in a way you haven’t done in years, you make good money from it.
“The disadvantages – look. It could be a complete car accident. A disaster. Maybe I’ll end up arguing with someone – who knows! It could be that I will be voted out in the first round, I don’t know.
He added: “But I know that things can go very wrong and you are in front of the camera 24 hours a day, seven days a week and up to 22 days while the participants are in the jungle.” Of course, a lot can happen go wrong.
“But who has ever done something worthwhile in life without taking a risk?”
I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! airs on ITV1 from November 19th at 9pm.