Entertainment

Nigel Farage finishes third on I’m A Celebrity – as winner announced

Nigel Farage has finished in third place in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

The former UKIP and Brexit Party leader, 59, was reportedly paid up to £1.5m for his appearance in the jungle.

GB News presenter Mr Farage joked he was “now a remainer” when he made it to the final alongside former professional boxer Tony Bellew and reality star and radio presenter Sam Thompson.

After presenters, Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, delivered the news of his third place finish, Mr Farage said: “Thank you very much,” and told his fellow finalists: “Well done boys.”

He told Ant and Dec he was “absolutely thrilled” to make it to the final, admitting: “Not everyone likes the stuff I’ve campaigned for and stood for over the years.”

But he added: “I’m a human being like anyone else and I hope this programme has shown I’m as human as anyone else.”

During his 23 days in the jungle, Mr Farage clashed with campmates Fred Sirieix, a star of reality television series First Dates, and YouTuber Nella Rose, over his political views, and tucked into a pizza topped with four different animal penises in his first bushtucker trial.

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Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
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Pic: ITV/Shutterstock

After he was confirmed as one of this year’s contestants, he said he would survive well as he is “used to dealing with snakes and other horrible reptiles” – both in the European Parliament in Brussels and at Westminster.

He made his debut by sticking his head through the window of a campervan filled with snakes and rummaging around in gunk.

Mr Farage was introduced in the first episode saying: “I’m known for politics, for Brexit, and I’m a hero to some people and an absolute villain to millions.

“In the jungle you’re going to find the real me. You might like me more, you might dislike me more, but you will at least find out.”

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In his final bushtucker trial, Mr Farage was locked in the “panic pit” – an underground metal box filled with snakes.

He joked: “Lots of people would like the snake to strangle me, I suppose, their dream might come true.”

Mr Farage has matched the third place finish of former health secretary Matt Hancock, whose controversial involvement in last year’s show became the second most complained-about TV event of last year, according to Ofcom.

Ex-Conservative MP and former culture secretary Nadine Dorries took part in the 2012 show – but was the first celebrity to be voted out.

Other politicians who have entered the jungle include former Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik and former Scottish Labour Party leader Kezia Dugdale.

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