Nigel Farage ‘I’m A Celeb’ stint a ‘ticking time bomb’

Nigel Farage “a ticking time bomb” in I’m A Celeb! Camp, according to a behavioural psychologist.

Expert issues warning about Farage just 24 hours in, saying his performance “won’t make any difference” to how the public views him. Following Sunday’s opening episode of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings has declared that it is just a matter of time until Nigel Farage “explodes”.

Speaking on behalf of William Hill Vegas, Jo Hemmings:

“There will be a ticking time bomb moment where someone will ask Nigel Farage his real views and he’ll explode. He’s said he wants to show viewers the real him – but what does the real him really look like?

“It’s only a matter of time until there’s a campfire conversation – instigated by someone a little older who’s more aware of his extreme views over the years, like Grace Dent or Fred Sirieix – when someone attempts to dig a bit deeper on his opinions. It will be really interesting to see if he will be guarded, or if he’ll let something slip – and chances are, if he does, it won’t serve him well.”

Farage is liked by just 1% of the public. Like Matt Hancock, “we want to punish him at every opportunity” Ahead of Sunday’s launch show, William Hill Vegas analysed social conversations to uncover that Nigel Farage has received a lowly 1% positive reaction since being confirmed as a contestant – the lowest by some distance compared to his campmates.

Unsurprisingly, the bookies have seen his Outright Winner odds drift from 7/2 to 7/1 following Sunday’s launch episode. Hemmings added: “Nigel Farage is very disliked. Like Matt Hancock, we’re going to want to punish him and put him in every task.”

“Matt Hancock never baulked at any of his trials, and when everyone was throwing everything at him in trials or fireside conversations he didn’t once flinch. He came over as humble to many people. “Farage has to attempt to do the same. But with no alcohol and no cigarettes, he’s going to also become very irritated very soon.

“Farage just wants to come across as a normal, decent bloke. Will he succeed in changing the general public’s perception of him? No. Unlike Hancock, however great he may do in the jungle, it won’t make any difference to how the public ultimately view him.”

Despite tabloid reports about the series being down by two million viewers from its launch episode in 2022, and losing a further million last night, ITV have put a positive spin on the ratings using ‘peak’ figures. They note the debut episode had a peak audience of 7.8 million (average 7 million), making it ITV’s highest overnight audience of the year and the biggest entertainment launch across any channel in 2023. The audience share of 47% also ranks as the fourth highest I’m A Celebrity launch the broadcaster noted.

I’m a Celebrity continues at 9 pm on ITV1 and STV