The iconic presenting duo of Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have revealed they hold very different personal opinions regarding one of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!'s most controversial signings. The pair, both aged 50, have fronted the hit ITV reality show from Australia for two decades, but found themselves at odds over the inclusion of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage three years ago.
The Jungle Bombshell That Divided a Nation
In a move that shocked viewers, the then-61-year-old politician entered the jungle in 2023 after reportedly being offered a staggering £1.5 million fee. Farage, the former UKIP leader, ultimately finished in third place, behind winner Sam Thompson and runner-up Tony Bellew. His appearance sparked immediate and fierce debate, with some fans celebrating it as 'iconic TV' while others branded it 'unforgivable' and threatened to boycott the series.
The backlash was so severe that some viewers pleaded with ITV to never feature politicians on the family entertainment show again, particularly one as polarising as Farage. The decision to cast him followed another divisive political entry the previous year, when disgraced former Health Secretary Matt Hancock joined the camp as a latecomer in 2022. Hancock, who resigned after breaking Covid lockdown rules, also finished third and was paid a reported £400,000.
Ant and Dec's Starkly Different Reactions
Now, in an interview with The Times to promote their first-ever podcast, the hosts have opened up about the criticism. When questioned on whether they felt any responsibility for providing Farage with what critics called a "reputational rehab" platform, their responses could not have been more different.
Declan Donnelly responded to the query with a laugh and the retort, "How long have you got?" In contrast, Ant McPartlin, who had previously urged show bosses in 2023 not to book any more politicians, was emphatic. "Absolutely not!" he stated, distancing himself from any accountability for the political fallout.
Fallout and Future of Political Castings
Following the intense public reaction to Farage's stint, Dec suggested the programme should "do a year without any politicians." Ant was in full agreement, insisting, "Agreed, agreed, agreed," according to reports in the Daily Mail. This highlights a rare but clear divergence in how the typically united duo processed the controversy surrounding their show.
During his time in the jungle, Farage joked about being "now a Remainer" and expressed his thrill at reaching the final. He acknowledged his divisive career, stating, "Not everyone likes the stuff I've campaigned for and stood for over the years." The GB News presenter added that he hoped the show demonstrated he was "a human being like anyone else."
The enduring debate over Farage's casting underscores the ongoing tension between entertainment values and political discourse in reality television. As Ant and Dec's differing stances show, even the most seasoned showbiz professionals can be split by the decision to bring such figures into the jungle camp.
