Former I’m A Celebrity winner causes outrage with Nigel Farage comment-Robert Oliver-Entertainment – Metro

Nigel Farage went over well with Tony Blackburn, but not many others… (Picture: Rex/ITV)

Sunday night saw the return of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! to ITV, with a host of famous faces heading into the jungle camp once again.

Ant and Dec threw a heap of shade at GB News, there are reported fears that Jamie-Lynn Spears could walk out, oh, and TV viewing figures took a hit.

And away from camp, on social media, former I’m A Celeb winner Tony Blackburn caused a stir on social media by warming to controversial campmate Nigel Farage.

The DJ and singer, 80, was the first winner of the reality series in 2002, back when there were only eight campmates who spent two weeks in Australia.

Blackburn has continued to tune in over the years, and last night people weren’t happy when he came away impressed with the controversial former UKIP leader.

‘I really enjoyed the first night of I’m A Celebrity last night. Ant and Dec were on form as always,’ he began, praising the long-term hosts of the jungle show.

‘I loved Nick Pickard and Sam Thompson, Nigel Farage came over very well, [but] I found Nella Rose rather loud and over the top,’ he added, annoying many.

He immediately drew the ire of his followers after praising the man who once said he felt ‘uncomfortable’ hearing international languages while visiting London.

‘Yes, Tony. And Oswald Moseley would have been real fun on Big Brother,’ one said, while another commented: ‘Don’t let Farage fool you Tony.’

Tony Blackburn is warming up to Nigel Farage (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

The former DJ was the very first King of the Jungle (Picture: Rex/ITV)

Blackburn beat competition from Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, Uri Geller, and Nell McAndrew to be crowned King of the Jungle over 20 years ago.

He came to the jungle as one of the most popular faces in 20th-century British radio and TV, becoming the first ever DJ to broadcast on Radio 1 in 1967.

However, another unhappy user responded to his praise with criticism: ‘Three weeks of this rubbish. Even if I wanted to watch it I wouldn’t with Farage on it.’

Farage has drawn criticism for views he’s expressed in the past (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

Farage, 59, has drawn considerable criticism from across the political spectrum over the years, and is often credited with defining and inspiring the Brexit vote.

In October 2014, the man who has so far failed in all seven of his attempts to become an MP called for HIV-positive migrants to be denied entry to the UK.

During the same year, he also remarked that women breastfeeding in public should ‘sit in the corner’ and that mothers are ‘worth less’ to employers.

Farage’s involvement in the series, after reportedly being paid £1.5m to enter the jungle, has coincided with the show’s biggest ratings blow in three years.

ITV reported on Monday morning that a peak audience of 7.8 million watched the first episode of the 23rd series, down 1.3m on last year’s big premiere.

Watch I’m A Celebrity on ITV at 9pm.

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