‘Master manipulator’ Nigel Farage sparks backstage fury with arsenal of new tactics to win I’m A Celebrity votes
BUM-baring Brexiteer Nigel Farage has been accused of being a “master manipulator” by telly luvvies as he unveiled new tactics to try to sway I’m A Celebrity voting.
He further irked his opponents by opting to wear his camp T-shirt back-to-front so his voting details are visible at all times.
And the canny campaigner, 59, once again stripped to his birthday suit, after realising he made an impact when he first went naked in the jungle shower.
The ex-Ukip chief showed his hand when he told Grace Dent that taking part in a Bushtucker Trial meant an extra “25 per cent more airtime”.
Farage reasoned: “I’ve got an audience to reach.”
He also flashed his voting info as he worked out using logs.
Earlier this week we revealed some of ITV’s production staff were frustrated at how Farage was hogging the limelight.
A source said: “Some crew members might feel they are at odds with Nigel’s political views but he’s at the heart of all the interesting conversations, he’s creating storylines and almost self- producing in there
“But for many the moment he chose to flip his T-shirt was the final straw. They feel he’s become a master manipulator who is now running his time on the show like an electoral campaign.
“The crew are feeling torn. They’re all professionals and everyone can recognise Farage makes great telly but some are starting to feel like the show has become a pawn in the politician’s next push for election.”
A show spokesman said: “It is always our intention to broadcast a show that is a fair and accurate representation of life in camp for all our celebrities.”
After christening the jungle shower on Tuesday, Nigel was back in the nude to take a bath yesterday.
It provoked Josie Gibson and Danielle Harold to discuss his butt, with the ex-EastEnders actress declaring: “He looks good doesn’t he? Nice little bum.”
Standing together Josie and Danielle said in sync: “Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No . . . it’s Nigel Farage’s a**e!”
Despite predicting he would be up for most challenges, GB News star Farage has so far only been selected in one viewer vote, to chomp on a four-penis pizza.
But he has been able to rattle through many of his main concerns thanks to commanding campmates’ attention.
On Monday he opened up on Brexit for the first time in a heated conversation with Frenchman Fred Sirieix, who branded his campaign “shameful”.
On Tuesday he discussed former PM Boris Johnson.
Then on Wednesday he shared his views on immigration with Nella Rose — and revealed “never say never” about one day running for PM.
Meanwhile YouTube star Nella came under fire from viewers after it emerged she had previously used the same phrase — “old enough to be your dad” — that sparked her angry backlash against Fred earlier in the week.
After the First Dates star quipped of his failing eyesight that he was “old enough to be your dad”, Nella said he had “disrespected her” because he knew her father had died in 2020.
It has since emerged that Nella used the same phrase herself in 2019 when posting a video about former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood on Twitter.
It sparked accusations of hypocrisy — even though Nella used the phrase a year before her father’s passing.
The Sun can reveal Nella is unlikely to face the shame of being evicted first, thanks to the public vote being for which celebs to save rather than which ones to boot out.
Nella’s three million-strong online fanbase may band together to keep her in over quieter campmates who are less likely to have compelled viewers to vote.
A source said: “Everyone is saying Nella’s war against Fred makes her a shoo-in to be first out but the voting process means the opposite — her fans will be galvanised to vote in greater numbers and she could emerge with an even higher amount of votes.”
Last night viewers saw Fred and Nella bond as members of the team taking part in the Slam Dunk’d challenge.
In the Bush Telegraph, Danielle said: “Fred and Nella have both volunteered to go out for the challenge today . . . I reckon this will bond them even closer.”