ITV I’m A Celeb’s Nigel Farage defends £1.5m pay check saying he lives ‘modestly’
11.12.2023 - 21:23
/ ok.co.uk
I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star Nigel Farage has addressed the reports that he was paid a massive £1.5million just to take part on this year's edition of the ITV reality show, insisting that he doesn't know what's "wrong" with pocketing that kind of cash. The former MEP and hotly-debated Brexit politician, 59, was one of the most divisive characters to enter the jungle this year, joining the likes of This Morning presenter Josie Gibson, JLS singer Marvin Humes and winner Sam Thompson.
Many viewers were unimpressed with ITV's decision to invite another politician on the show - former Health Secretary Matt Hancock also made it to the final during last year's series. Yet despite this, Nigel quickly won viewers over with his grumpy nature around the kitchen pot and interesting anecdotes for the camp. As a result, he made it to the final three alongside Sam, 31, and former boxing champion Tony Bellew, 41, and appeared to more than earn his astronomical price.
Speaking to Ed Balls and Susanna Reid during today's Good Morning Britain, 11 December, Nigel defended his whopper of a pay check. "Look, the money. Of course.
What's wrong with that?" he said. "I gave up. I gave up a very successful career in the City of London in the commodity markets.
"Colleagues of mine are on the rich list. I gave all that up. I live very modestly and have done for years.
"I did it because I had a political career. I've never moaned about it. Never complained about it," the new reality star went on.
"But is this the biggest pay check I've ever had? Yes, it is. What is wrong with that?" he added bluntly. Nigel also explained his now-iconic comments about wanting to do Bushtucker Trials so he could get "25 per cent of the airtime", a
.