Nigel Farage finishes third on I’m A Celebrity as Sam Thompson crowned winner

Nigel Farage has finished in third place on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – as ex-Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson was crowned king of the jungle.

Mr Farage, the former UKIP and Brexit Party leader, was reportedly paid up to £1.5m for his appearance on the ITV show.

The GB News presenter joked he was “now a remainer” when he made it to the final alongside reality TV personality Thompson and former professional boxer Tony Bellew, who was runner-up.

After presenters Ant and Dec delivered the news of his third place finish, the 59-year-old said “thank you very much” – and told his fellow finalists: “Well done boys.”

He said he was “absolutely thrilled” to make it to the final, admitting: “Not everyone likes the stuff I’ve campaigned for and stood for over the years.”

But Mr Farage added: “I’m a human being like anyone else and I hope this programme has shown I’m as human as anyone else.”

During his 23 days in the jungle, Mr Farage clashed with campmates Fred Sirieix and Nella Rose over his political views, and tucked into a pizza topped with four different animal penises in his first bushtucker trial.

After being voted out, he was greeted by his French politician girlfriend Laure Ferrari.

When he was confirmed as one of this year’s contestants, he said he would survive well as he is “used to dealing with snakes and other horrible reptiles” – both in the European Parliament in Brussels and at Westminster.

He made his debut by sticking his head through the window of a campervan filled with snakes and rummaging around in gunk.

Mr Farage was introduced in the first episode saying: “I’m known for politics, for Brexit, and I’m a hero to some people and an absolute villain to millions.

“In the jungle you’re going to find the real me. You might like me more, you might dislike me more, but you will at least find out.”

Read more:
Nigel Farage ‘may make political comeback’
Jamie Lynn Spears ‘taking time to recover’

In his final bushtucker trial, Mr Farage was locked in the “panic pit” – an underground metal box filled with snakes.

He joked: “Lots of people would like the snake to strangle me, I suppose, their dream might come true.”

Mr Farage has matched the third-place finish of former health secretary Matt Hancock, whose controversial involvement in last year’s show became the second most complained about TV event of last year, according to Ofcom.

Ex-Conservative MP and former culture secretary Nadine Dorries took part in the 2012 show – but was the first celebrity to be voted out.

Other politicians who have entered the jungle include former Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik and former Scottish Labour Party leader Kezia Dugdale.