Controversial ‘I’m A Celebrity’ Signings: Political Backlash and Double Failures

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! returned to British TV screens last Sunday, much to the delight of fans. 

The show has had its fair share of controversial characters enter the jungle over the years.

But this year there isn’t a stand out star whose inclusion has sparked backlash, which could be down to a change made by ITV last year. 

Over the series, many politicians have flew to Australia and used the show as a way of gaining favour with the public – but after a string of controversial signings, ITV decided last year to ban political figures from taking part. 

The controversy is not always limited to political persuasion however, with Jamie Lynn Spears’s cast announcement raising eyebrows as a result of her part in her older sister Britney’s infamous conservatorship. 

But who are the most contentious celebrities who have faced down the critters in Oz?  

Matt Hancock 

The former Tory MP was beaten only by Jill Scott and Owen Warner to first and second place respectively, with the Lioness being crowned as the 2022 Queen of the Jungle.

He defied all expectations in making the grand final and, after his exit, Matt admitted he decided to enter the jungle because he wanted to show the ‘lighter side’ to his personality.

Upon leaving the Australian jungle, Matt was reunited with his girlfriend Gina Coladangelo and the pair shared a close embrace and kiss on the iconic bridge.

Matt resigned as health secretary in June 2021 after he was caught breaking Covid social distancing rules while having an affair with Gina, then his aide, in his ministerial office.

Matt lasted an impressive 21 days in the jungle, and took part in his final gruesome Bushtucker Trial before his exit in the final – narrowly missing being crowned as Jungle King.

During his jungle stint, he served as Camp Leader, and was voted to do six consecutive trials by the public, including a gruesome eating trial alongside Boy George.

And after his exit, he said he decided to join the show because he said politicians aren’t viewed as ‘human enough’ by the public.

‘I just wanted to show what I’m like as a person. Lots of people come to me with pre-conceived ideas for obvious reasons, but I just wanted to be myself,’ he said.

‘Politicians as a whole, we don’t come across as human enough. This is an extreme way of doing that.’

‘People think they know me, but they don’t. They know Matt Hancock from the TV and the media,’ he added. 

Though his girlfriend Gina said she thought he had ‘underestimated the scale of the reaction to him coming into the jungle. 

During the show, Matt was famously questioned by ITV newsreader Charlene White over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and how he broke his own social distancing guidelines when he was caught having an affair with aide Gina Coladangelo. 

Nigel Farage 

The Reform and former UKIP politician caused a major stir when he was announced as a campmate on the 2023 series of the show. 

Fans of the show even threatened to boycott the 2023 over their ‘tone-deaf’ decision to let Nigel enter the jungle.

Nigel was believed to be earning a bumper £1.5million for his appearance. 

Some fans were less than happy with him taking part, with nearly 10,000 people using the hashtag ‘Boycott I’m A Celeb’ in the past 24 hours.

Nigel made it to the final three campmates alongside champion Sam Thompson and runner-up Tony Bellew.

After managing 23 days in camp, Nigel said: ‘Because I had time to do it, 60 next birthday and I’m going to reach an age where I won’t be able to do it [the show]. Very pleased I did it, I did my best to show no fear at all, I gave you nothing. 

‘I’m not surprised. I’m absolutely thrilled. Not everyone likes the stuff I campaigned for but no matter what people think I mucked in, threw myself into camp. But if you asked me would I do it again, I think I probably would!

‘Obviously there were people there with different views but I did think I managed to persuade them that we can respect the right to have different views. 

‘We had proper debates, no screaming, no big fall outs and I hope they understand.

‘The different backgrounds, different ages was a delight. I learnt that I can control fear in a way that I didn’t even know that I could.’

Katie Price

I’m A Celebrity’s third instalment is thought by many to be the one that took it from popular reality show to ITV juggernaut.

The 2004 series saw the birth of one of the most iconic marriages in celebrity history – singer Peter Andre and glamour model Katie Price.

Peter and Katie (known then as Jordan) fell in love in front of viewers’ eyes despite being from polar opposite worlds.

They went onto marry a year after leaving the show, before divorcing in 2009.

Katie later returned to the jungle for a second time five years later, the same year as her divorce. 

But as her return to the jungle came at a tumultuous time for the star, it became clear public perception had shifted and she had fallen out of favour with fans. 

Katie was voted for five Bushtucker Trials in a row and quite the show on day nine.  

Jamie Lynn Spears

The former Nickelodeon star, most famous for her role on Zoey 101, has certainly been a controversial figure in recent years. 

Jamie’s announcement ahead of the 2023 series caused backlash as a result of her role in her sister Britney Spears’s controversial conservatorship. 

And despite her highly-publicised jungle stint, she dramatically exited the show on ‘medical grounds’ after having a difficult time in the camp.

According to The Sun, Jamie Lynn was actually in exit talks with show bosses for several days before she decided to leave.

Producers of the show reportedly labelled the actress a ‘flight risk’ and did not think she would last the duration of the series.

The publication claimed at the time bosses managed to coax her to stay for 11 days which was helped by her strong performances in a series of tasks.

Her exit was confirmed in a statement by a show spokesperson: ‘Jamie Lynn Spears has left I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! on medical grounds.

‘She’s been a fantastic campmate who has triumphed at trials and bonded well with her fellow celebrities.’

Jamie took to Instagram after the final and wrote: ‘This girl had noooooo clue what she was about to walk into, but THANK GOODNESS she did, bc she walked out of the jungle with a whole new group of life long friends! 

‘Thankful to all the crew, producers, @itv & @antanddec for such an impressive production, and sooooooo proud of all my camp mates for making the jungle their bi***h.’

Nadine Dorries

Former MP and author Nadine Dorries famously took part in the 2012 edition of the show where she was the first to be voted out of the jungle. 

Then Prime Minister David Cameron suspended Nadine from the Conservative Party for taking part in the show while she was a sitting MP for Mid-Bedfordshire. 

Commenting on the backlash at the time, the mother-of-three said her then-boss David Cameron wouldn’t mind her taking a holiday.

‘I am a thorn in his side,’ she said. ‘He will be relieved.’

Although it’s pretty much a guarantee that all participants have to stomach some revolting bushtucker trials during their jungle stint, it seems as though Nadine Dorries had it worse than most.

The MP had to chow down on a camel’s toe and an ostrich’s anus as part of the show’s ‘Rotten Rhymes’ challenge.