Ian Hislop claims he turned down an invite to appear on this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!
The Have I Got News for You team captain, 63, said during an interview on Times Radio on Friday that he had been asked to enter the Australian jungle camp on a number of occasions in past years.
However, he has always turned down the opportunity because he thought it would mean people saw him as ‘washed up’.
But this year Ian had another reason for not taking part in the series – he did not want to spend a possible three weeks living with former politician Nigel Farage, 59.
Journalist and satirist Ian did not speak favourably about Nigel’s appearance on the 2023 series, insisting: ‘Nigel is very boring television and everything is very disappointing.’

Ian Hislop claims he turned down an invite to appear on this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! (pictured in 2020)

After being asked in previous years, Ian hhad another reason for not taking part in the 2023 series – he did not want to spend three weeks living with former politician Nigel Farage, 59 (pictured)
Ian said: ‘I was invited to go on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! this year. I mean, I have been asked a few years and I always think it’s a sign of whether I’m washed up or not.
‘It’s whether I get the call. And I got it this year so it’s probably all over.
‘And there was a moment I thought would I like to be around the campfire with Nigel? And then I thought, no.’
Ian went on to speak out on the general consensus he’d heard from people who had been watching Nigel on the show.
He said: ‘And again, they’re briefing at the moment that Nigel is very boring television and everything is very disappointing.
‘And they’d much rather have more people from soap operas on or influencers, or whatever.
‘I think the idea that politicians will liven up your programme may have just been deflated for good.’
Ian was then quizzed on what he would struggle with in the jungle and whether he would have trouble with ‘spiders, snakes or drinking camels’ anuses’.

It comes after I’m A Celebrity ‘s Josie Gibson reached the end of her tether with Nigel Farage after he stopped her from doing a Bushtucker Trial during Friday’s episode
Referring to Nigel who was previously leader of the Brexit Party, renamed Reform UK, Ian joked: ‘I think members of the Reform party.’
I’m A Celebrity’s Josie Gibson reached the end of her tether with Nigel Farage after he stopped her from doing a Bushtucker Trial during Friday’s episode.
Josie became camp leader by default following Danielle Harold’s departure and the This Morning host, 38, took a seat on her throne as JLS singer Marvin Humes, 38, brought news that the latest Bushtucker Trial was Christmas-themed.
Former Big Brother winner Josie jumped at the opportunity to do the trial only to be batted down by former politician Nigel, 59, who insisted that he had the experience needed to succeed having done a number of challenges earlier in the series.
But Nigel’s argument did not go down well with Josie, who insisted he simply wanted to do another trial because he wanted more airtime and needed ‘to prove himself to the nation’.
After Marvin informed the group of the trial, Josie said: ‘I’m going to do it. If you want me to do it, I’ll do it.’

Nigel, 59, insisted he had the experience needed to succeed having done a number of challenges earlier in the series
Former boxer Tony Bellew, 41, asked: ‘Are you going to be scared of anything that’s landed on you? Because right now we need stars?’
Josie said: ‘I’m scared of all of it… but you feel like you need to win stars and maybe I’ve not got the minerals.’
Nigel explained his reasons for wanting to go saying: ‘I did a lot of Bushtucker Trials in the early phases, you boys have now caught up. So it’s my turn. My turn, simple as that.’
Marvin said: ‘I’m happy to do it.’
Tony said: ‘I’m the same.’
Josie said: ‘I feel like I need to prove myself a bit now.’
Nigel said: ‘Josie, you don’t need to. You’ve got to go into this saying I’m not frightened of whatever they’re going to throw at me. If you can’t say… then you shouldn’t do it, is my view.’
Josie replied: ‘I was saying I want to prove myself and you were going, “You shouldn’t do it, you shouldn’t do it”.’

Marvin and Nigel were chosen to take part in the trial after JLS singer Marvin, 38, informed his campmates the challenge would be Christmas-themed

It comes after former politician Nigel told food critic Grace Dent, 50, before her departure, about his plan to reach a ‘new audience’ and get 25 percent more air time by doing trials
Nigel said: ‘You’re proving yourself by being here.’
Former Made In Chelsea cast member Sam Thompson, 31, said separately: ‘Josie, if you want to do it, you do it.’
Josie said: ‘No, it’s alright. Let Nige do it, he wants the air time.’
In the Bush Telegraph Josie said: ‘I should have fought my corner a bit more but he wants the airtime because he wants to prove himself to the nation.’
It comes after Nigel previously admitted he wanted to take part in trials to receive 25 per cent of the show’s airtime.
Last month, he told food critic Grace Dent, 50, before her departure, about his plan to reach a ‘new audience’.
He explained: ‘If you do the challenges, it’s 25 per cent of the airtime. I’m looking at reaching a whole new audience.’
Nigel looked disappointed as he waved off former campmate, YouTuber Nella Rose, 26, to take part in the No Time To Cry trial after she was voted by the public to do it.
Afterwards, Ant and Dec made a joke about Nigel’s comment, saying: ‘Shortly we’ll be going into camp to reveal who’ll be getting 25 per cent of the airtime tomorrow.’
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! continues Saturday 9 December at 9.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.