I'm a Celebrity 2023: Nigel Farage 'exempt' from Bushtucker trials due to injuries

I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here! returns tonight (November 19) and it will be the first time viewers will see Nigel Farage take part in the ITV show. The controversial politician is believed to be the highest-paid contestant of I'm a Celebrity history, banking more than double the next best paid contestant to appear on the show.

And it appears, the former UKIP leader will be doing less than other contestants as he is going to be ‘exempt’ from some of the show’s famous bushtucker trials. Farage told the Sun, he will be medically exempt from certain challenges due to previous injuries in which he's undergone treatment for.

Farage said: "Well, anything involving weightlifting, I’d be out because I’ve obviously had some quite serious physical injuries and neck reconstructions and goodness knows what else."

Farage was campaigning for votes during the 2010 General Election, when a small plane he was flying crashed due to a UKIP promotion banner being entangled in the plane's tail fin. The politician suffered a fractured vertebrae and ribs, as well as a fractured sternum, and had to have surgery on his spine.

"So they are fully aware that I’m a little bit damaged when it comes to bodily structure, Farage continued. "But having said that, I can still do most things.

"I doubt that any of the trials are actually going to kill me, although I don’t think they’ll all be a bag of fun," he said.

It's expected Farage will be voted for many Bushtucker trials during his time in the jungle and fortunately, viewers will be able to see him in action in the very first episode.

During a sneak preview of Sunday night's two-hour long premiere, Nigel Farage is seen stranded in the Australian desert 2,000 miles away from fellow jungle mates. Alongside Nella Rose, and Josie Gibson, the trio will be tasked with a number of trials to complete in order to give the jungle team more time to win stars and food for the entire camp.

Meanwhile the jungle team will face a 'Walk The Plank' themed trial where celebrities like EastEnders' Danielle Harold, MasterChef's Grace Dent and Made in Chelsea's Sam Thompson are suspended in the air and tasked with winning stars for the entire team, the Sun reports.

Hosted by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, Farage will be the second controversial right-wing politician in consecutive years to enter the jungle. Last year, former Health Secretary Matt Hancock appeared on the show whilst still a sitting MP.