Nigel Farage will be subjected to I’m A Celeb first in opening challenge
NIGEL Farage take parts in a never seen before opening challenge as I’m A Celebrity bosses film outside the Gold Coast for the first time.
He teams up with This Morning’s Josie Gibson and influencer Nella Rose to film the huge stunt in the Australian outback - and has already filmed the scenes under blazing 40 degree temperatures.
They will be trying to win time for stars taking part in challenges back in the jungle camp.
Insiders say shooting 2,000 miles away in the scorching heat of the red desert of the Northern Territory shows producers are eager to get their money’s worth from Nigel, 59, who signed for a reported £1million.
A source added: “It’s a huge series opener for Sunday, bigger and better than ever.
"A lot of thought went into who was best to pair with Nigel to create the best TV and bosses reckon they’re a magic trio.
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“It’s the huge series opener and with the never seen before out-of-Queensland twist, it’s clear that ITV haven’t come to play this year - it truly is bigger and better than ever.”
Bosses are said to have hammered out the huge deal in the hope Farage will grab the same amount of headlines as shamed ex-Health Secretary Matt Hancock did in 2022.
The figure came as a surprise to even GB News presenter Farage, with him posting a fun skit online remarking at the offer.
Filmed whilst digging into The Sun’s scoops as he read the paper in the back of a taxi, Nigel answered a phone call and said: “Oh hello I’m A Celebrity yes, I’m used to the annual call.
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“How much?! Good lord. Well, I’ll see you in the jungle.”
The Sun understands that the trial will see Nigel, Josie and Belgian-born Nella - who may know of Farage’s decade long campaign for Britain to leave the EU - stranded in the scorching heat, surrounded by the red desert in the Northern Territory.
Their mission is to win time for their fellow campmates, including JLS star Marvin Humes and First Dates’ Fred Sirieix, who are taking part in other challenges back on the Gold Coast.
Alice Springs airport is 450km from Uluru, which towers some 863m tall, in an arid outback known as the ‘red centre’ - where the celebs will film.
Temperatures hit 40 degrees at Alice Springs on Wednesday, when the epic scenes were filmed.
It comes after Nigel revealed he was out to prove he’s no “mean spirited, nasty little Englander” as he heads into the star-spangled jungle.