Many Brits are calling out ITV for their latest I’m A Celeb stunt as Nigel Farage has been pictured landing in Australia ahead of his heavily rumoured appearance in the jungle this year, with some going so far as to label the broadcaster a ‘disgrace’for platforming the right-wing personality.
Following the huge shock of last year’s series when former Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, popped up in the jungle following his numerous scandals during the pandemic, ITV are no doubt looking to go one better when it comes to viewing figures by adding an even more controversial figure into the mix.
Farage, the former UKIP leader, current GB News presenter and President of Reform UK (formerly known as the Brexit Party), was spotted arriving at Brisbane Airport on Sunday, 12 November — just a week before I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2023 — is due to start, only pouring more fuel on the ongoing rumours.
While he did not confirm whether he would be appearing in the new season, it is thought the 59-year-old is being paid a large sum to take part, but the news hasn’t sat well with everyone in the UK, as many are urging their fellow British TV viewers to boycott the reality show this year.
Farage will be a good sport, muck in, engage in lots of blokey humour, eat a large portion of kangaroo anus, millions of #ImACeleb viewers will say "I quite like him actually" and that is why we are a completely fucked up country 🙄 pic.twitter.com/l7QmQEfNkR
While the decision to put Hancock in the last series no doubt delighted countless viewers as they voted for him to undertake trial after trial — the outcome they’re obviously hoping for again this year — many still raised concerns about not only platforming him but sanitising, softening and potentially rehabilitating his image.
The stakes, in many people’s eyes, are even higher this time around as not only is Farage a much-maligned personality amongst large sections of the population but his far-right brand of politics presents a real risk of further spreading those views and stoking division across the country.
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Especially in light of the shameful scenes during Armistice Day in London, when members of the EDL and other far-right protestors caused disruption at the Cenotaph, with several videos of racist abuse circulating on social media, it seems more important than ever to be cautious around amplifying certain voices.
Our taxes paying for a Genocide, Nigel Farage on I'm A Celeb, and one brown person calling another brown person a Coconut is now considered a hate crime.
This country is finished, khalas, khatam, done out ere, finito.
Regarding the disgusting Farage, it’s surely on presenters @antanddec and the others signed up to appear on #ImACeleb to take a moral stand and threaten to pull out rather than share a platform with him. Prime-time, family television is no place for him. @ITV have got this wrong.
Once again, while Nigel Farage is still not fully confirmed on the lineup for I’m A Celeb 2023, the reaction alone seems to have proved that the novelty of watching a politician eat a few bugs and animal testicles as a mild form of punishment for something usually more serious has well and truly worn off for most viewers.
Even Matt Hancock’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins appearance, which was actually filmed before the jungle, has annoyed and raised just as many questions surrounding the responsibility of these broadcasters as it has tickled people watching at home.
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Others rumoured for this year’s cast include Jamie Lynn-Spears, Tony Bellew, Nella Rose, Fred Sirieux and Marvin Humes. You can see the full list HERE. One thing’s for sure, whoever’s in there, you can be sure they’ll have quite the reaction if/when Nigel Farage walks into camp.
Regarding the disgusting Farage, it’s surely on presenters @antanddec and the others signed up to appear on #ImACeleb to take a moral stand and threaten to pull out rather than share a platform with him. Prime-time, family television is no place for him. @ITV have got this wrong.
Featured Images — Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore (via Flickr)
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Premier League Darts is returning to Manchester’s AO Arena in 2027
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Premier League Darts is confirmed to be returning to Manchester next year.
Now’s your chance to see the youngest world champion in darts history, AKA Warrington’s very-own Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, show us how it’s done, as next year’s BetMGM Premier League Darts lineup has just been announced this week – with various dates confirmed across 17 different cities in the UK and Europe.
And Manchester is one of those cities, as the AO Arena has shared that they are set to host an evening next April, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
This means that we will be lucky enough to witness the biggest names in world darts all under one roof, including headliners Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries, as well as Littler.
Manchester is the only northern city to get the pleasure of hosting the event next year, as Liverpool is also on the lineup, as is Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastle, while elsewhere in the UK, the stars will travel to Glasgow, Birmingham, London, and several other major locations.
BetMGM Premier League Darts is to be held on Thursday 8 April at the AO Arena in Manchester, and to avoid being disappointed, fans are advised to register for presale ticket access.
Following a successful season of events in 2026, tickets are expected to be like gold-dust, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.
To access the first wave of tickets, fans must become an active PDCTV Annual Member before 23:59pm on Friday 9 October. Alternatively, general sale is on Thursday 22 October 2026, but make sure not to hang about.
Featured Image – Sandro Halank (via Wikimedia Commons)
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Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has claimed he wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on fans getting to drink alcohol in football stands.
It’s a ban that’s been in place in the top five tiers of men’s football since 1985, when fears over violence and hooliganism were at their height, but now the Prime Minister has raised the question of whether drinking in football stands – or ‘drinking in sight / view of the pitch’, as it’s known formally – is actually unjust, due to the fact that same rules don’t apply to fans of other sports.
“I don’t think it’s fair for football fans to be singled out in that way,” Andy Burnham has declared this week, grabbing headlines in the process.
He continued: “I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different, and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.
“I’m not going to back away from what’s been a long-held view of mine. I don’t see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently.”
The Prime Minister’s comments have been met with mixed response.
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands / Credit: James Kirkup | Julia Nastogadka (via Unsplash)
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), for example, has very much welcomed the idea, saying that it ‘totally agrees’ the legislation is ‘outdated’ and ‘deserves to be reviewed’.
Tom Greatrex, chair of the FSA, said in a statement: “The FSA has always argued that it’s unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match – especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league.”
However, on the flip side, the UK Football Policing Unit said it would be ‘incredibly rash’ to change the rules without proper consultation.
“Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour,” it said in a statement on the matter.
The Prime Minister did state in his initial proposition though that ‘there are different ways it could be done’, hinting that it could be done ‘on a trial basis’ perhaps.
The English Football League (EFL) added that it would be ‘receptive to discussions around reviewing current legislation and permitting alcoholic drinks within view of the pitch’.
No formal details on a review have been confirmed as of yet, so fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates in due course.
Danny Jones -
13th November 2023 
