NIGEL Farage is out to prove he’s no “mean-spirited, nasty little Englander” as he enters the I’m A Celebrity jungle.
The ex-Ukip politician believes his decade-long campaign for the UK to leave Europe left him “demonised” by the public.
But a recent boom in popularity has left him assured he is joining the ITV show in a stronger position than shamed Matt Hancock last year.
Nigel, 59, said: “My crime was to stand against an establishment view. I was for many years the lone voice saying Europe wasn’t where we should be, so I’ve been a little bit demonised.
“I am hoping those who hate me might hate me a little bit less afterwards. But it’s a gamble. And the idea that somehow the things I represent — mean-spirited, small-minded, nasty, the ‘little Englander’ — all those accusations that have been flung at me over the years just aren’t true.
“If we can dispel some of those misconceptions, then that will be a good thing too.”
Farage, now an award-winning broadcaster for GB News, made headlines recently after private bank Coutts closed his account over his political views.
He has launched legal action against Coutts owner NatWest over the debanking saga.
Nigel continued: “I understood why Matt Hancock did it (I’m A Celeb). He went in there with his reputation on the floor.
“The truth is after the banking issue I raised a few months ago, I was standing up for a million people who had lost their bank accounts.
“But given millions hate me, I expect people will vote for me to do trials!”
Jungle bosses hammered out a deal — reported to be worth up to £1million — in the hope Farage will generate the same amount of headlines as Tory former Health Secretary Hancock, 45, who came third last year.
Nigel said: “What will be interesting is the perception the other campers will have of me. They will go in with their preconceived ideas and it might be a little bit frosty — we will just have to see. I can’t pretend to be anyone other than who I am, I never have.
“But I survived for 20 years in the European Parliament with all sorts of people trying to trip me up so I am used to that.”
Farage might find campmates including First Dates maître d’ Fred Sirieix, 51 — a vocal Remainer — and Belgium-born TikTok star Nella Rose, 26, hard to win over.
Show chiefs are braced for bust-ups over Brexit, In 2017, Frenchman Fred tweeted: “Farage is a coward who likes money, attention and the sound of his own voice far too much. Definitely not a selfless idealistic revolutionary.”
Outspoken Nigel added: “I love debating every single topic, from the Archbishop of Canterbury to why we didn’t win the rugby World Cup to who is going to win the Premier League.
“Brexit, the banks? It’s other people who raise this stuff. I would be very surprised if they (fellow celebrities) didn’t raise it.
“I am hoping to have some good times, a good laugh and I am sure I won’t get on with everybody, but I just think it’s going to be an incredible experience.
“It would be enormous fun to win.”
