I’m a Celebrity’s 2024 lineup is far too nice. Where are the dreadful politicians?
Get Breaking News Alerts Straight To Your Inbox!
Subscribe To Our Free Breaking News Alerts
Subscribe For Free Breaking News Alerts
I would like to receive emails regarding promotions, events, and news from The Independent. Please check our privacy policy for more information.
The expression "Britain is broken" has become quite common lately, perhaps overly so if we're being truthful (we still have access to clean water, after all). Nevertheless, it appears that the popular television show I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has now fallen victim to the country's current troubles.
The issue we’re facing is that this year’s contestants on ITV appear to be overly pleasant, which makes it a bit disappointing compared to previous years. In those years, we often had at least one controversial figure from the public eye who boldly joined the jungle challenges. Typically, though not always, this person was a politician looking for cash, a chance to redeem themselves, or simply craving the spotlight, and the producers were more than willing to accommodate them.
You might remember that last year, the unpleasant Nigel Farage took a trip to the countryside to boost his struggling Coutts bank account with a £1.5 million payment. This was also a way for him to remind voters that, with an election approaching, he was still present and ready to create more disruption to the economy and social unity.
The previous year, it was Matt Hancock, known for his romantic escapades within the National Health Service, whose political career had collapsed. At just 46, he seemed to be seeking redemption and possibly a new purpose. People were so outraged that Hancock appeared to be getting a second chance from ITV despite his failures that an online petition urging network executives to prevent his participation garnered over 40,000 signatures.
Public anger, or at least discomfort, seemed to radiate towards a mix of individuals who moved from the political scene to the world of reality television. This includes Carol Thatcher, who triumphed in 2005; Christine Hamilton, known for her combative personality; Nadine Dorries, who might deserve another chance to share her conspiracy theories; Lembit Opik, the jovial member of the Liberal Democrats; the contentious Katie Hopkins; the suave Robert Kilroy-Silk; Stanley Johnson, who has much to answer for; and the lesser-known former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale. Even the outrageous ex-royal butler Paul Burrell provided a target for people's misplaced ire on a chilly winter evening. And that's just how it goes.
However, this year, it appears that ITV is no longer willing to serve as a safe haven for individuals whose public reputations have taken a hit. The only glimmer of hope for those seeking to hear “blunt” opinions comes from the formidable newspaper columnist Jane Moore.
The people involved in politics and related fields are quite savvy, aware that the unusual delicacies they are obliged to eat on camera are still safe for people to eat. Essentially, these dishes are no different from what they would typically enjoy at a local event or in the BBC’s green room. While being surrounded by bugs might seem overwhelming, it doesn’t last long, and just think about the money involved...
"I’m a Celebrity" had turned into a situation of "who's taking advantage of whom," with figures like Farage and Hancock strategically leveraging the fame of the celebrities instead of the other way around. This reversal of media dynamics was hard for ITV to stomach, even though it occasionally led to some must-see television. Over time, the renewed focus on Farage and the polishing of his "quirky personality" helped him secure a spot in parliament. As for Hancock, I've heard that he unexpectedly became a crush for some Mumsnet users. The rest of us, however, were simply reminded of how unpleasant they both were and still are.
Honestly, I don’t really care much about watching soap actor Alan Halsall endure public embarrassment, especially since that seems to happen whenever he gets a new script. Similarly, seeing N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos chat with presenter Melvin Odoom doesn’t catch my interest either. Coleen Rooney is a more significant celebrity, but it would be more fitting for her to participate if her rival, Rebekah Vardy, were competing too. Just for the record, Vardy placed ninth in 2017.
Enjoy a complimentary 7-day trial of Apple TV+.
This offer is available exclusively for new subscribers. After the free trial period, the cost will be £8.99 per month. Your subscription will automatically renew unless you decide to cancel it.
Enjoy a complimentary 7-day trial of Apple TV+.
This offer is for new subscribers only. After the free trial, the cost will be £8.99 per month. The subscription will automatically renew unless you decide to cancel it.
There are definitely some impressive potential contestants out there. In fact, you could create an intriguing series just by inviting all the previous leaders of the Conservative Party to the camp—people like Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Michael Howard, Iain Duncan Smith, William Hague, and John Major. The conversations around the campfire would be quite engaging. Would it be too much to hope that Ant and Dec might reach out to Prince Andrew, who has an expensive lifestyle to maintain? Could we consider asking Justin Welby, who might soon have a bit more free time? Perhaps one of them could be brought in to stir things up halfway through the show.
It looks like the only potential late entries that ITV has on their radar are Love Island star Maura Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles, known as the Vicar of Kindness. Barry McGuigan, set to join the jungle from day one, is also one of the nicest boxers to step into the ring. I’d be quite surprised if dancer Oti Mabuse, DJ Dean McCullough, influencer GK Barry, or Danny Jones from McFly cause any protests in Trafalgar Square.
It's winter, which means it's panto season, a time to celebrate Christmas, and perfect for disliking some characters on our screens. There are countless disgraced former MPs out there, worried about their next lavish meal while their reputations are in shambles. They're really not the most pleasant individuals... let’s bring them on!
