I'm a Celebrity Sparks 'Censorship' Controversy: ITV Accused of Limiting Nigel Farage's Airtime
ITV and Nigel Farage are on a collision course over 'insane dirty tricks' today amid claims the Brexiteer's I'm a Celebrity airtime has been increasingly 'limited' - and footage of him speaking about his friendship with Donald Trump was cut.
Mr Farage, 59, who is amongst the favourites to win, appears to be featuring on the show less and his supporters believe that 'lefty' producers of Ant and Dec's show are doing it deliberately.
MailOnline understands that allies of Farage are increasingly angry at 'insane dirty tricks' against him on the show and say they are consulting lawyers over his treatment. His aides have sent a letter of complaint claiming the network had broken a clause in his contract by showing him naked.
The former MEP apparently captivated his fellow celebs with anecdotes about his time with President Trump this week - but it never aired. A friend of the former politician told MailOnline: ‘We are watching very closely. Something is not right. Is there a bigger game afoot?’
Insiders also pointed out that ITV has been happy to dedicate large chunks of airtime to campmates such as Fred Sirieix and Nella Rose slamming him over Brexit. Ant and Dec have also been relentless in their jokes about him being right wing.
Viewers have commented that he barely appeared in last night's episode - only popping up to declare: 'I love the Jungle, it's beautiful' before the topless Brexiteer put his head in a bucket to wash his face.
Supporters have concluded it must be because of his politics with one GB News colleague claiming ITV are ‘starving’ him of airtime because ‘lefty’ producers on the show 'don’t agree with his politics’. It was reported that ITV are concerned they will be blamed if he emerges well from I’m A Celebrity and goes on to become Prime Minister. A spokesman for the broadcaster denied claims he was being treated unfairly.
I'm a Celeb makes "far right" jokes as Nigel Farage joins series
The GB News presenter's colleague Ben Leo has been sent to Australia and has spoken about what he has seen.
'I have discovered a rather bombshell revelation', he said last night.
'If anyone has watched tonight's show, they will be wondering why the only contribution from Nigel was him saying 'I love the Jungle, it's beautiful'.
'Of course he has been barred from some trials on medical reasons, he has a dodgy back.
'I've discovered that a couple of days ago, Nigel had a discussion about his ally and good friend Donald Trump.
'The campmates seemed very interested, but we have not seen that on television.
'Why have ITV not played that? You would have thought, Donald Trump being one of the most popular and controversial figures in the world, why haven't they played that?
'It plays into reports that we've seen in recent days that lefty ITV producers don't want to give him airtime because they don't agree with him politically.'
ITV has said that they are not treating him differently or deliberately limiting his airtime.
A spokesman said: 'We are a 60-75 minute Entertainment show and the content featured is a fair and accurate representation of life in camp.
'It is always our intention to broadcast a show that is a fair and accurate representation of life in camp for all our celebrities'.
The row came as Grace Dent left suddenly.
Her friends 'just want her home' after fearing for the star's health after her 'gaunt' appearances on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
Fans had been left concerned for the food critic, 50, after she had begun to look 'scarily unwell' during her time in the jungle - and it was announced she had quit the show for good earlier on Monday.
On Sunday evening Grace was nominated for latest trial Down The Tubes with This Morning host Josie Gibson, only to pull out on medical grounds.
Grace has already been spotted at Brisbane airport as she prepared to head back to the UK, boarding the 11.25pm plane to Singapore.
And it is not a moment too soon for her inner circle, who have been left shaken by seeing Grace's much-changed appearance on I'm A Celeb.
A source told The Sun: 'Grace is hugely relieved to be out of I'm a Celeb. She pulled the plug because she couldn't carry on, mentally or physically.'
They continued: 'She has lost a lot of weight and looks gaunt. Her friends just want her to get home.'
Grace's pals began to notice something was wrong with the star from early on in the show being broadcast.
Their worries seemed to be confirmed when she failed to get involved in political discussions about Brexit between Nigel Farage and Fred Sirieix - something that is said to be very out of character.
The source added: 'When she failed to get involved, it was clear she was feeling defeated.'
They said the anniversary of the death of Grace's father, George, is coming up, which also would have been 'playing on her mind' during her week-long stint in the jungle Down Under.
Grace has previously spoken openly about the fact she has lost both her parents in the past 'four or five' years
On Monday night's episode of I'm A Celeb, Grace left her campmates teary-eyed as she announced her departure in a goodbye letter.
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