I’m A Celebrity...
Get Me Out Of Here! bosses have reportedly ditched plans to send any more MPs into the jungle. Previous politicians who have gone Down Under include the equally divisive Nigel Farage and Matt Hancock . Other MPs or former MPs to have made an appearance include Boris Johnson ’s father Stanley, Lembit Opik, Edwina Currie and Nadine Dorries.
But as this year’s series of the ITV reality show is set to fall around the time the UK could call a General Election in the later half of 2024 – the series airs in November and December - having any politicians in the line-up is said to be virtually impossible due to strict Ofcom rules ahead of the official polls. Big names like former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss had been touted as possible celebrities being lined up for this year’s series, but Ofcom has issued a strict warning to broadcasters that they could face hefty fines if TV and radio shows are hosted by politicians and break impartiality rules that could sway the vote. Any candidates standing for election will be banned from hosting or appearing on programmes during the campaign period.
Ofcom broadcasting director Cristina Nicolotti Squires told the BBC ’s Radio 4’s Media Show: “If broadcasters want to take the risk of having a high-profile politician who’s not standing for a seat hosting a programme, they’re going to have to work bloody hard to make sure that those programmes are duly impartial. And we will come down on them li.
