Nigel Farage appearing on I'm a Celebrity... Get me out of here! (Image: PA)

       The Brexit campaigner spoke of his ambitions in his final interview before he heads into camp for I’m A Celebrity, as well as criticising the predicament of the Conservative party.

       He also vowed not to let the reality TV experience change him and insisted he would “bring people to the programme” rather than reduce the number of viewers after some fans said they won’t watch.

       Asked about his controversial appearance on the show which will net him up to ￡1million, Farage said: “My hopes are that I do well. My hopes are that I don’t fall to pieces. Well, that’s a fear really, isn’t it?

       Powered By

       10

       10

       DS Olivia Attwood confirms I'm A Celeb comeback

       Share

       Next

       Stay

       “I mean, if it goes wrong, it’ll be a disaster. But look, I’ve never ever been frightened in life of doing things, of taking gambles. This is a gamble, obviously, but I think it’s one that’s worth taking.

       “I mean, this year has been a great year for me. The Tric Awards plus the banking stuff where I’ve genuinely been able to get support from across the political spectrum, which is not something I’ve been known for for the last 20 years. So it has been a good year and some would say, “Well, why risk it?” But in my view, if things are going well, just keep going.”

       Farage, 59, worked in the City before leaving to enter politics and became one of the founder members of the UK Independence Party, at that time known as the Anti-Federalist League.

       By 1999 Farage was one of three UKIP members voted in to the European Parliament, representing the south-east of England and he won re-election four times. Despite multiple attemps though he is yet to become an MP.....yet.

       Discussing politics and his future, he made it clear he was open to returning after his jungle stint and may try yet again to become an MP.

       READ MORE: Biggins gives Nigel Farage advice on what to expect on I'm A Celebrity

       Starting with a dig at the Tories and the PM’s new Foreign Secretary, he said: “I think the David Cameron appointment is probably, if not the final, then perhaps the penultimate nail in the Conservatives election coffin for next year.

       “I mean, the whole thing is over. They are deteriorating very, very rapidly and there is absolutely no chance of them coming back from this.

       “As far as I’m concerned, well look, I would look at this in the longer term.

       “But in the shorter term, I’m not doing this for overt political reasons. In the longer term, well, I might be interested in having another go at some point.”

       Asked about trying to win votes for the elections in the jungle, where public votes are also needed for success, he laughed and said: “I tell you what, the only manifesto pledge is - do what I’m doing, get outside your normal daily life and do something different and take a bit of a chance. And free booze for everybody!”

       He also was at pains to stress people may see him as normal once he is filmed in camp 24/7. Asked about the real Nigel Farage when the tie comes off, he said: “Remarkably normal. I know that’s disappointing, but remarkably normal. I enjoy the sort of things that most people enjoy. I care about things that a lot of people care about.

       I’m not an exceptional person in any way at all. I just happen to be somebody who has ideas and works very hard at trying to fulfil them, which is why I’ve made myself such a nuisance for the British and European establishment.

       “If I’ve got a fault, well, sometimes I can get a bit impatient. I think that being short-tempered is something I’m prone to a little bit and I guess in there, food deprived, et cetera, I’m going to have to learn to be patient with people even if they’re goading me.

       “But look, in the camp, of course as you say, people see the real you and I would like to think that I could work with other people as a team.”

       Some people have said they are offended and outraged Farage is appearing on the show with some saying they won’t watch the show this year.

       Don't miss...

       What I'm A Celebrity star Nigel Farage does now after quitting politics [TV]

       I'm a Celebrity's Nigel Farage dropped in Australian outback as ITV series begin [TV ]

       Nigel Farage's 'regret' about 'difficult' split from wife ahead of I'm A Cele... [CELEBS ]

       Brexiteer campaigner Nigel Farage (Image: Getty)

       Asked what he thought about this backlash, he boasted: “Do you know what? There’s a lot more people who haven’t watched the programme that know me or supported me - some of the millions that have supported me over the years - I think net, I’ll bring people to the programme, not diminish. All right?

       “Anyone who’s a lover of I’m A Celebrity who doesn’t watch it just because I’m on it has got to be an incredibly small-minded person.”

       Farage insists he will not be aiming to talk about political subjects all the time in camp, but admits they tend to follow him around.

       He said: “I have no intention of going in and arguing about Brexit, but as I find wherever I go, even at family events, everybody else wants to talk about it. So I’m sure that’ll be raised.

       The immigration thing, well, obviously, and again I won’t raise it, but the sort of incredible prejudice that is being shown against Israel and against Jewish people frankly is a subject that will get linked to immigration in the camp.

       “So I think it’s almost unavoidable with me being there that these conversations won’t happen, but I’m not going in to have a political bully pulpit or anything of the kind.”

       Told his language in the past on such subjects had been divisive, he said: “The point about having opinions is people hate you for having opinions if you’re not prepared to listen to the other person’s point of view.

       But I’m always more than willing to listen to other people’s point of view.”

       Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading

       Start 30-day

       FREE trial

       Trending

       Previous contestants have declared the jungle experience as lifechanging, and others break down in tears when receiving letters from home.

       Father-of-four Farage seems unlikely to be someone saying similar things in three weeks’ time.

       He added: “I’m A Celebrity might change the perception of me as a person, but it won’t change me as a person, no. I am what I am. I’m open minded. I listen to all points of view despite the fact I hold my own views very strongly.

       “And as I say, I believe I’m relatively normal. But hey you can all judge that over the next few weeks...”

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       I'm A Celebrity's Grace Dent 'joked' about Nigel Farage after devastating plane crash

       Comments

       Michel Barnier branded ‘forever an enemy of Britain and everything wrong with the EU'

       200 Comments

       EU 'superstate' warning with treaty changes predicted to reduce members to 'vassal' status

       2081 Comments

       Nigel Farage should join the Tories, suggests Brexit architect Lord Frost

       607 Comments

       Nigel Farage cheated death FOUR times: ‘Very much a fatalist'

       5 Comments

       Tory Party's internal feud may undermine public confidence in elections, says Ross Clark

       3 Comments

       Meet the Netherlands new anti-immigration, anti-woke prime minister Geert Wilders

       28 Comments

       'Rude and nasty' Lorraine blasted in I'm A Celeb Nigel Farage 'body-shaming' row

       36 Comments

       ITV I'm A Celebrity dealt two million ratings blow as furious viewers 'boycott' series

       114 Comments

       Esther McVey mocks Labour as she defends new role as 'minister for common sense'

       305 Comments

       Dutch anti-EU firebrand Geert Wilders wins Dutch election in nightmare for EU - exit poll

       3878 Comments

       Rishi Sunak is now in full panic mode - No10 has five options to save his political career

       953 Comments

       'Keep your nose out!' Brexit hating billionaire George Soros linked to Scottish indy plot

       1318 Comments

       I'm a Celebrity's Nigel Farage dropped in Australian outback as ITV series begins

       2 Comments

       Nigel Farage considering bombshell return to politics after I'm a Celebrity

       164 Comments

       Nigel Farage drops major hint about running for PM as top Tory backs him to join party

       137 Comments

       Susanna Reid ridicules 'disingenuous' Nigel Farage, claiming he's 'desperate' to become PM

       141 Comments

       Nigel Farage's quiet life in historic village where average homes fetch ￡653,000

       1 Comments

       I'm A Celeb's Nigel Farage 'a ticking time bomb who could explode' after Brexit grilling

       67 Comments

       Nigel Farage debanking ‘outrageous' says Jacob Rees-Mogg as he issues free speech warning

       37 Comments

       I'm A Celebrity's Grace Dent 'joked' about Nigel Farage after devastating plane crash

       Comments

       Michel Barnier branded ‘forever an enemy of Britain and everything wrong with the EU'

       200 Comments

       EU 'superstate' warning with treaty changes predicted to reduce members to 'vassal' status

       2081 Comments

       Nigel Farage should join the Tories, suggests Brexit architect Lord Frost

       607 Comments

       Nigel Farage cheated death FOUR times: ‘Very much a fatalist'

       5 Comments

       Tory Party's internal feud may undermine public confidence in elections, says Ross Clark

       3 Comments

       Meet the Netherlands new anti-immigration, anti-woke prime minister Geert Wilders

       28 Comments

       'Rude and nasty' Lorraine blasted in I'm A Celeb Nigel Farage 'body-shaming' row

       36 Comments

       ITV I'm A Celebrity dealt two million ratings blow as furious viewers 'boycott' series

       114 Comments

       Esther McVey mocks Labour as she defends new role as 'minister for common sense'

       305 Comments

       Dutch anti-EU firebrand Geert Wilders wins Dutch election in nightmare for EU - exit poll

       3878 Comments

       Rishi Sunak is now in full panic mode - No10 has five options to save his political career

       953 Comments

       'Keep your nose out!' Brexit hating billionaire George Soros linked to Scottish indy plot

       1318 Comments

       I'm a Celebrity's Nigel Farage dropped in Australian outback as ITV series begins

       2 Comments

       Nigel Farage considering bombshell return to politics after I'm a Celebrity

       164 Comments

       Nigel Farage drops major hint about running for PM as top Tory backs him to join party

       137 Comments

       Susanna Reid ridicules 'disingenuous' Nigel Farage, claiming he's 'desperate' to become PM

       141 Comments

       Nigel Farage's quiet life in historic village where average homes fetch ￡653,000

       1 Comments

       I'm A Celeb's Nigel Farage 'a ticking time bomb who could explode' after Brexit grilling

       67 Comments

       Nigel Farage debanking ‘outrageous' says Jacob Rees-Mogg as he issues free speech warning

       37 Comments

       I'm A Celebrity's Grace Dent 'joked' about Nigel Farage after devastating plane crash

       Comments

       Michel Barnier branded ‘forever an enemy of Britain and everything wrong with the EU'

       200 Comments

       EU 'superstate' warning with treaty changes predicted to reduce members to 'vassal' status

       2081 Comments

       Nigel Farage should join the Tories, suggests Brexit architect Lord Frost

       607 Comments

       Nigel Farage cheated death FOUR times: ‘Very much a fatalist'

       5 Comments

       Tory Party's internal feud may undermine public confidence in elections, says Ross Clark

       3 Comments

       Meet the Netherlands new anti-immigration, anti-woke prime minister Geert Wilders

       28 Comments

       * I’m A Celebrity starts on Sunday night at 9pm on ITV and ITVX.

       Related articles Nigel Farage 'could get in a fight' with I'm A Celeb co-star I’m a Celebrity 2023’s biggest potential feuds from Nigel Farage to Marvin Humes Ant and Dec told 'You're done' as I'm A Celeb fans vow to 'switch off' Sarah Ferguson furiously denies I'm A Celeb stint Nigel Farage shares unearthed clip of Ant and Dec 'backing' him for I'm A Celeb