Inside I’m A Celeb star Nigel Farage’s rollercoaster life as he survives PLANE crash, ‘extreme’ death threats and cancer
NIGEL Farage has had a colourful life in and out of politics – and that’s set to continue with his spot on I’m A Celebrity.
The former UKIP leader, 59, has been confirmed as part of the ITV line-up after penning a mega-money deal to become the best-paid famous face Down Under.
It has been reported he’s being paid a staggering £1.5m for a stint in the jungle – significantly more than the former highest paid star Noel Edmonds, who was paid £600k in 2018.
While fans have already vowed to boycott the show courtesy of the ex Brexit chief’s presence, they might be missing out.
As while producers hope Nigel will grab the same number of headlines as disgraced former Health Secretary Matt Hancock – last year’s stand-out contestant – his might well share tales of his life story, too.
Here we take a look.
WHO IS HE?
The ex MEP and former Ukip leader, 59, was born in Kent on April 3, 1964.
He was educated at independent school Dulwich College, but swerved a university education in favour of a job in the city, trading commodities at the London Metal Exchange.
Nigel was one of the founder members of Ukip in 1993, and became an MEP for the South East region in 1999.
As MEP he quickly became renowned for his outspoken views and impassioned, heart-on-his-sleeve speeches.
He was elected leader of Ukip in 2006, stood down in 2009 but returned the following year until 2016.
The new I’m A Celeb campmate declared “independence day” after the UK voted to leave the EU on June 23 that year, then stood down as party leader.
CAR CRASH VICTIM
Nigel was run over by a car in Orpington, Kent, after a night out at the pub in 1985.
He sustained severe injuries and was told he may lose his leg.
While in hospital he met his first wife, nurse Grainne Hayes.
At the time, he told the Telegraph: “A car crash nearly killed me, but at least I got a wife out of it.”
The dad-of-four married German-born Kirsten Mehr in 1999 after his divorce from his first wife Gráinne.
The pair share two daughters together, yet live “separate lives.”
PLANE CRASH HORROR
He also survived a plane crash in 2010 when his light aircraft nose-dived into a field during an election stunt.
He was pulled bloodied from the wreckage suffering broken ribs and a punctured lung after the accident at Hinton-in-the-Hedges airfield, near Brackley, Northants.
He also suffered two chipped vertebrae and a fractured sternum.
Prior to the accident on his election campaign, Nigel had joked: “I just hope the plane doesn’t blow up and crash.”
CANCER SCARE
Yet. Nigel’s near-death experiences don’t stop there.
He had a testicle removed in 1986 after being diagnosed with cancer, which he said in his autobiography left his ball “the size of a lemon”.
In an article in the Telegraph, he wrote: “I walked into the Queen’s Head and ordered a pint. All of a sudden, an indescribable pain shot through my left-hand side.
“It seemed to go from somewhere near my left kidney, through my abdomen and into my groin.
“I was in absolute agony. But I tried to grin and bear it and ordered another pint.”
Thankfully, the cancer had not spread to any other organs.
DEATH THREATS
Nigel is no doubt one of the most controversial and polarising figures in recent political history.
Yet he faced a death threat from pilot Justin Adams after the pair survived his campaign plane crash.
Mr Adams’ mental health deteriorated so much that he threatened to kill both Nigel and the Civil Aviation authority investigator.
The pilot later sadly took his own life.
Nigel has also said his children have been targets of abuse because of his political views.