Nigel Farage’s friends’ fury as ITV plans racism allegations ahead of I’m a Celebrity vote

ITV bosses have provoked fury among supporters of Nigel Farage with new racism allegations as he attempts to become King of the Jungle.

Express.co.uk has learnt that the broadcaster is planning to put out the allegations today based on a video clip the GB News award winning host and former Brexit Party leader did with Cameo – a personalised video service where famous people are asked to give messages.

But Mr Farage’s team have called foul on the plans because it is being done at a point when he is unable to respond because he is on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity….Get Me Out of Here! and abiding with its rules to not have contact with the outside world.

ITV put the accusations to Mr Farage’s team in conjunction with the Byline Times, which previously ran allegations against former fellow GB News host Dan Wootton.

According to Farage’s team, they have been told the allegations are set to be broadcast on the day of the first round of voting in the show when one of the contestants will be eliminated.

They have raised concerns that this may be an attempt to stop Mr Farage from becoming King of the Jungle after winning millions of new fans by participating in the show.

Additionally, they have raised further concerns that the allegations are linked to remarks made by ITV’s Director of Television Kevin Lygo.

Lygo appearted on stage at the ITV Palooza event next to a sign language interpreter.

He said: “Thank you to the signer, I don’t know any sign language, I just know the sign for Nigel Farage.”

Making a rude single-handed gesture, he added: “Don’t worry, he knows he has to come home from Australia in a dinghy.”

A spokesman for Nigel Farage insisted that the former Brexit Party leader is not racist and was set up on Cameo.

He said: “Over the last few years, Nigel has filmed over 4,000 cameo messages for fans and supporters.

“This includes videos for people’s weddings, birthdays, stag dos, in jokes between friends and even people who are ill in hospital.

“When Nigel first joined Cameo, there was a concerted effort by Remain supporters to highjack the platform to embarrass Nigel by getting him to read out obscure rude words and in jokes between friends.

“It is widely reported that some of these slipped through the net, as Nigel is a classic Boomer Dad.

“In the video, Nigel was asked by a customer on Cameo to read a message they had written for a friend.

“Had Nigel known that the message he was asked to read contained an obscure offensive word he would not have made the video.”

Turning on ITV, the spokesman said: “For ITV News to ask Nigel to respond when they know he contractually can’t is a complete stitch up.

“Is it a coincidence that this attack by ITV was to be revealed on the same day that voting lines open for supporters to decide who will remain in the Jungle?

“The aim of Nigel going into camp was to reach a new audience. It is clear he is starting to do that. His campmates like him and so does the huge audience of the show.”

He added: “Maybe their (ITV’s) greatest fear is that Nigel becomes King of the Jungle.”

Express.co.uk has seen the email to Mr Farage’s representatives from the ITV Investigations Department giving them until 8am to respond.

The allegations focus on a message Mr Farage was asked to read out in a video sent on 23 December 2021 which included the phrase “you will get nog dick for Christmas”.

According to ITV, the recipient of the video has told them that he takes this to mean a black man’s penis.

Whilst also used on its own, the term “nog” can be known as an abbreviated form of the racial slur “nig-nog.”

However, ITV said that the recipient not alleging that Mr Farage knew anything about him personally before sending the video.

However, there are several other definitions of the word “nog” including a small block or peg of wood, a strong Norfolk ale or any beverage made with beaten eggs, usually with alcoholic liquor.

In an earlier requested video message sent in July 2021, Mr Farage’s message called the recipient a “paper thin snowflake.”

The recipient emailed Farage after the first video to warn him that he was being asked to send racist messages but received no reply before getting the second, allegedly racist video three months later.

ITV News asked: “Why did Mr Farage record a message containing this racially offensive term? Would he like to apologise for it use? Why does Mr Farage record Cameo videos for strangers and does he still record Cameo videos? How much was Mr Farage paid to record these Cameo videos?”

Express.co.uk has contacted ITV News and I’m a Celebrity for comment on the story but received no reply.