Angela Rayner ‘in talks’ to join ITV I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here | Politics | News
Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner nearly left Westminster for the Australian bush as a contestant on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! It emerged the Labor Party’s senior politician was “in talks” to join the show. But he backed out after friends warned him appearing on Ant and Dec’s favorite TV show would ruin his political career.
Ms. Rayner’s near-miss in the outback was revealed by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde on The Rest Is Entertainment Podcast. Mr Osman said: “Another name has emerged that ITV found impossible to say no to.”
And Ms Hyde said: “It was impossible to say no to Angela Rayner going for it. Now she’s actually gone pretty far and her team are in talks to do it. And what a moment for her.”
Ms Hyde added: “If you thought last week was chaotic for Labor, try to imagine this week Angela Rayner basically running a caretaker leadership campaign with her meme of eating kangaroo testicles on ITV prime time.”
He added: “Obviously he wants to get back to the front line of politics and that’s clear… If he did that you’d leave during the parliamentary term. It would be fun to see the fallout from the budget next week when he’s eating that emu anus.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage came third on I’m a Celeb in 2023 and his political career goes from strength to strength. However, unlike Ms Rayney, she was not an MP at the time.
In contrast, former health secretary Matt Hancock and former Tory MP Nadine Dorries faced heavy criticism when they appeared on the program despite being MPs, but Ms Dorries made a comeback years later when she became Culture Secretary.
Ms Rayner was forced to resign from the Cabinet in September after it was revealed she had failed to pay the £40,000 stamp duty she owed on the purchase of a flat in Hove, East Sussex. However, he is seen as a potential successor to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer if Sir Keir is forced to resign.
