Has ITV gone cold on Nigel Farage?

Has ITV already gone cold on its £1.5m I’m A Celebrity signing Nigel Farage? The former Ukip leader – who jetted to the jungle to speak to its “big young audience” – barely featured in last night’s episode.

Having been denied a chance to do the Bushtucker Trial (and been “certain – certain – it would be me, but – hey – the public have chosen” – rather like his seven attempts to be elected to Parliament), Farage volunteered to help food critic Grace Dent in her American football-related challenge. The columnist – who appears never to have watched the show, such is her incredulity at the abasements meted upon its contestants – threw balls at Farage, who had to race against someone called Sam Thompson (from Made In Chelsea, m’lud) to perform touchdowns while wearing trousers full of green ants.

Dent won after competitor Nella Rose – a YouTuber – pulled out and ITV viewers were treated to the sight of Dent having a cockroach washed out of her ear. “What an experience!,” trilled Farage in his second and final full piece to camera of the entire episode. “When I was a little boy, my grandparents and parents used to say to me that I had ants in my pants. Well today I learned literally what it’s like. And I’ve got to tell you there are still some in there right now.”

It’s possibly not what ITV paid £1.5m for. But – hey – at least Farage kept said pants on, given that it has twice broadcast his bare arse on primetime TV in the past week. Not even GB News does that.