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

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! has reportedly lost more than two million viewers on Sunday's debut of the new series after hundreds complained they wouldn't be tuning in after Nigel Farage was cast as a contestant.

An average of seven million tuned in to watch the first episode of series 23 on Sunday, according to overnight ratings, with ITV reporting a peak audience of 7.8 million.

Last year's first episode of the 2022 series saw an average of 9.1 million with a peak viewership of 10.3 million, according to ITV's overnight ratings.

While last year also sparked a backlash with the casting of Matt Hancock, the former health secretary didn't join the show until later in the series.

He came in third place despite many criticising the show for having him in the line-up.

The popular show has, in the past, been a ratings success each year for ITV.

According to overnight figures, 2019 also saw 10 million tuning in for the first episode.

The year prior saw 11 million people watching the series debut, which was the most-watched launch since 2013 when 12 million people tuned in.

Many long-established fans of the show expressed their disappointment in the casting of Farage, who was once the leader of UKIP.

On Sunday, fans continued to slam the decision by ITV and many kept to their word, with a significant drop in ratings.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one former viewer wrote: "@ITV and @AntDecITV I’ve watched every series #ImACelebrity #ImACeleb . It’s the only one of the reality shows I watch. I will not watch it this year."

@thatchamdad added: "The inclusion of Nigel Farage is a key reason why I’m not bothering with #ImACeleb this year. It seems I’m far from alone - although the show will always pull in big ratings, I doubt advertisers will be happy with this…"

"Not this year. I thought Matt Hancock was an all time low & I'm pleased to say I didn't like him anymore after the show than I did before. But Farage? No! No! No! #ImACeleb #Bycott," @Maheri7 shared. (sic)

@jonloveridge83 fumed: "All dreadful a***holes. I usually enjoy #ImACeleb it’s a guilty pleasure, even tolerated Hancock last year, but not this time."

@Laurafinmil commented: "I have loved @antanddec in everything they have ever done.

"I was even a teen member of their fan club, back when those were a thing.

"But even they are not enough to make me watch #ImACeleb this year.

"Farage should not be allowed a platform, this was a very unwise signing."

Not everyone felt the same though, with @antanddec_fp posting: "I don't care what anyone says, I absolutely loved last night's episode of #ImACeleb. It made me happy. So I'm going to watch it again tonight. It's as simple as that."

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues on Monday at 9pm on ITV.