Kathy Burke in unlikely feud with Ant and Dec as she’s left ‘really angry’ at stars for ‘step too far’ on I’m a Celeb
She slammed the ITV duo for the casting of recent series of the hit endurance show
Kathy Burke has been engulfed in an unlikely feud with Ant and Dec as she’s left ‘really angry’ at the beloved ITV stars.
The Absolutely Fabulous star thinks the pair went a “step too far” on I’m a Celebrity.
Kathy, 59, is known for her appearances in huge TV hits such as French And Saunders as well as her starring role in Gimme Gimme Gimme.
She hinted that she used to be a fan of the long-running jungle reality show, but not anymore!
The comic actress admitted that she didn’t watch it this year because former UKIP and Brexit Party politician Nigel Farage had a starring role.
She appeared on the Where There’s a Will, There’s a Wake podcast, where she told comedian Sean Walsh: “I didn’t watch this year’s because of Farage being in it.
“It was a step too far having [Matt] Hancock in there I felt but I thought I’d watch it anyway.
‘But when they announced Farage I just thought, you f***ing arseholes.”
Ant and Dec were then drawn into the crossfire as Kathy said she was ‘really angry’ with them about the casting.
She also believed it wasn’t fair on their other jungle contestants who might have differing opinions.
Kathy exclaimed: “And I was really angry with Ant and Dec. They’re Irish descent, man!’
“And also I think it was really unfair on the rest of you, on the other contestants.”
Other celebrities also hit out at the decision to include Nigel amongst the cast of ITV camp-mates.
When discussing his casting, Lorraine Kelly said on her breakfast show: “I personally think it is wrong,” also saying that she thought it was “bizarre.”
Actor and TV presenter Jason Manford also vowed to boycott the show again after he previously switched off when Matt Hancock was cast.
He wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Gutted to have to miss another series of I’m a Celeb! H**cock last year & F****e this year, it’s a hard nope!”
Nigel, 60, was rumoured to become the highest paid campmate in the history of the show with a rumoured £1.5m fee.
He seemed to confirm the eye-watering fee when he was quizzed by Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain,
The former politician explained: “I gave up a very successful career in the city of London – colleagues of mine are on the rich list, I never moaned, never complained.
“Is this the biggest pay check I’ve ever had? Yes it is.”
The 2023 series was won by former Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson who beat out Nigel and boxer Tony Bellew.
Other contestants included Jamie Lynn Spears, Josie Gibson, Marvin Humes and First Dates star Fred Sirieix.
