Tommy Robinson heads for I'm A Celebrity
ITV braced for ‘huge row’ over controversial activist
ITV insiders say the channel is set to take a “massive gamble” by trying to sign up the controversial activist Tommy Robinson for this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity.
The founder of the English Defence League was freed from jail earlier this month after the Court of Appeal ordered a new trial on contempt charges.
His jailing had caused a storm of protests both online and in real life. Motorway bridges up and down the country were bedecked with signs reading “Free Tommy Robinson”.
It’s thought telly chiefs are keen to exploit his notoriety and put him in the celebrity jungle camp when the show returns later this year with Dec hosting it solo, as Ant pulled out last week .
Backlash
But some at the channel have warned of a backlash.
One source said: “Tommy Robinson is a polarising figure. For everyone who thinks he is a champion of free speech there is someone else calling him a fascist.
“They say all publicity is good publicity but we could be faced with far- left activists organising boycotts of ITV advertisers if he appears.
“But there’s no doubt he would make gripping telly. It would be a massive gamble which could go either way.”
The right- wing activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley- Lennon, was released on bail after three judges ruled that he was jailed following a series of procedural “flaws”.
Robinson, 35, had been convicted of contempt in May after broadcasting on Facebook a 1 ½ hour video from outside Leeds Crown Court about a case which has a blanket reporting restriction imposed for legal reasons.
Within hours of posting the video online he was brought before Judge Geoffrey Marson QC in Leeds and jailed for 10 months with an extra three extra months for an earlier suspended sentence for contempt.
Also in the frame for I’m A Celebrity 2018 are Corrie beauty Lucy Fallon and Love Island babe Olivia Attwood.