It’s Dugdale in the jungle as former Labour leader Kezia joins I’m a Celebrity
KEZIA Dugdale was last night rumoured to have signed up to I’m a Celebrity in a last minute shake-up of the reality show.
The ex-Scottish Labour leader was said to be flying to Australia this weekend – on the day the party announces her successor.
Miss Dugdale resigned suddenly from her post in August, but according to the Scottish Sun she is now to join the jungle reality show.
The news comes just days after Alex Salmond made a controversial foray into TV broadcasting, hosting a chat show on Kremlin mouthpiece channel RT.
This summer, Mr Salmond turned down an offer to appear on I’m a Celebrity, citing an aversion to creepy crawlies.
Miss Dugdale’s reported decision to accept ITV’s offer is likely to attract criticism, as the 36-year-old MSP continues to serve constituents in the Lothian district. A source told the paper: ‘It’s hard to represent constituents when you’re on the other side of the world.
‘This signing is bound to annoy a lot of taxpayers. Kezia is going to be unable to perform her day job and serve her constituents for several weeks while she’s in the show.
‘It might be good publicity for her, but there’s some who will think it’s not so good for the Labour Party.’
They added: ‘Bosses know she’ll get people talking. Kezia’s a strong figure with some forthright views which she will bring to the show.’
Other sitting politicians who have appeared on the show, which starts tomorrow, have come under fire for the decision.
In 2012 Conservative MP Nadine Dorries lasted just 12 days in the jungle but faced accusations she had abandoned her voters.
She also faced parliamentary scrutiny for months afterwards, and was forced to apologise for failing to declare the fee she earned for appearing.
Miss Dugdale’s office could not be contacted for comment last night.
Another controversial figure joining the contestants is -year- old Stanley Johnson – the father of Foreign Secretary Boris. Despite being warned that the show – which he claims never to have watched – is ‘particularly challenging’, Mr Johnson was gung-ho yesterday as he prepared to become its oldest ever contestant.
Perhaps his bravado was meant to impress three of the glitzier young celebrities heading into the wild with him, reality TV star Georgia Toffolo, footballer’s wife Rebekah Vardy and singer Vanessa White.
At a cocktail party on the Gold Coast to mark the launch of the show, the former MEP said: ‘I am up for it.
‘I love the idea of being in a rainforest for a few weeks and possibly being pushed to the limit.’
‘She’ll get people talking’