Lorraine Kelly will not issue an Ofcom-mandated apology to Nigel Farage because her statements did not justify an official probe.
Lorraine fans, and Nigel supporters in general, will recall the 63-year-old presenter making fun of the former UKIP leader back in November.
When addressing the pro-Brexit campaigner’s appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here she expressed disbelief at his age.
On November 21, Lorraine’s ITV afternoon show featured Nigel, 59, who again exposed his bum in front of astonished campmates.
When discovering his age, the Scottish presenter declared he looked a ‘hell of a lot older’ and added: ‘That’s astonishing. That shows you get the face that you deserve.’
She received 354 complaints in just seven days, according to the television watchdog, which examines and penalise broadcasts that violate acceptable standards.
The comments were made while interviewing former politician and campmate Edwina Currie.
She was explaining her thoughts about why he had signed up for the show, she reasoned that the politician likely thought he could ‘enhance his reputation’.
‘What’s he in for? I think he is in there because he thinks he can enhance his reputation and be seen as a responsible and intelligent and worthy person of some kind or other and perhaps…he’s only what…59?’ she said.
‘He’s got plenty of years ahead of him.’
At this moment, Lorraine jumped in and was clearly shocked by Nigel’s age, exclaiming; ‘Oh, is he?’
She then proceeded to make the comments, which some, 354 to be exact, saw as ‘body shaming’.
One viewer wrote on X at the time: ‘I’m no fan of Nigel but Lorraine that comment was below the belt. You never would say that about a woman.’
Ofcom did not feel the same and said: ‘We considered complaints from viewers who objected to comments made about Nigel Farage’s physical appearance.
‘In our view, the brief exchange between the host and a reporter were part of a light-hearted discussion about jungle life, and within audience expectations for this programme.’
On the same day, Nella Rose and Fred Sirieix’s heated dispute on I’m a Celeb garnered over 900 complaints when he claimed he was old enough to be her father.
Nella, who had lost both her parents, approached the First Dates presenter and, although accepting his apologies, refused to interact with him or eat the food he had prepared.
The couple quickly reconciled after moving to a luxury camp and participating in a challenge together.
Sam Thompson was proclaimed the eventual King of the Jungle, much to the pleasure of both he and the spectators, with Tony Bellew in second and Nigel in third.
Source My Celebrity Life.