Frankie Dettori has blamed his swift Jungle exit on a lack of ‘airtime’ after learning his scenes were edited out.

The champion jockey, 52, became the first campmate to leave the 2023 series after receiving the least amount of votes on Sunday.

And amid claims that his departure was a ‘fix’, Dettori has revealed he was astonished to learn from his wife, Catherine, that he was rarely shown on screen.

He told MailOnline: ‘You know what, you don’t see what is edited on TV and speaking to my wife, she said I had very little airtime but I thought I had done a lot.

‘You think you’ve done a lot but it depends on how the programme is edited. But, to me, I have come out of there as a winner.’

Frankie Dettori has blamed his swift Jungle exit on a lack of ‘airtime’ after learning his scenes were edited out (pictured on Monday after leaving camp)

The champion jockey, 52, became the first campmate to leave the 2023 series after receiving the least amount of votes on Sunday

Frankie found himself in the bottom two with YouTube star Nella Rose (L)  with fans claiming it was a ‘fix’ that he left over the controversial social media star

After just 12 days on the ITV show, Dettori called his departure ‘bittersweet’ and told hosts Ant and Dec he was ‘disappointed to be the first one out’.

He arrived in the jungle four days after the rest of the celebrities with the boxer Tony Bellew, who is now tipped as a favourite for the final.

Speaking about the troubles of being a late arrival, he said: ‘Everybody had bonded for four days.

‘So I’m the new kid who arrived in a new school. It took a while to break the ice and be accepted to get to know everyone.

‘I had to go round one by one and really get to know people so that was a slow process because, apart from Nigel Farage, I had never met anyone.’

The sportsman was also bewildered to learn Farage’s bare bottom had been viewed by millions on I’m a Celebrity because the stars were instructed to keep their clothes on.

‘Furious’ Team Farage have slammed ITV with a legal letter accusing the channel of breaking an ‘indecency’ clause by filming him naked in the jungle shower.

But Dettori said: ‘Really? The shower is miles away from the camp so we didn’t know what was going on, I’m not going to spy on Nigel’s butt.

‘Really? We were told to keep our swimmers on!’

The issue of airtime on the show has also been an issue for Farage after his team alleged ITV were ‘starving’ him of minutes on screen because producers ‘do not agree with his politics’.

ITV dismissed these claims as ‘nonsense’ and a spokesman said: ‘We are a 60-75 minute entertainment show and the content featured is a fair and accurate representation of life in camp.’

Former Tory MP and I’m a Celebrity campmate, Edwina Currie, said she was convinced that Farage showering naked was all part of his plan to get extra airtime.

Joking that perhaps he would have been shown more on screen if he bathed naked, Dettori, who used to share a manager with Farage, said: ‘Now you tell me!’

Amid claims that his departure was a ‘fix’ , Dettori has revealed he was astonished to learn from his wife, Catherine, that he was rarely shown on screen

He told MailOnline: ‘You know what, you don’t see what is edited on TV and speaking to my wife, she said I had very little airtime but I thought I had done a lot.’

Frankie added: ‘You think you’ve done a lot but it depends on how the programme is edited. But, to me, I have come out of there as a winner’

Frankie was also bewildered to learn Farage’s bare bottom had been viewed by millions on I’m a Celebrity because the stars were instructed to keep their clothes on.

While many past campmates have complained about getting sick by gorging on food after leaving the Jungle, Dettoir revealed he had something else on his mind for his first few hours back in civilisation.

Asked by MailOnline what he’d be eating first now that rice and beans are off the menu, he revealed: ‘I want a cup of coffee first! I’ve missed a decent cup of coffee.’

As for food, Frankie confessed: ‘I haven’t had greens in a while so maybe a nice Caesar salad. All the guys wanted burger and chips but I want something healthy…

‘I need something good in my stomach!’

Frankie looked in high spirits as he arrived at the luxury Marriott Hotel in Surfer’s Paradise with wife Catherine by his side, where he was greeted by the likes of Sam Thompson’s best friend Pete Wicks and Tony Bellew’s wife Rachael.

It marked the end of a whirlwind morning where he learnt that he was to be the first campmate voted out of the Jungle after landing in the bottom two with Nella Rose.

Hosts Ant & Dec entered the camp and left the celebs in suspense before  announcing Frankie and Nella, 26, were in the bottom two.

After his name was then announced the jockey cheered and appeared delighted to be heading home to the lap of luxury, two weeks after entering camp as a late addition.

Following his farewells the racing legend sat down for his exit interview and swigged champagne, where he admitted he was ‘disappointed’ to be the first booted from the show.

He told the hosts that despite the early exit he was proud of having overcome his fears of enclosed spaces during a number of the gruelling Bushtucker Trials.

Frankie looked in high spirits as he arrived at the luxury Marriott Hotel in Surfer’s Paradise with wife Catherine by his side after his Jungle exit

He went on to say: ‘I’ve been dieting for thirty years but this is a different level with the heat and fatigue of the jungle.

‘It’s been a challenge, I’ll be honest, I’m disappointed to be the first one out but happy to have faced my fears of snakes and enclosed spaces.’

Frankie then concluded that ‘larger than life’ Sam Thompson would eventually walk away as champion of the series.

The jockey then made his journey along the famous bridge where was greeted by wife Catherine and fireworks.