It’s just a matter of hours before Matt Hancock is in camp (Picture: ITV)
Matt Hancock has insisted that people will see the ‘human side’ to him on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! ahead of his controversial arrival.
It was reported on Tuesday that the former health secretary would soon be entering camp along with comedian Seann Walsh as late arrivals, just one day after Love Island star Olivia Attwood was forced to quit.
At the end of tonight’s show, presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly teased Mr Hancock’s appearance, before a teaser clip played.
‘When I’m in camp, people will see the real me,’ Mr Hancock declared. ‘Survival in the jungle is a good metaphor for my work.
‘People will see me warts and all, see the human side of the guy behind the podium. I don’t think I’ve got any fears or phobias, but I’m about to find out.’
A close up image of the former health secretary’s mouth popped up on screen (Picture: ITV)
Mr Hancock’s official I’m A Celebrity photo is here (Picture: ITV)
Yes, although this really does feel like an episode of Black Mirror, this is actually happening.
Unsurprisingly, Mr Hancock’s upcoming stint in the jungle is already marred in controversy.
He was immediately suspended from the Tory party following his decision to join the reality series, and also came under fire by politicians for choosing to take part when Parliament is sitting.
Thousands have also signed a petition calling for Mr Hancock to be axed from the show.
Despite plenty of people up in arms over his signing, I’m A Celebrity’s executive producer Olly Nash defended the decision, saying: ‘It’s always an individual’s choice to come into camp, isn’t it?
Comedian Seann Walsh will also be joining camp as a latecomer (Picture: ITV)
‘And at any point, any celebrity can say I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here. So that’s the only thing really to add. I think.’
He added to The Mirror: ‘Nobody has to do the show in the same way and nobody has to stay in camp and nobody has to do a trial. So it’s up to any celebrity to make that choice.’
Mr Hancock was England’s health secretary during the Covid pandemic, however, he resigned in disgrace after leaked CCTV showed him breaching his own social distancing guidelines by kissing aide Gina Coladangelo.
Loose Women stars Coleen Nolan and Jane Moore have already predicted Charlene White, who lost her great aunt to Covid, will grill the MP over his handling of the lockdowns.
‘I think if anyone’s going to grill him it’ll be Charlene definitely because at the end of the day, she’s a news reporter,’ Nolan told Metro.co.uk.
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Mr Hancock’s impending arrival comes after Attwood was forced to withdraw from the ITV show on ‘medical grounds’ after just one day in the jungle.
ITV said the reality star has been told by the programme’s medical team that it was not safe for her to return to camp.
Her early exit gives her one of the shortest stints in the camp, closely matched by that of EastEnders actress Elaine Lordan who in 2005 dropped out after fainting twice within 24 hours of her arrival.
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