Viewers weren’t happy about Hancock’s final trial (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has been hit with even more complaints, reaching a total of 3,727, with many revolving around Matt Hancock’s appearance in the jungle.
The MP made it to the final with Lioness Jill Scott and Hollyoaks’ Owen Warner, however, his stint on the reality show sparked a lot of controversy.
Hancock arrived in the jungle as a latecomer, alongside Seann Walsh, and was voted in to do his first six bushtucker trials in a row.
From inside the camp, he faced grillings from the likes of Charlene White and Boy George, who challenged the politician about his motives for signing up to the series.
Earlier this month, Ofcom confirmed that 1,100 objected to Hancock’s presence in the camp, and ahead of the final week, figures showed that complaints soared to 3,287, with a total of 1,764 aimed at Hancock.
In the final week of the show, 209 complaints were recorded over various transmission dates, while 80 complaints were listed after Sunday’s final episode, which saw Hancock take part in his final bushtucker trial.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Ofcom recorded 80 complaints after Sunday’s episode (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)
The former health secretary was challenged to take on Flood Your Face, which involved him keeping his head in a tank while it was slowly filled with water, eels, yabbies, spiders, and other critters.
Ofcom have confirmed 80 complaints sent in following that episode airing with 64 revolving around the welfare of animals during that trial.
Elsewhere in the final week, 18 complaints were made about dingo dollar questions and 11 were made about the Grot Yoga challenge, which saw Mike Tindall, Boy George and Seann meditate their way through being covered in critters and rotten veg.
The Grot Yoga trial also sparked complaints (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Hancock made it to the final, finishing third (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)
After Hancock left the camp to chat to Ant and Dec, they asked him directly why he decided to take part in the ITV programme.
Reiterating what he’d said in the jungle about wanting to seem ‘human’ as a politician, he responded: ‘Well I just wanted – well I said this in there. But I just wanted to show what I’m just like as a person.
‘Lots of people come to me with preconceived ideas for obvious reasons and I just wanted to be myself. But I also actually strongly believe that for politicians as a whole.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
He was met on the bridge by girlfriend Gina Coladangelo (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)
‘We don’t come across as human enough and this is probably the most extreme way of just showing who you are. I’m the guy who throws myself into things.’
According to ITV, an average of 10.1m people tuned into the final, an increase of 3.6million viewers in comparison to the 2021 final, which saw Emmerdale actor Danny Miller be crowned King of the Castle in Wales.
The broadcaster stated that the final episode of the 2022 series on Sunday night had a peak audience of 11.5m viewers.
Lioness Jill Scott was crowned Queen of the Jungle (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)
More: Trending
It was also the highest-rated final since 2018, the company said, with an average of 10.9m watching four years ago when football manager Harry Redknapp won the crown.
ITV said that based on seven-day consolidated data, the I’m A Celebrity 2022 series was averaging 11.1m viewers across various devices and platforms.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is available to watch on ITV Hub.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Matt Hancock dominates I’m A Celebrity Ofcom complaints following government rule breach
MORE : Matt Hancock rakes in £45,000 for Celebrity: SAS Who Dares Wins appearance
What is Ofcom and what does it cover?
Ofcom is the regulator for the communications services that we use and rely on each day.
The watchdog makes sure people get the best from their broadband, home phone and mobile services, as well as keeping an eye on TV and radio.
Ofcom deals with most content on television, radio and video-on-demand services, including the BBC. However, if your complaint is about something you saw or heard in a BBC programme, you may need to complain to the BBC first.
Its rules for television and radio programmes are set out in the Broadcasting Code.
The rules in the Broadcasting Code also apply to the BBC iPlayer.
This Broadcasting Code is the rule book that broadcasters have to follow and it covers a number of areas, including; protecting the under-18s, protecting audiences from harmful and/or offensive material and ensuring that news, in whatever form, is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality.
Audiences can complain to Ofcom if they believe a breach of the Broadcasting Code has been made.
Every time Ofcom receives a complaint from a viewer or listener, they assess it to see if it needs further investigation.
If Ofcom decide to investigate, they will include the case in a list of new investigations, published in the Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin.
An investigation is a formal process which can take some time depending on the complexity of the issues involved.
Ofcom can also launch investigations in the absence of a complaint from a viewer or listener.
Hancock made it to the final, finishing third.
