TV & Film
Matt Hancock to enter I’m A Celebrity as surprise campmate
BREAKING: He has been suspended as Tory MP for his decision
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock will reportedly be entering I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! as a surprise campmate, a TV source has revealed today.
The disgraced politician, who was forced to resign last year after CCTV footage showed him cheating on his wife during the Covid pandemic, has been ‘named’ as the twelfth star to go into the jungle.
A TV source told The Sun: “Matt is a sensational signing for the show as producers love a star with a story to tell, and they always hope they’ll spill the beans round the campfire.
“He’s the latest in a long line of figures from the political sphere, including MP Nadine Dorries, Stanley Johnson and MP Lembit Opik.”
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The source added: “There’s been a question mark over who the twelfth campmate would be, partly because negotiations over Matt going in were so top secret.
“It seems Matt was a last-minute signing.”
However, Sky News has now reported that Hancock has been suspended as Tory MP over his involvement on the show.
Chief Whip Simon Hart MP said: “Following a conversation with Matt Hancock, I have considered the situation and believe this is a matter serious enough to warrant suspension of the whip with immediate effect.”
Number 10 / Flickr
In response to this, the TV source added: “Matt [Hancock] doesn’t expect to serve in government again, so it’s an incredible opportunity for him to engage with the 12m Brits who tune in every single night.
“Matt has told the whips in parliament and he will use his time in the jungle to promote his dyslexia campaign.”
They continued: “Matt has an excellent team working with him in West Suffolk, but producers have agreed that he can communicate with them if there’s an urgent constituency matter.
“There are many ways to do the job of being an MP.
ITV
“Whether he’s in camp for one-day or three weeks, there are very few places people will be able to see a politician as they really are.
“Where better to show the human side of those who make these decisions than with the most-watched programme on TV?”
The eleven other celebrities taking part in this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! have already landed in Australia ahead of the series’ debut this month.
This year’s line up includes the likes of pop icon Boy George, Corrie’s Sue Cleaver, TV presenter Scarlette Douglas, ex-rugby player Mike Tidnall MBE and journalist Charlene White.