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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zoe Delaney

Hancock mentions dyslexia after cancelling Dyslexia Association talk to go on I'm A Celeb

Viewers were all left saying the same thing during this evening's episode of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

Fans of the ITV show all took to social media to poke fun at Matt Hancock as the MP mentioned dyslexia for only the second time on screen since leaving his constituents in West Suffolk early this month to join the celebrity camp.

Before losing the Tory whip due to his reality TV venture, Mr Hancock claimed his reason for camping in the Australian jungle alongside soap stars and musicians was all down to his desire to connect with the British public and raise awareness of dyslexia.

It's since been reported that Mr Hancock was "unable to fulfil his prior commitment" to speak at a dyslexia charity's 50th anniversary last week due to opting to appear on our television screens nightly alongside the likes of former Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles and Hollyoaks star Owen Warner.

Before joining the camp with Seann Walsh as a late arrival, the former health secretary - who was diagnosed with the learning difficulty at the age of 18 - insisted talking about his dyslexia was much more important than the £400,000 he is said to be being paid for his jungle stint.

I'm A Celebrity viewers had expected Matt Hancock to mention dyslexia more in the jungle (REX)

During tonight's update from the jungle, viewers watched as Mr Hancock finally mentioned the word 'dyslexic' once again, after previously prefering to chat to his campmates about his affair and his upcoming memoir.

The politician - who receives an annual salary of £84,144 thanks to his position of a sitting MP - mentioned the condition as he and Mike Tindall tried to solve an anagram to win today’s Deals On Wheels challenge

I’m terrible at anagrams, I’m dyslexic, so all the letters are already in an anagram, so it’s on you [Mike]," Mr Hancock admitted as they tried to crack to riddle.

The MP claimed his condition means he is not very good at solving anagrams (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"So proud of Matt for bringing attention to Dyslexia by saying the word 'dyslexia' twice," one viewer watching at home sarcastically tweeted as the scene aired earlier this evening.

"2nd time Matt briefly mentions dyslexia #ImACeleb," another quipped, as a third added: "Did Matt Hancock just mention Dyslexia for the first time? Wasn’t he in there to bring awareness of Dyslexia?? #imaceleb."

Tonight's edition of I'm A Celebrity comes as it's reported Mr Hancock skipped an appearance at a British Dyslexia Association event in favour of starring on the ITV reality TV show.

The MP had been due to appear at an event for a dyslexia charity last week (REX/Shutterstock)

Mr Hancock had agreed to be guest speaker for the British Dyslexia Association event at the House of Lords last Wednesday, but due to being in the Australian jungle his colleague Tom Hunt had to step in.

A spokesman for the charity confirmed to ITV Mr Hancock had been due to attend and added: "The British Dyslexia Association was delighted that Tom Hunt MP spoke at our 50th birthday celebration at the House of Lords."

Mr Hancock mentioned dyslexia on the ITV show for the first time on Sunday, after previously talking at length about his mistakes in government and his extra-marital affair.

During a chat with Babatúndé and comic Seann about their achievements and school days, Mr Hancock talked at length about many of his achievements before later discussing his dyslexia diagnosis.

As they spoke about their school days, Seann said of his own childhood: "I’ll tell you what kind of kid I was… remember when you got asked to leave class, stand outside, then there’s the window? It was just giving me my own TV show…I didn’t want to learn."

Mr Hancock hit headlines for his controversial late arrival in camp (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Mr Hancock then added: "I desperately wanted to learn. One side on maths I could and on English, I couldn’t."

"Are you talking about reading specifically?" Seann questioned before Matt then added to say: "Yeah. And then the moment I was identified as dyslexic at university suddenly instead of feeling I was just rubbish at something and useless, it was ahhhh… so actually I am OK with language, it’s just my brain works differently and I can work on that."

*I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! 2022 continues tomorrow night on ITV and ITVHub

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