Matt Hancock is the odds-on favourite to be chosen for the trials
(Picture: AP Photo/Matt Dunham)Matt Hancock will appear on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, and bookmakers have him as the odds-on favourite to be chosen for the most bushtucker trials.
The MP’s decision to appear on the show has drawn widespread criticism as he could spend around three weeks in Australia while still receiving his MP salary.
A petition to prevent the former health secretary from appearing on the ITV show was set up by Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, and received more than 15,000 signatures.
The Conservative Party also removed the whip from Hancock, meaning he has been suspended from the Tory Party.
Hancock defended his decision to appear on the show and said it would be “a great opportunity to talk directly to people who aren’t always interested in politics”.
In an article for the Sun, he said reality TV is an “honest and unfiltered” way to communicate with voters.
“It’s our job as politicians to go to where the people are — not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster,” Mr Hancock wrote.
“There are many ways to do the job of being an MP. Whether I’m 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.”
However, if the odds according to BestofBets.com are correct, the MP looks set to have a miserable time in the Australian jungle, courtesy of the British public.
The odds of Hancock competing in the most bushtucker trials – which is voted for by the public – are 4/7.
A spokesperson from BestofBets.com said: “Whether it’s brave or stupid of Matt Hancock to join the jungle drama is up for debate, but the one thing the markets do agree on is that Matt will be singly selected for the majority of the Bushtucker Trials, to the point that it’s believed the public will keep him on the show for as long as possible just to see him suffer during the Bushtucker Trials.
“It’s a fact that many people are still very upset with the man who messed up Britain’s Covid response. He then got caught breaking his own rules for social distancing before getting caught cheating on his wife… I mean, you couldn’t make it up.
“But it’s almost impressive that he’s now agreed to go on a show that’s famous for viewers to ‘punish’ famous people just for the sake of it… Remember what happened to Katie Price when she went back into the jungle following her divorce from Peter Andre?”
They added: “It’s hard to decide if Hancock has completely underestimated what the viewers may put him through… or if this is his way of trying to apologise to the nation by opening up by the campfire.
“Either way, it’s set to be a very entertaining series ahead — especially as they’re back in Australia.”
I’m a Celebrity... will air on ITV on November 7, at 9 pm.
