The executive producer of ITV hit show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! has said enlisting Matt Hancock to appear on the series was "not a question of trying to divide camp". There has been criticism after it emerged the former Health Secretary would join the programme in the Austrlian jungle.
Mr Hancock, 44, was forced to quit as Health Secretary in June 2021 after breaking coronavirus social distancing rules by having an affair in his ministerial office with aide Gina Coladangelo. His soon-to-be jungle campmate, property expert Scarlette Douglas, tweeted on the day he resigned: "Good, get out of here."
Meanwhile, Loose Women star Charlene White, who will also appear in the jungle this year, has previously been critical of the Covid strategy while Mr Hancock was Health Secretary. Her great aunt died with Covid.
However, I'm a Celeb executive producer Olly Nash told ITV News the show was not trying to create division. He said: "We've put in loads of politicians over the years, we also put in people who have had very strong views about certain things and sometimes it plays out in camp and sometimes it doesn't - it's not a question of trying to divide camp, we have never been a deliberately divisive camp.
"It's up to them to come into the camp and it's up to them if they want to leave." Following his decision to join the reality show, Mr Hancock came under fire from opposition politicians and from within his own party, with the Tory whip suspended on Tuesday.
Mr Hancock previously told the Sun he wants to use the "incredible platform" on the programme to raise awareness of dyslexia and insisted it "wasn't the cheque" that made him decide to join. Chivonne Preston, chief executive officer of the British Dyslexia Association, said: "We are grateful when public figures like Matt use their platforms to draw attention to the barriers and challenges that the dyslexia community faces.
"Dyslexia is misunderstood and despite being incredibly common is often hidden, [and] many people in our community feel like their struggles are unseen. We welcome opportunities to shine a light on dyslexia and inspire people to seek help and support."
In the jungle, West Suffolk MP Mr Hancock will be joining pop star Boy George, Coronation Street's Sue Cleaver, Hollyoaks' Owen Warner, TV presenter and property expert Scarlette Douglas, former England rugby player Mike Tindall, Loose Women star Charlene White, radio presenter Chris Moyles, reality TV star Olivia Attwood, former footballer Jill Scott and comedian Babatunde Aleshe. I'm a Celebrity, which is hosted by Ant and Dec, returns on Sunday (November 7).
The past two series were filmed at Gwrych Castle in North Wales due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
