This year's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here campmates got a huge shock when they saw Matt Hancock walk into the Australian jungle on Wednesday night (November 9). The former health secretary, who held the vital role in the conservative party during the coronavirus pandemic, joined the ITV show as a late arrival alongside comedian Seann Walsh.
Since his arrival Matt has taken on three trials and won a full set of 11 stars in two of the tasks, one being the infamous eating trial alongside Boy George where he gobbled cockroaches and a cows anus. But despite his success in winning food for his celebrity campmates, things have not been plain sailing back in camp.
The West Suffolk MP, who was suspended as a Tory MP following his decision to sign up to the ITV show, has come under fire since his arrival with stars such as Channel 4 presenter Scarlette Douglas giving him a grilling.
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On Thursday night's show (November 10), Scarlette addressed the fact that his fellow campmates, and viewers at home, may understandably be upset by the MP's decision to do the reality TV show due the critisism he faced during the pandemic.
"A lot of people had difficult times and then to see that people who had set the rules had broken them was a big slap in the face," the Channel 4 presenter said.
Matt then responded: "I know how people felt and that's why I resigned, so good on you for saying that."
Later addressing his affair and breach of rules, which subsequently led to him resigning as the health secretary in June 2021, Matt said: "It's no excuse but I fell in love and that also had a lot of other consequences. I obviously brought it on myself. But I messed up and I fessed up."
And the tough questions didn't stop there, as on Friday's instalment of the ITV show the campmates delved deep into why the MP was really in the jungle.
Radio X presenter Chris Moyles asked Matt if he got a fine after breaking lockdown rules, to which he responded: "No I did not."
ITV journalist and presenter Charlene White then chimed in: "Matt, you were socialising with someone outside of your household," but the MP insisted: "I didn't break any laws, it was guidance. But the problem was it was my guidance. It was a mistake because I fell in love with somebody. That's why I apologised for it."
Charlene then responded: "It's massively bigger than that. My aunt died from Covid in the first wave. We couldn't go to the hospital to visit her. I had to sit by myself in the church at her funeral. We couldn't hug each other because we were following guidance.
"I get that you fell in love but sorry, for a lot of families like mine, doesn't really cut it."
Asked if he had regret for the way he handled the pandemic as a whole, Matt said: "No, I'm much more robust in my defence of it. There's reasons for all the decisions that were taken, ultimately those problems were caused by the virus not the people who were trying to solve the problems."
Chris Moyles then added: "We were liking you on the telly on the briefings, you were very articulate and human and I think that's why a lot of people felt let down."
Matt then put his arm around Charlene as he admitted: "Do you know what it is actually, what I'm really looking for is a bit of forgiveness."
Scarlette then admitted she "nearly cried" as the former health sec said: "so did I."
But despite the other campmates seemingly having sympathy for Matt, Chris Moyles wasn't buying it.
Speaking to the Bush Telegraph, Chris admitted: "Honestly the way I feel now is he's pulled the mask slightly off his chin a little bit, but I still think he's not telling us the full truth.
Later speaking to Scarlette, Chris said: "It was when he asked for forgiveness. I wanted to say 'forgiveness for what, Matt? What are you sorry for, being caught or having an affair, making bad decisions or lying? If you're going to be real then be real. I don't think he's being real and it's bugging me."
And viewers at home were in full agreement with Chris as they praised him for 'seeing through' Matt's speech whilst others threatened to turn off during his plea for forgiveness.
@beckyhipkiss said: "Wanted to turn off during that rehearsed speech and shout at the other camp mates for falling for it “I’m looking forgiveness” Nope."
@ameliafosterx tweeted: "Don’t even know what to say but Matt Hancock’s reasons for being there are ENTIRELY self serving. He is a disgrace and if he felt any remorse whatsoever he would actually be at work trying to implement changes that make peoples lives better rather than engaging in PR."
@dccarruthers wrote: "So glad people like Chris Moyles are seeing through Matt Hancock's bulls**t that he's here for forgiveness with his fake emotion, it's like the covid vaccine fake cry all over again."
@AmyHeuser1 added: "@ChrisMoyles just said what I was thinking. There's a reason why it's so cringy watching Matt Hancock get emotional, it's because it's fake."
@BertStanley agreed: "Chris Moyles has absolutely nailed it, if Matt claims he did nothing wrong, why is he wanting forgiveness, forgiveness for what !?."
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