I'm A Celebrity hopeful Matt Hancock hopes his jungle stint will lead to a new career after telling pals: “I’ll never work in Government again”.
The Tory ex-Health secretary turned to showbiz after accepting his lockdown-breaking affair torpedoed his chances in top-level politics.
The MP was snubbed by Rishi Sunak in the latest cabinet reshuffle – and the newly-elected Prime Minister appeared to ignore him as he shook hands with cheering colleagues at Tory HQ two weeks ago.
Tonight a source told us: “Everyone thought Matthew was set on getting his feet back under the table in the Cabinet Room so when news started circulating about his reality TV career it seemed like an idiotic decision.
“But he has now made it clear that he has no expectations about being welcomed back into the fold after everything that has happened.”
Mr Hancock, 44, will reportedly net £400,000 for his ITV reality show stint Down Under alongside ’80s singer Boy George, 61, and former England rugby ace Mike Tindall, 44.
The politician has lost the Tory whip – meaning he will have to sit as an independent MP for West Suffolk – but is entitled to keep his £84,144 salary despite being absent from constituents for up to three weeks. He will be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk, and causes supporting dyslexia off the back of his appearance.
The MP has also said he will declare his I’m A Celeb earnings to Parliament to ensure transparency.
The source said: “He sees this as a different kind of platform for him to raise issues that mean a lot to him like neurodiversity and dyslexia. The money can’t hurt either.”
But Labour ’s deputy leader Angela Rayner slammed Mr Hancock for abandoning his duties. Writing in the Sunday People, she said: “ Matt Hancock isn’t a celebrity. He’s the disgraced ex-Health Secretary who oversaw a pandemic response that led to one of the world’s highest Covid death tolls while breaking his own lockdown rules. He should be in Westminster taking responsibility and cleaning up the mess he helped create.
“It shows contempt for his constituents and for the public inquiry into the UK’s Covid response.”
Today it emerged Mr Hancock skipped the Tory conference to film Channel Four’s SAS Who Dares Wins alongside model Melinda Messenger, 51, and Pop Idol star Gareth Gates, 38, last month. C4 bosses were reportedly fuming about his I’m a Celeb stint as he is due to be the next series’ star signing.
Mr Hancock is the latest in a line of politicians to head Down Under including former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries who ate an ostrich anus during a Bushtucker trial.
While serving as Health Secretary, Mr Hancock’s career and marriage broke down after he was caught on CCTV breaking Covid rules by kissing aide Gina Colangelo in his Whitehall office last year.
The pair are now in a relationsip and Gina is said to be flying to Oz.
Mr Hancock is set to divorce his wife of 15 years Martha, mother of his three children, next year.
Producers are hoping the politician will spill the beans on his affair. But it might prove awkward viewing for his kids who plan to watch the show, it is claimed.
The source insisted: “Despite everything that has happened Matt’s children are really keen for him to go on the show and have been behind him all the way, otherwise he wouldn’t have taken it on. They will be watching at home.”
Mr Hancock’s spokesman said: “The second reading of Matt’s Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill is just days after I’m A Celeb finishes. This is an amazing opportunity for Matt to raise the profile of his dyslexia bill and to talk about an issue he really cares about in front of millions of people.”
