Matt Hancock and Seann Walsh are reportedly heading into the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! camp ahead of schedule following Olivia Attwood's shock exit. The pair were set to join the fellow stars later on in the series as latecomers, but their arrival is understood to now have been pushed forward.
The duo are set to appear on TV screens tomorrow night (Wednesday, Nov 9), with a teaser of their arrival due to air at the end of tonight's (Nov 8) episode by hosts Ant and Dec, according to the Mirror. It comes just a day after Olivia Attwood was forced to quit the show less than 24 hours after episode one was broadcast.
The Love Island star was made to leave on medical grounds, with the programme’s medical team informing her that it is not safe for her to return to camp. The 31-year-old is said to be heartbroken over the decision, and her family have issued a statement on her behalf after her early exit “for reasons beyond her control”.
READ MORE: Olivia Attwood full statement as she breaks silence after leaving ITV I'm a Celebrity
issued a statement on her early departure yesterday, which reads: "As a precautionary measure Olivia needed to leave the jungle to undergo medical checks. Unfortunately, the medical team has advised that it is not safe for Olivia to return to camp as there needs to be further investigation. She has been absolutely brilliant and she'll be very much missed on the show."
In wake of her exit, former Health Secretary Matt Hancock and comedian and Strictly star Seann Walsh will be heading into the camp in just over 24 hours. Mr Hancock's decision to join the show has been a highly controversial one, with outrage from politicians and members of the public.
Shortly after the news emerged of Mr Hancock's I'm A Celeb signage, the MP was suspended of the Tory whip. His decision to go on the show whilst receiving his MP's salary has been widely criticised.
Even Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has offered his say n the matter: "I think politics is a noble profession, at its best - it can and should be - but it’s incumbent on politicians to earn people’s respect and trust.
"They do that by working hard for their constituents, as the vast majority of MPs do - that is why I was very disappointed with Matt’s decision.” When asked if he will be watching the show, Mr Sunak said: "I genuinely won’t have the time’’ is the honest answer."
A spokesman for Hancock has defended his decision to go on the show. They 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 campaign and to talk about an issue he really cares about in front of millions of people.
"Matt will be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk, and causes supporting dyslexia, off the back of his appearance. He will, of course, declare the amount he receives from the show to Parliament to ensure complete transparency, as normal."
According to the Mirror, Mr Hancock no longer has access to a laptop and now faces up to three weeks where he will be uncontactable to his constituents from West Suffolk. ITV publicly insist the pair are not being rushed into camp or onto the show, but late entries often go into the series at the end of the first week.
Seann Walsh, 36, is well-known for being a stand up comedian - but is also well-known to the public for his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018. The comic was caught up in a scandal after being pictured kissing his professional dance partner Katya Jones whilst they both were in relationships.
It led to front page headlines about the curse of Strictly and Walsh split from his partner Rebecca Humphries. He has even done stand up shows about the fallout and his status as a 'villain'.
I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! continues on ITV and ITV Hub tonight at 9.15pm
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