Matt Hancock has been spotted touching down in Australia after he was revealed as a surprise addition to the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here line-up. ITV are still yet to confirm the former health secretary's appearance on the show after confirming its full 10-person line-up earlier this week.
Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver, reality TV star Olivia Attwood, radio DJ Chris Moyles, rugby star and royal Mike Tindall, and Loose Women star Charlene White are just some of those who have headed to Australia as the ITV reality show returns to its spiritual home after two years of being filmed in the UK.
Making up this year's batch of campmates are Boy George, Hollyoaks’ Owen Warner, TV presenter and property expert Scarlette Douglas, former footballer Jill Scott and comedian Babatunde Aleshe.
But while the ten named celebrities will go into I'm A Celeb this Sunday when the new series starts, Mr Hancock, 44, is reportedly set to be one of two latecomers who'll go into the camp, a tradition which has come to be expected among fans of the reality series. The other is comedian Seann Walsh, 36, who was included in the rumoured line-up as the stars landed at Brisbane Airport last week.
As he arrived at Brisbane Airport, the smiling MP, who has been suspended by the Tory party in the wake of his signing being revealed, has said he is going to Australia to join I’m A Celebrity so he can "go to where the people are — not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster."
The West Suffolk MP insisted "I haven’t lost my marbles" by deciding to join the reality show after being suspended from the parliamentary Conservative Party and that his "first priority" is to his constituents as he flew over 10,000 miles to join the programme. Mr Hancock has defended his decision in an article for The Sun, arguing it is “a great opportunity to talk directly to people who aren’t always interested in politics”.
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.”
He added: "So, the truth is, I haven’t lost my marbles or had one too many pina coladas. It’s something I’ve given a lot of thought to." Mr Hancock said he wants to use the "incredible platform" to raise awareness of dyslexia. He said he turned down the programme "twice this summer" but had a “change of heart” after workers asked a third time last week.
Mr Hancock said it was not the money that changed his mind, saying he will make “a donation” to St Nicholas Hospice Care in Suffolk, though he does not say he will give up the full amount. He said he feels able to go to the jungle now the "Government is stable". He also said he can be reached on "any urgent constituency matters".
READ NEXT:
- Gemma Atkinson reveals Helen Skelton's sweet gesture to her daughter Mia weeks after last gift
- ITV This Morning viewers call for show 'ban' after spotting pre-Christmas theme
- Ryan Thomas leaves fans 'bawling' with heartbreaking goodbye video
- Victoria Beckham ponders David's bedwear as she returns home to Halloween surprise
- BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Fleur East reveals gruesome injury before dance-off as Vito sends public message
