Matt Hancock comes over more like Alan Partridge than a powerful political figure in his latest appearance, a top body language expert says.
Ex-Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been speaking in a lengthy interview with the Diary of a CEO podcast.
The former Cabinet minister was forced to resign last year after leaked CCTV showed him in a clinch with adviser Gina Coladangelo in his Whitehall office.
Hancock has said he broke his own Covid guidelines because he "fell in love" with his aide - and has tried to put his side of the saga across.
But Judi James, the TV body language specialist, has dissected his chat on the show, which has also been broadcast online.
Wearing a navy polo neck, the senior Tory spoke at length about the affair after being caught when social gatherings of people from different households were banned under law.
But Judi he gives off the comedy character's cringey vibes, saying: "The body language in this clip makes Hancock look less ‘Diary of a CEO’ and more ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’.
"Childish hand gesticulation like hand flapping and folded arms; puffing and snorting when he seems to be lost for an answer.
"Plus his choice of Alan Partridge chic for his styling all make this looks like a clip from a classic comedy show until you see it’s an ex Cabinet Minister you’re watching.
"I’d suggest this is Hancock’s attempt to ‘be himself’ after his more ministerial displays in his cabinet days and there could be some hope from his team that the ‘real’ Matt might be more likeable, but the more emotional displays here hint that the rest of the interview might be required viewing for the wrong reasons."
She added: "His body language doesn’t suggest calm and mature with a bit of self-effacing or even wicked humour thrown in, it makes him look emotionally overwhelmed and defensive when put on the spot.
"He’s not facing Paxman at his inquisitor peak here and the questions sound reasonable but Hancock’s high hand gestures and belligerent sounding tone make it seem as though he’s not come to terms with how his career worked out yet."
Mr Hancock left his wife and children to start a relationship with Ms Coladangelo, who was also married with children.
The interview has been mocked online as he put his point across.
He said: "We fell in love and that's something that was completely outside of my control.
"Of course I regret the pain that's caused and the very, very public nature - anybody who has been through this knows how difficult it is, how painful it is."
He went on: “I resigned because I broke the social distancing guidelines by then. They weren’t actually rules. They weren’t the law. But that’s not the point.
"The point is they were the guidelines that I’d been proposing. And that happened because I fell in love with somebody.”
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