Matt Hancock is hoping his stint on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! will change the public's perception of him.
The Conservative Party politician has been stripped of the Tory whip after agreeing to appear on the ITV show, as he joins the likes of Chris Moyles, Love Island star Olivia Attwood and royal Mike Tindall preparing themselves for a stint in the Australian jungle.
A political ally close to the former health secretary has revealed the politician's reasons for signing up for the reality TV show and claimed Hancock - who receives a £84,144 yearly salary as an elected MP - will declare the cash he receives for appearing on I'm a Celebrity before making 'a donation' to charity.
The West Suffolk MP was forced to quit as health secretary in June 2021 after breaking coronavirus lockdown rules by conducting an affair in his ministerial office with aide Gina Coladangelo.
Hancock's upcoming cameo on I'm a Celebrity has already sparked anger online, with one disappointed viewer tweeting: "If Matt Hancock would rather go on I'm A Celebrity than serve his constituents while being paid lots of money to be an MP, he should face an immediate by-election."
But one of Hancock's political allies has claimed his time camping with the likes of Boy George and Owen Warner from Hollyoaks will help the former health secretary connect with the British public.
"Politicians like Matt must go to where the people are - particularly those who are politically disengaged," Hancock's ally claims when discussing the future celebrity camper.
"Matt's of the view that we must embrace popular culture. Rather than looking down on reality TV, we should see it for what it is - a powerful tool to get our message heard by younger generations," they claim.
"Matt will be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk, and he will, of course, declare the amount he receives from the show to Parliament to ensure complete transparency, as normal.
"When he was first approached to take part – while he was flattered and naturally curious - it didn’t take him too long to turn the opportunity down because of the instability government was facing at the time.
As news of Hancock's upcoming appearance on I'm a Celebrity broke, many viewers of the show took to social media to slam ITV's last minute signing.
"Not only is Matt Hancock flogging his ghastly book the ‘Pandemic Diaries’, this ghastly individual is now off for a bit of self-promotion by going on I’m A Celebrity," broadcaster Dominique Samuels wrote on Twitter.
"The guy is a vile narcissist who must never be accepted back into public life, despite his gross efforts."
"He was a national embarrassment during the Covid-19 pandemic and he’ll be an even greater laughing stock on I’m A Celeb!" Dan Hughes, leading PR strategist and former Labour Party adviser, predicted to the Mirror when discussing Mr Hancock's upcoming appearance on the ITV show.
The PR expert added: "He’ll either be voted out first or punished by the public with countless Bushtucker Trials. I suspect people will actually want to see him suffering the ordeal of chewing kangaroo testicles.
"People wont take kindly to him jetting off to Oz when there are several major issues facing the county. His constituents will rightly be concerned. It isn’t good PR for him. He’s not exactly going to endear himself to voters. He’s not a likeable character. I suspect this has more to do with him publicising his new book than anything else. It could be a total car crash."
Another wrote: "Matt Hancock is joining 'I'm A Celebrity...'.
"British politics is just Monty Python, Benny Hill, Dad's Army & Fawlty Towers all in one these days. The UK is no longer a country you can take seriously. Embarrassing. Hopeless."
Some seem to be looking forward to see Hancock tackling a Bushtucker Trial Down Under, with one quipping: "Matt Hancock is to go on I'm a celebrity. Just the man to eat kangaroo b******s."
Another seemingly defended Hancock as he's stripped of the Tory whip, writing: "Not that I have a particular problem with Matt Hancock losing the whip for abandoning his MP duties temporarily and going on I'm a Celebrity, but doesn't Boris Johnson go on extensive holidays while the House is sitting and yet faces no penalty for this?"
