Fans of ITV’s Lorraine have been praising the presenter after she tore into the former Health Secretary on her morning show. The Glaswegian broadcaster was discussing a recent podcast which Matt Hancock appeared on, in which he claimed that he only broke guidelines, not rules, when the infamous CCTV images of him kissing his aide emerged last year.
A clip played on the show included the MP defending his actions: “By then they weren’t actually rules, they weren’t the law, but that’s not the point,” he said. “The point is they were the guidelines that I’d been proposing. And that happened because I fell in love with somebody.” Hancock's wearing of a black turtleneck sparked much comment - including his resemblance to the James Bond-style hero in a chocolate advert.
Following the clip, Lorraine seemed to break from her usual friendly demeanour, saying: “That is Matt Hancock, remember him, former Health Secretary, talking to Dragon’s Den star Steven Bartlett about his resignation last year. I don’t know what he’s come as, he looks like a sort-of Bond villain or a pound shop Milk Tray man maybe.”
Lorraine was referring to an iconic set of Cadbury adverts in which a mysterious gentleman delivers a box of chocolates to a lady in an adrenalin-fuelled ‘raid’. In the adverts, the man appears Bond-esque, dressed in all-black with a tight turtleneck sweater, similar to what Matt Hancock was wearing during the filming of the podcast.
Continuing, the presenter added: “You remember, he was caught on CCTV groping his adviser. His new partner Gina was also spotted at the recording of that podcast so he fell in love. But lots of people who fell in love with each other weren’t able to see each other during that time, were they?,” she told viewers bluntly.
That wasn’t the only mocking that was directed towards the West Suffolk MP, as the show swiftly cut to Andi Peters who was quick to weigh in as well. Talking from South Wales, he laughed at Lorraine’s brutal comments, adding: “You go Lorraine, I love it! Literally a cheap Milk Tray man, let’s be honest - hilarious.
“Some would say he’s one of these, Lorraine,” he said, before tossing a crepe in a frying pan he had to hand. “I’ll leave that to your imagination.”
Viewers were quick to take to social media to react to the ‘savage’ takedown from Lorraine and Andi.
“Lorraine Kelly calling Matt Hancock “a poundshop Milk Tray man” on live telly deserves a BAFTA,” @ourrachblogs posted on Twitter
@mishymarsland added: “I am LIVING for #lorraine’s savage take down of Matt Hancock. ‘Pound shop milk tray man’". Meanwhile @xchloehatesyou said: “Andy calling Matt Hancock a t***er is amazing content”
And @Katrina_15 simply posted: “Pound shop milk tray man” with several laughing emojis
Others, however, were not as amused, taking issue with the presenters’ decision to joke about the former minister’s appearance. “You really just dissed a person on live tv about what they are wearing?! The always nice Lorraine mask just slipped there”, @SandraK10863852 posted on Twitter.
Meanwhile, @tessataylor123 weighed in, saying: “You can be really unkind for no reason at times. Criticise his behaviour not his dress sense!”
Lorraine continues every weekday from 9am on ITV and ITV Hub.
