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Wales Online
Lifestyle
Megan Nisbet

I'm A Celebrity 2022: Ant and Dec tease Matt Hancock arrival as absence explained

I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! kicked off on ITV on Sunday, November 6 with a batch of new contestants. Viewers were introduced to 10 famous faces as the show returned to Australia after a two-year stint in Wales.

However, one rumoured campmate was missing from the line-up as Chris Moyles, Charlene White, Babatunde Aleshe, Jill Scott, Boy George, Mike Tindall, Sue Cleaver, Scarlette Douglas, Olivia Attwood, who has since left the show, and Owen Warner met for the first time and headed into camp.

While ITV still hasn't confirmed this year's latecomers, there are usually two wild cards added to the line-up, and Matt Hancock confirmed his own signing as he was snapped arriving at Brisbane Airport last week. The former health secretary, whose political whip has now been suspended as a result of his decision to take part, also told The Sun he had signed up so he could "go to where the people are — not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster." You can read more on this here.

READ MORE: ITV I'm A Celebrity viewers call for Ant and Dec to quit after scathing letter about series emerges

So viewers were naturally confused when Matt failed to appear in the first episode, however, this was addressed by presenters Ant and Dec during the launch show. Speaking live from Australia, Ant joked: "We've also got not one but two late arrivals and fortunately we've managed to keep their identities a secret. Nobody's got a clue who they are."

I'm A Celebrity's Ant and Dec tease Matt Hancock arrival as absence explained (ITV)

Dec then added: "Yeah. You're going to be so surprised guys. We'll be rolling out the welcome mat for them very soon."

Responding, one viewer wrote: "The way Ant & Dec were dropping hints about the latecomers and made it obvious Matt Hancock is one of them."

And it appears viewers won't be waiting very long, as Good Morning Britain presenter Vick Hope revealed on Monday's show that mat could be making his first appearance in just 24 hours.

"He's set to enter camp on Wednesday," she explained. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.

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