Former health secretary Matt Hancock entered the I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! jungle much to the surprise, and in some cases unhappiness, of his fellow campmates. While it is widely known that Matt was formerly the health secretary who resigned when he broke his own social distancing guidance while having an affair with his aide, there are some facts about Matt Hancock that may surprise you.
He was once a jockey
Matt once spent a Parliamentary recess learning how to be a jockey for charity. In 2012 Matt lost two stone and took part in a charity horse race, finishing in first place at the event held on Newmarket's course. As well as the victory, Mr Hancock, who was dubbed Action Matt at the time, also helped raise £10,000.
He rode a horse called Dick Doughtywylie and took part in the race alongside racing presenter Niall Hannity and The Inspector Lynley Mysteries actor Nathaniel Parker. You can get more showbiz news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
He got frostbite playing cricket
Horse riding is not the only sport Matt is interested in as he is also a keen cricketer and has played the most northerly game of cricket on record, which took place at the North Pole. Unfortunately, the sub-zero temperatures took their toll on Matt and he ended up suffering frostbite.
He was an adviser to a former Chancellor-to-be
Matt, 44, who is younger than I'm A Celebrity hosts Ant, 46 and Dec, 47, grew up in Chester and attended the private school King's School in Chester. He went on to study at Oxford University and graduated with a first in philosophy, politics and economics, and later earned an MPhil degree in economics at Christ's College, Cambridge. He put that economic knowledge to use at the start of his political career, as an economic adviser to Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, later becoming Osborne's chief of staff.
He's strict with his kids when it comes to technology
In a 2018 interview with The Telegraph Matt said his children, now aged 15, 13 and seven, did not have mobile phones and were not allowed on social media.
He once tried to be Prime Minister
In July, 2019, Mr Hancock stood to be leader of the Conservative Party in the race to replace Theresa May. But he received just 20 votes from fellow MPs and dropped out of the race after the first round, later becoming part of eventual winner Boris Johnson's cabinet.
You might be surprised who's waiting at the end of the bridge for him when he leaves the jungle
Shortly before his cheating affair and scandal broke to the public Matt separated from his then-wife Martha, who is an osteopath. Matt and Martha have three young children together and Matt ended the marriage before the public learned of his affair.
He confirmed on I'm A Celebrity that he was still in a relationship with Gina Coladangelo, the aide he had the affair with, and has hinted she will be waiting at the end of the bridge for him when he leaves the jungle.
He's dyslexic
Matt is dyslexic and only found out when he was at university. He's said that he entered the I'm A Celebrity jungle to raise awareness of dyslexia, but has been criticised for not being seen speaking about the topic while on air so far in the show.
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