I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! campmates were treated to two new arrivals tonight as Matt Hancock and Seann Walsh finally enter the jungle.
The former Health Secretary has faced huge amounts of backlash for his decision to film the ITV reality show in Australia, but defended his decision when to campmates on Wednesdays episode. Ahead of joining the rest of the celebrities at camp, Matt, 44, and Seann, 36, were tasked with a Bushtucker Trial to secure food for the group.
The MP was shown squealing as insects and thick liquid are poured on him from above as they faced the Beasty Burrows challenge. The pair are seen helping each other to navigate a series of dark tunnels while wearing hard hats and feeling around for the stars that represent achievement in the trials.
After securing six stars and making their way to camp, the celebrities wasted no time in discussing their thoughts on the politician. Hollyoaks star Owen Warner asked Babatúndé Aleshe : “Do you have any strong views on the geezer?”
The Celebrity Gogglebox star responded: “It’s hard to kind of like push your views aside, it really is, because of the many people whose lives have been affected. But, at the same time, we’ve got to be welcoming and we’ve got to treat people as humans obviously.”
Coronation Street actress Sue Cleaver said to Boy George and Mike Tindall of Matt: “He sticks out like a sore thumb.” Boy George added: “I think he’s super nervous though.”
Sue said: “He must be very nervous," as Boy George agreed: “I could hear it in his voice.”
Loose Women panellist Charlene White wasted no time in getting to know the politician, who she will be very familiar with from her days as a news reader. The two spoke in the lookout, as Matt said: “Everybody’s really nice. Nobody’s trying to be spikey are they?”
Charlene asked: “Were you nervous about that?," and Matt replied: “Not really… it was on the worry list.”
Asking the question on everybody's mind, Charlene said: “So why did you do it?” Matt responded: “Because there’s, honest truth, is because there’s so few ways in which politicians can show that we’re human beings, so I just thought it would be good to do that. I’ve got a sense of adventure.”
Charlene asked: “So you kind of want people to see you for you?” which seems to hit the nail on the head as Matt said: “I hope so.”
Speaking in the Bush Telegraph, Charlene said: "Matt has a tough hill to climb, but he's put himself on that hill and for me as a journalist, I have to ask him why"
Matt said to the mother of two: “If I can use this to sort of peel myself back a bit and just be me, it’s better.” Charlene replied: “But I can imagine it would not have gone down well at all at home? You have to expect that. Because Parliament is still sitting, we’re not in recess, you know…”
Defending his decision, Matt said: “I genuinely think that because we’ve now got sort of stability that is…”
Before Charlene chimed in stating: “We’ve had stability for all of five minutes Matt.” The MP responded: “Rishi’s great, he’ll be fine.”
Charlene continued grilling the politician, and queried: “But you can understand if people aren’t very happy at home about it?” Matt very diplomatically responded: “I understand that. But I also.. of course I get that, right. But I also just think that sometimes you’ve got to do things differently.”
“I’m not sure going on I’m A Celebrity is the way to do it but you’re doing you and it’s a decision you’ve made and honestly it will be fascinating just to see," Charlene said doubtfully.
Charlene in the Bush Telegraph said: “Politicians do tend to use that line, ‘I feel as though the public need to know the real me’. I’m not necessarily sure a reality TV show is the way to do that.”
After their chat, Boy George and Chris Moyles asked Charlene how it went. Charlene said: “I asked why.”
Chris quizzed her: “And the answer was?” Charlene replied: “Oh, the same reasons politicians give every time they do these kinds of shows… ‘you need to know who we are behind the political mask’ kind of thing.”
Meanwhile, Boy George opened up about his mixed feelings as he told Scarlette: “You know, beginning of the pandemic my mum was in hospital. I wasn’t allowed to see her. I thought she was going to die. I was tweeting Greenwich hospital going, ‘Please look after my mum.’ I used my name, I was like ‘Please look after my mum.’
"And they did, she was fine… I feel like, I don’t want to be sitting here like I’m having fun with him. It’s difficult for me because, you know, had something happened, if my mum had gone, I wouldn’t be here now. I would have gone when he walked in.”
Boy George continued speaking in the Bush Telegraph continued: “If I had lost my mum, I would go. And I feel a little bit selfish, you know, just kind of… everyone’s so nice to him and I was like Jesus, what we gonna do? I don’t want to spoil this experience for myself. I’m not good at hiding what I feel. Especially when it’s something so strong.”
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! watch the next live episode tomorrow at 9pm (Thursday) on ITV and ITV Hub
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