ITV have bent the usual rules of I'm A Celebrity to allow Matt Hancock to reply to emails and even go on Zoom meetings to help constituents whilst in isolation.
Other celebs in Australia lost their phones and any contact with the outside world after landing Down Under. Most had one or a couple of short calls home and then faced most the week before the series with just streaming services like Netflix and a home gym for company.
But sources close to Hancock say he has been given a computer to respond to urgent emails but the use was monitored so he could not contact loved ones and it was only used for work.
The special treatment may shock some fans of the show, who would have expected him to get the same privileges of others, although this arrangement will help members of the public.
A senior show source told the Mirror: "Matt does not have his personal phone at all and any laptop access is for constituency and monitored Zoom work purposes only whilst in isolation. Matt does not have general internet access."
Hancock claimed when he first announced he was doing the show that he would be able to work even whilst in camp and could speak to constituents every day from the Bush Telegraph.
But this was quickly shown up as being untrue.
In a written piece on Wednesday Hancock himself said: "As an MP, my first priority is to my constituents. I have agreed with the show's producers that I can be reached at any point on any urgent constituency matters."
But the show works on the premise the camp is isolated from the real world as part of the format.
Executive producer Olly Nash said that was "absolutely" the case this year too.
And an ITV spokesman responded to a Mirror inquiry last week by saying: "You are correct to say that celebs cannot speak to the outside world at all unless there are exceptional circumstances ie. an emergency."
It is still unknown exactly when Hancock will enter camp but it is believed to be later this week, meaning he will not be able to contact constituents for almost three weeks.
Show hosts Ant and Dec even teased his appearance on the opening show.
Ant said: "We've also got not one, but two late arrivals on the way. Fortunately, we've managed to keep their identities a complete secret. Nobody's got a clue who they are."
Dec pretended to look shocked and added: "You're gonna be so surprised guys. We'll be rolling out the welcome 'mat' for them very soon."
The other late entry is expected to be Seann Walsh.
ITV defended the booking of Hancock last week. Since news broke that he has signed up to go into the jungle, he has been suspended from the Conservative party and there has been a public outcry.
Told ITV had been criticised back home in the UK, Executive producer Olly Nash put any blame on Hancock and said: "It's always an individual's choice to come into camp, isn't it? And at any point, any celebrity can say I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here. So that's the only thing really to add. I think.
"Nobody has to do the show in the same way and nobody has to stay in camp and nobody has to do a trial. So it's up to any celebrity to make that choice."
A spokesperson for Matt Hancock said: "Matt does not have his personal phone at all and any laptop access is for constituency and Zoom work purposes only while in quarantine. Matt does not have general internet access. It has been agreed that Matt will be informed about any urgent constituency matter."
*I'm A Celebrity airs tonight at 9pm on ITV
