Matt Hancock has been accused of 'playing politics' as he appears on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!
The politician, 44, has been acting like a 'wounded puppy' in order to avoid tense confrontations with some of his fellow campers who have issues with his actions in government, it's been argued.
The MP for West Suffolk, who lost the Tory whip before heading Down Under last month, has made no secret about the fact his stint on reality TV is all to show a different side of himself as he attempts to repair his damaged public reputation.
Fans of the ITV show had expected fireworks in the celebrity camp when Mr Hancock made a late arrival alongside Seann Walsh, but any clashes with the former health secretary have been relatively tame.
Charlene White, who lost her aunt to Covid-19, confronted the politician last week over his failings in government, but the pair ended up hugging it out - much to the surprise of Charlene's Loose Women co-stars watching at home.
Although Janet Street-Porter says she would have 'physically assaulted' Mr Hancock had she come face-to-face with him in the jungle, the journalist admits Charlene is just reacting how any nice person would when seeing someone looking vulnerable.
But the Loose Women presenter thinks her pal is being 'slightly used' by Mr Hancock - a claim body language expert Judi James seeming agrees with.
Judi explains how people like Charlene and her campmates Boy George, Sue Cleaver, Chris Moyles and Scarlette Douglas all made it quite clear what they thought of Mr Hancock prior to the politician arriving in camp but have been fooled by the controversial late addition.
"Matt acted the wounded puppy, using body language techniques like head and torso-lowering and tearfulness to signal submission and humility," Judi says when discussing the stars' tame responses to Mr Hancock's time in the jungle.
"His line about wanting forgiveness placed the power firmly in the campmates' hands and they chose to act magnanimous and accept him into the group.
Speaking to The Sun, she adds: "In an emotional horror show though, they suddenly saw themselves become bit part players in The Matt Show."
Judi goes on to explain how the stars have been reliant on Mr Hancock providing them with food, thanks to the politician constantly being voted to take on the Bushtucker Trials.
She adds that now he camp leader, Mr Hancock must surely 'smell' a possible win later this month.
Judi predicts Boy George may be the one to rebel against the politician, as she notes tell-tale body language signs from the stars that hint their smiles towards Mr Hancock are fake.
Last year, former Downing Street chief adviser Dominic Cummings alleged, "tens of thousands of people died who didn't need to die" during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic due to what he claimed to be "criminal, disgraceful behaviour" within Downing Street under the supervision of Mr Hancock.
Many had expected Loose Women star Charlene to clash with the former health secretary earlier this month but despite grilling him over his rule-breaking during the pandemic, the ITV News presenter has been relatively civil with Mr Hancock so far.
Charlene recalled the devastating death of her aunt from Covid when she confronted Mr Hancock in the jungle recently, but the two celebrity campers ended up hugging things out after a tense conversation.
"Not what any of us were expecting," Ruth Langsford kicked things off saying on Monday's Loose Women as the panel watched a clip of the warm-ish embrace.
Janet Street Porter- who appeared on I'm A Celebrity in 2004 - admitted had she been in the jungle when Mr Hancock made his controversial arrival, she would have 'physically assaulted' the politician or possibly had to remove herself from the camp.
But she defended Charlene for not going too hard on Mr Hancock, saying: "[Charlene's] a nice person, full stop. She is doing what any nice person would do when they see a person upset and that is to hug them.
"I think we shouldn't condemn her for that but I do think she's slightly used."
