He has been branded a "man without shame", slammed as a "d***head" on morning TV, and even suspended from the Tory whip - but this hasn't deterred Matt Hancock from entering the Australian jungle as the latest contestant on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.
When the news broke that the MP was joining the ITV reality show, many were astounded, some even mistook it as a spoof. But the deadly serious former Health Secretary has assured the nation and fans of the programme that he is "not losing his marbles".
It was announced Mr Hancock was to be the 12th celebrity to join the long-awaited line-up on Tuesday, alongside the likes of Boy George and Olivia Attwood. And it appears the production crew had been determined to get the man - who was forced to resign from his job at the helm of the Covid crisis over a lockdown affair with an old university pal - on our screens devouring kangaroo testicles after being trapped in a coffin filled with rats.
Writing in a column in The Sun, the Conservative politician revealed that he'd been offered the gig on two occasions. "I thought long and hard about this - in fact, I turned down I'm A Celebrity. . . twice this summer, but when they approached me for a third time last week, I had a change of heart," the 44-year-old admitted.
His decision has been met with a furious backlash among those in politics and has been declared a "serious breach" by Chief Whip Simon Hart. The move will leave him out of the country unable to vote in Parliament but he will still be able to claim his £84,144 MP salary.
The House of Commons is sitting almost non-stop between now and December 21, with only one short break next Thursday and Friday. And the Autumn Statement, which will inflict billions in tax rises and spending cuts, is being held on November 17.
Tory MP Tim Loughton said Mr Hancock was an "absolute pr*t", and that losing the whip is "the least he deserves". While Shadow Health Minister Andrew Gwynne quipped: "To be fair to Matt Hancock, I'd sooner eat wallaby anus than be a Tory MP too.''
His dramatic suspension reportedly took place during his flight over to Down Under and in the past 24 hours, he has been the talk of his constituents and the country, with deputy chairman of West Suffolk Conservative Association, Andy Drummond, saying: "I'm looking forward to him eating a kangaroo's penis. Quote me. You can quote me that."
Mr Hancock will be making a donation to his local St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk and he argues his presence on the show does have a higher purpose.
He justifies his inclusion by saying he will be shining a light on both politics and on dyslexia - a condition he was diagnosed with at 18 after leaving school.
And he also claims that he has an agreement with the show's producers to be able to be reached on "urgent constituency matters".
The dad-of-three also feels 'the time is right' now the country is in the 'safe hands' of Rishi Sunak - who was appointed Prime Minister just weeks ago.
"So, the truth is, I haven't lost my marbles or had one too many pina Coladas," Mr Hancock added on his reasoning letter.
"It's something I've given a lot of thought to. I was elected by the people, and it's important to engage with voters, especially younger voters, no matter where they are, and show the human side of politicians. That's what I hope to do."
On Wednesday, GMB took some time to discuss the new addition to the series - with the panel far from impressed.
The Mirror's Associate Editor Kevin Maguire was joined by The Mail's Andrew Pierce, and the pair spoke with Susanna and Ed Balls who were hosting the latest show.
As the quartet were discussing whether there was anything good about Mr Hancock's appearance on the show, Andrew Pierce slammed him as a "d******d".
He was immediately left red-faced after realising he shouldn't have said this at half six in the morning, with host Susanna immediately jumping in to call him out.
She shouted: "No, no, you can't say that," before she apologised to viewers for the slip-up.
It has already been a chaotic few days for the MP and there is no doubt that this will turn into a relentless few weeks, with viewers plotting to ensure he has to do the most gruesome trials.
There is now even a petition launched by bereaved families of Covid-19 victims calling for him to be axed, which has gained more than 15,000 signatures.
While fans are also already predicting that presenting duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly will be tearing into Mr Hancock when the show gets underway on November 6.
What do you think of his decision to go into the jungle? Have your say in the comment section below.
