Pals of the latest I'm A Celebrity signing's estranged wife have branded him “a total halfwit”.
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock was the wildcard that has shocked the nation ahead of the hit ITV show starting next week.
And no one has been left more stunned than friends of the MP for West Suffolk’s estranged wife Martha, who he split with after he was caught breaking his own Covid lockdown rules by having an affair with long-time aide Gina Coladangelo.
The politician, 44, will be the 12th celebrity heading into the jungle.
A friend of Martha has described the MP – who has been suspended by the Conservative Party since the announcement – with searing condemnation, branding the father-of-three a “total halfwit who's making some unwise career moves”.
The pal told the Mail Online of their disapproval over his latest bid for the spotlight, while a former minister predicted he’d be picked to do the bucktucker trials “every day”.
The Tory told the publication: “I have sympathy for the poor kangaroo,” referring to the challenge where celebs eat kangaroo testicles for stars.
The politician told the site: “Is Matt Hancock technically a celebrity? I think he's probably in a slightly lower league than Mike Tindall. If he's eliminated in the first round he'll be appalled. He's going to be the hate figure, every single day he will be doing a challenge.”
News of Hancock’s reality telly stint has not gone down well with Number 10, with Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson slamming the MP who he believes should be “working hard or constituents” at a “challenging time for the country”.
The new Prime Minister is “unlikely” to watch his colleague’s antics, the spokesperson added.
The former Health Secretary is reported to have seen the move as "an incredible opportunity to connect with younger generations", but his fellow Tories haven't quite seen it like that.
The Conservative Party suspended the whip after it emerged the self-promoting former Health Secretary - who has a book due out - will be flying to Australia for the ITV hit show.
Days after being snubbed for a Cabinet comeback by Rishi Sunak, the MP is set to join Boy George, Chris Moyles and Olivia Attwood after signing up to the show at the last minute. He will make a donation to his local St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk.
But Mr Hancock's trip to Australia - branded a "serious" breach by the Chief Whip - will leave him out of the country unable to vote in Parliament while still able to claim his £84,144 salary.
Covid bereaved families accused him of trying to "cash in on his terrible legacy" and said he should "be sharing his private emails with the Covid inquiry, not eating bugs on TV".
Labour MP Chris Bryant demanded a “by-election now” adding: “If @MattHancock thinks representing his constituents is an inconvenience, his constituents should have a chance to decide whether they could bring that inconvenience to an end.”
Deputy chairman of West Suffolk Conservative Association Andy Drummond said: "I'm looking forward to him eating a kangaroo's penis. Quote me. You can quote me that." Shadow health minister Andrew Gwynne said: "To be fair to Matt Hancock, I'd sooner eat wallaby anus than be a Tory MP too.''
A Labour source said it would be "a unique experience for Hancock - eating b****cks rather than talking it".
Tory MP Tim Loughton said Matt Hancock was an "absolute prat", losing the whip is "the least he deserves" and he should be deselected.
He told Times Radio: "I'm completely disappointed and disgusted that he's put his self and a so-called celebrity career ahead of serving his constituents."
