Matt Hancock has reportedly signed up to join this year's series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! as a late addition to the 2022 line-up. ITV officially confirmed the celebrities who are set to take on gruesome challenges as the show returns to the Australian jungle this year - but now reports say the former health secretary will be joining as a latecomer to take on the critters.
Mr Hancock is expected to swap representing his constituents at Westminster to appear alongside famous faces such as Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver, reality TV star Olivia Attwood, radio DJ Chris Moyles, rugby star and royal Mike Tindall when the show kicks off on Sunday, November 6.
Since the announcement, Matt, 44, has been suspended as a Tory MP with immediate effect. Chief whip Simon Hart said in a statement: "Following a conversation with Matt Hancock, I have considered the situation and believe this is a matter serious enough to warrant suspension of the whip with immediate effect."
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The former MP has now been slammed by a Coronavirus survivors group for his decision to go on the hit ITV show.
Lobby Akinnola, from the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign, said: “Matt Hancock isn’t a ‘celebrity’, he’s the former health secretary who oversaw the UK having one of the highest death tolls in the world from Covid-19 whilst breaking his own lockdown rules.
“The fact that he is trying to cash in on his terrible legacy, rather than showing some humility or seeking to reflect on the appalling consequences of his time in Government, says it all about the sort of person he is."
Mr Akinnola said turning on the TV to see him being paraded around as a joke 'is sickening' and added: "ITV should do the decent thing and remove him from the programme.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who was appointed the role on October 25 after Liz Truss resigned, believes MPs should be “working hard for their constituents”, Downing Street has said.
Asked about Matt Hancock’s appearance on I’m A Celebrity, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The PM believes that at a challenging time for the country MPs should be working hard for their constituents, whether that is in the House or in their constituency.”
The spokesman said it was “unlikely” Mr Sunak would be watching the programme.
A political ally of Matt Hancock's said: "I'm A Celeb is the most watched show on TV. Matt doesn’t expect to serve in Government again, so it's an incredible opportunity for him to engage with the 12million Brits who tune in every single night.
"Matt has told the whips in Parliament and he will use his time in the jungle to promote his dyslexia campaign.
"Matt has an excellent team working with him in West Suffolk, but producers have agreed that he can communicate with them if there's an urgent constituency matter."
"Matt has always believed in communicating directly with the people he represents – whether that’s getting out and pounding the streets in West Suffolk, through all sorts of media or via those press conferences.
"There are many ways to do the job of being an MP. Whether he's in camp for one-day or three weeks, there are very few places people will be able to see a politician as they really are.
"Where better to show the human side of those who make these decisions than with the most watched programme on TV?".
They continued: "Politicians like Matt must go to where the people are - particularly those who are politically disengaged. Matt's of the view that we must embrace popular culture. Rather than looking down on reality TV, we should see it for what it is - a powerful tool to get our message heard by younger generations.
"Matt will be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk, and he will, of course, declare the amount he receives from the show to Parliament to ensure complete transparency, as normal.
"When he was first approached to take part – while he was flattered and naturally curious - it didn’t take him too long to turn the opportunity down because of the instability government was facing at the time. Now though, the government is stable. Rishi Sunak has made a great start and the whole of the Conservative party is united behind him. Rishi has a big majority, so he can get his agenda through Parliament.
"Matt's talked to the whips, in the same way any MP would when going on a foreign visit, which happens all the time. As I say, Matt doesn’t expect to serve in Government again, but he can support Rishi and the Government in different ways.
"This is an amazing opportunity to engage with the public and talk about issues he really cares about - including his dyslexia campaign."
The House of Commons is in recess from November 10-14, but celebrities could spend up to three weeks in the jungle – meaning Mr Hancock would miss significant Commons business, including the Autumn Statement on November 17 if he remains in the contest.
In the jungle Mr Hancock will be joining pop star Boy George, Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver, Hollyoaks’ Owen Warner, TV presenter and property expert Scarlette Douglas, former England rugby player Mike Tindall, Loose Women star Charlene White, radio presenter Chris Moyles, reality TV star Olivia Attwood, former footballer Jill Scott and comedian Babatunde Aleshe.
The Manchester Evening News has contacted ITV and Matt Hancock's office for comment.
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