In a shock move, catalysing his suspension as a Conservative MP, Matt Hancock will join the cast of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!.
I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! has trademarked its unique reality television format by hosting ten celebrities in the Australian jungle who compete to be crowned the winner of the series. During this period, campmates endure filmed challenges for varied rewards, frequently voted on by the public. Mr Hancock will join the cast as a late arrival within the show.
Matt Hancock, the representative for West Suffolk in the House of Commons, notably left his political mark during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 whilst serving as health secretary to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. After his resignation as health secretary, he has had a reduced governmental role, following the revelation that he broke lockdown rules whilst having an affair in his departmental office.
Many families who faced bereavement during the spike of Covid-19 have critiqued Mr Hancock’s recruitment for the series. The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign group stated that they found his decision to join the programme as ‘sickening’, making calls for his removal from the show before the new series had even begun filming.
Taking to Twitter, the group stated:
A spokesperson for Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, told the BBC, “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.”
Alongside Mr Hancock, singer Boy George and DJ Chris Moyles will be joining the 2022 cast in the hopes to win the series by impressing viewers for the public vote.
As an elected representative, Mr Hancock will have to disclose his earnings for his appearance across the show. He has stated that a portion of this money will be donated to charity.
Words by Alanya Smith
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