During his debut on the reality television series I’m A Celebrity, Matt Hancock was challenged by his fellow campmates. Get Me Out Of Here!
Charlene White questioned the member of parliament if he could understand if people were “not very happy” with his participation while Parliament is in session.
Boy George stated that it was “tough” for him to be present given that his mother had been hospitalized during the pandemic.
Hancock has stated that he is participating in the program to raise awareness of dyslexia.
Before entering the camp in Australia, the former health secretary faced a barrage of criticism for his choice to enter the jungle while serving as a member of parliament.
Hancock suspended the Tory whip after announcing his involvement in the show. The response aroused speculation about the reception he would receive from his fellow campers and his response.
In his first full episode, which aired on Wednesday, Hancock approached his first Bushtucker trial with confidence and composure, alongside the more squeamish Seann Walsh.
Hancock was informed at the end of the episode that the public had also voted for him to participate in the following trial, titled The Tentacles of Terror.
White stated, about his presence in the camp, “I can only imagine the reaction back home; I assume it has not gone over well.”
When she inquired as to why he had joined the series when Parliament was not in recess, he responded, “I honestly believe that because we now have some stability…”
White informed him, “Matt, we’ve got stability for the past five minutes.” Hancock replied, “Rishi is fantastic, he will be OK.”
Elsewhere, musician Boy George told campmate Scarlette Douglas, “My mother was hospitalized at the outbreak’s onset.” I was prohibited from seeing her. I believed she was going to perish.
“I don’t want to appear as though I’m having a good time with him [Hancock]. It’s difficult for me because, you know, if my mother had passed away, I wouldn’t be here now. I would have left when he entered.”
The singer afterward shed tears as he added, “I don’t want to ruin this experience for myself. I am not excellent at masking my emotions, especially when they are so intense.”
Sue Cleaver, an actor on Coronation Street, called Hancock a “brave man” for participating in the play, after stating she was rendered speechless by his entrance.
Others expressed a willingness to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“In all fairness, everyone is human. We all have our personalities apart from how the media portrays us,” stated Douglas.
Hancock, when asked again why he had joined the show, said, “Why? Because all politicians, and I, in particular, have a reputation for having a very severe disposition. Which is not the case.”
Early contacts between Hancock and other contenders were friendly.
Chris Moyles, referring to Hancock’s press conference appearances during the lockdown, said to Hancock, “Please just say ‘next slide please,’ and I’ll be really happy.”
Hancock complied, but Moyles later remarked, “I can’t help but think he ought to be at work.”
Hancock was seen being informed that he must operate as a mole for a covert mission, as he and Walsh settled in for three weeks of eating insects and sleeping outside with snakes.
Since Sunday, candidates such as football legend Jill Scott and rugby player Mike Tindall have been included in nightly broadcasts, but Walsh and Hancock have been held back.
Before meeting the other contenders, the couple discussed if any of them had previously cooked over an open flame (neither had).
But it was Hancock’s remark about Walsh’s tattoo, which references the rock band Blink 182, that generated his first meme-worthy moment in the series.
Walsh inquired about Hancock’s musical preferences, to which Hancock said, “Very mainstream, but I wouldn’t get an Ed Sheeran tattoo.” Then, Hancock played the singer’s smash song Perfect, as social media fans undoubtedly flocked to capture and share the scene.
Walsh and Hancock have both joined the show to rebuild their reputations.
Walsh hopes to overcome the scandal surrounding his 2018 Strictly Come Dancing participation, during which he was photographed kissing his professional dance partner despite being in a relationship.
Hancock, on the other hand, is eager to present a different side of himself to the public, who recalls that he lost his cabinet position for violating social distance norms by kissing a colleague during the Covid-19 pandemic.
His crew has emphasized that Hancock intends to utilize his time in the jungle to raise awareness for his dyslexia campaign, however, it remains to be seen whether any of this will air.
Hancock stated that he is “looking forward to pouring himself into [the show] like I do everything else,” but he would also keep communication with his crew in the United Kingdom.
During his seclusion, he had access to a laptop that allowed him to continue working and communicating with people.
Fellow lawmakers and constituents criticized the 44-year-old for signing up outside of a parliamentary recess. He was suspended as a Conservative member of parliament, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed “disappointment” at his participation.
Hancock has already completed his task for ITV in terms of the sheer quantity of publicity he delivers to the event. Even before he entered the jungle, the acres of column inches and hours of airtime devoted to his involvement were publicity that could not be bought for money.
ITV threw Hancock and Walsh into a bushtucker trial as soon as they arrived in camp, possibly in response to the public’s growing impatience following his absence from the first three episodes.
The Beastly Burrows required Hancock to crawl through a succession of pitch-black tunnels and chambers while being sprayed with buckets of slime and insects to earn food for the camp that evening.
Walsh was far more anxious and uncomfortable than Hancock, declaring before the competition that he was “terrified.”
Together, they discovered six of eleven potential stars. Hancock maintained remarkable calmness while insects and slurry were poured on him, causing Walsh to inquire, “How are you so calm?!”
The challenge acted as a probable indicator that spectators anticipating the following three weeks of Hancock writhing through trials may be disappointed.
