London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 03, 2025

Matt Hancock defends joining I'm A Celebrity cast

Matt Hancock defends joining I'm A Celebrity cast

Matt Hancock has defended his decision to appear on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! - saying the TV show is a "powerful tool" to reach young people.

Writing in the Sun, the former health secretary said politicians must "go where the people are".

"I haven't lost my marbles or had one too many pina coladas," he wrote.

Mr Hancock - who has arrived in Brisbane ahead of the show's launch on Sunday - has faced a backlash over his reality TV ambitions.

One Tory colleague, MP Tim Loughton, described him as a "absolute prat" and he has faced calls from opposition critics to give up his £84,144 a year MP's salary while he is in the Australian jungle.

In a statement, his local West Suffolk Conservative Association said it was "disappointed" and accused Mr Hancock of a "serious error of judgement".

"MPs should be working hard for their constituents, particularly when we have a cost of living crisis and people are facing hardship," the group added.

Mr Hancock has said he will donate some of his fee for the programme - which he will have to declare in the Register of Members' Interests - to charity.

The West Suffolk MP was suspended as a Conservative MP after announcing he was off to Australia to take part in Bushtucker trials but will continue to be paid as an independent MP.

He is also due to appear in the Channel 4 show SAS: Who Dares Wins, where celebrities take part in military training.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - who appeared to snub Mr Hancock when he was crowned Tory leader last week - seems to have taken a dim view of his colleague's latest career move.

The prime minister's official spokesman said he believes "MPs should be working hard for their constituents, whether that is in the House or in their constituency".

But Mr Hancock has rejected the criticisms, writing that it is the job of politicians to engage with people.

"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. In fact, I think it's patronising to hear some say reality TV is beneath a politician.

"It's as clear as day that politicians like me must go to where the people are — particularly those who are politically disengaged. We must wake up and embrace popular culture."

Nadine Dorries was suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party for six months after her appearance on I'm a Celebrity in 2012


MPs are allowed to do paid work beyond their role as an elected representative, and some earn significant amounts for consultancy and legal work.

Participating in reality TV is not unheard of as a sideline and Mr Hancock is not the first politician to enter the I'm a Celebrity jungle.

He follows in the footsteps of former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and ex-Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale.

But critics have attacked the MP over his impending three-week absence from Parliament, at a time when energy costs are spiralling, the government is facing a budgetary "black hole" and the war in Ukraine rages on.

Mr Hancock said he had turned down two offers from reality TV producers in the summer "because of the instability government was facing at the time".

But he said with Mr Sunak now in post as prime minister, the political climate was "stable" enough to allow him to take up the opportunity - and he said he has agreed with the show's producers he can be reached at any point on any urgent constituency matters.

Mr Hancock previously served as health secretary, where he was responsible for managing the UK's response to Covid.

He was forced to quit the role after he was caught breaching social distancing guidance by kissing a colleague he was having an affair with in his office.

The former cabinet minister said he doesn't expect to serve in government again, but hopes to use his time in the jungle to raise awareness about dyslexia - which he has himself.

But the campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice called Mr Hancock's decision "sickening", and urged ITV to remove him from the programme.

The group tweeted: "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."

Andy Drummond, deputy chairman of the West Suffolk Conservative Association, said he was looking forward to seeing Mr Hancock "eating a kangaroo's penis".

"You can quote me on that," Mr Drummond added.

Mr Hancock will join singer Boy George and ex-Rugby player Mike Tindall in the jungle


The Liberal Democrats have called on the MP to resign and trigger a by-election in his constituency.

The party's deputy leader Daisy Cooper accused him of "abandoning his constituents... in any normal workplace he'd be sacked".

Mr Hancock could also be in trouble with Acoba - the body that advises ex-ministers on what jobs they can take on.

As an ex-minister he is required to seek advice from the anti-corruption watchdog on appointments or employment he wants to take up within two years of leaving office.

Mr Hancock did not give the body prior notice of his appearance on I'm a Celebrity and Acoba chairman, Conservative peer Lord Pickles, has written to him asking for an explanation.

If Lord Pickles decides Mr Hancock has failed to comply with the rules he could face a range of sanctions under the ministerial code.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
×