By Ben Kerrigan-
Rule breaker, Matt Hancock. said politicians don’t come across as human enough, after coming third in I’m a celebrity get me out of here.
The former Health Secretary who breached Covid guidelines, after he was caught kissing his partner Gina Coladangelo said he wanted to show what he was like as a person.
Hancock appeared to forget that politicians showed just how human they were during partygate, when lockdown rules were readily broken without much restraint.
One of the unarguable characteristics of Matt Hancock as a person is a rule breaker, after breaking covid rules he devised for the British public to follow.
Matt Hancock also broke government rules on post-ministerial jobs by not consulting the anti-corruption watchdog before joining I’m A Celebrity, the body’s chairman confirmed last week.
Although Lord Pickles advised ministers that taking action against the MP would be disproportionate, the participation of the former politician on the television show confirmed his continued poor judgement as an individual.
Hancock was criticised by Conservative colleagues and opposition MPs, as well as his local Conservative association who said they were “disappointed” and accused Hancock of a “serious error of judgement”.
Asked by hosts Ant and Dec why he took part, Hancock said: “I wanted to show what I’m like as a person.
“Lots of people come to me with pre-conceived ideas for obvious reasons, and I just wanted to be myself,” he said.
“But I also believe that for politicians as a whole, we don’t come across as human enough. And this is probably the most extreme way of showing who you are.”
He added: “I carry with me expectations, people think they know me, and actually they don’t, they know Matt Hancock from the TV and the media.
“I just went in absolutely clear that I was going to be totally myself as if their cameras weren’t on and that’s what I did. And that is what I’m like in private.”
”I know that it was controversial me coming here, I know some people said people in your position shouldn’t put themselves in embarrassing situations. But we’re all human and we all put ourselves in it.”
He stressed: “We are normal people.” He said: “We are normal people. I know it was controversial me coming here, we are all human. We’ve all got serious sides, but also a nicer side. I was just totally myself [in there] and I’m sorry for that.
“Some of those grillings were really really enjoyable and a release,” Mr Hancock added when quizzed about his campmates frosty reaction to his arrival. “I just went in absolutely clear I was going to be totally myself, as if the camera’
Sunday’s final was watched by an average of 10.1 million viewers, according to overnight viewing figures from ratings body Barb.
Ofcom received 1,100 complaints about the former health secretary Matt Hancock appearance on the ITV show I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!
There has been widespread criticism of Hancock for appearing on the show as a serving MP.
Hancock expressed hopes of raising awareness of his dyslexia campaign while in the Australian jungle, in what was a supposed justification for his appearance on the show.
Two weeks ago, campaigners flew a plane over the I’m a Celebrity …Get Me Out of Here! jungle with a message for the former health secretary Matt Hancock, which read: “Covid bereaved say get out of here!”
The plane with a 10 metre (35ft) banner circled the Australian camp for two hours on Tuesday, organised by the campaign group 38 Degrees, and in collaboration with Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice.
Figures from ITV show 47% of public votes went to Scott, 31% to Warner and 22% to Hancock. After Hancock was eliminated, Scott won with 58% to Warner’s 42%.
Ofcom explained its position on its website at the time, stating: “It’s worth being aware that under our rules, in principle – and taking into account freedom of expression – there’s no ban on any particular person taking part in programmes.
“However, if the mere presence of a person is likely to cause offence, we would expect broadcasters to take steps to mitigate or justify that offence. How they do that editorially, is up to them.”
Hancock was suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party after it emerged he was taking part in the show.
On Monday, Matt Hancock and girlfriend Gina Coladangelo led the I’m A Celebrity campmate out to a star-studded party in Australia on Monday night, the Mirror revealed.
He was seen in the company of footballer Jill Scott, who won the ITV reality series I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Itv did not do itself justice by having a politician on its show whose participation would be clearly offensive to many of its viewers, and for good reason.