In the run-up to Matt Hancock’s appearance on I’m a Celebrity, it was widely speculated that he would be put through all the most gruesome challenges. In this regard, its first episode did not fail.
Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, and probably much of the nation, could barely contain their glee as the former health secretary was forced to crawl through tiny, dark tunnels where he was flooded of insects and mud.
Hancock made his debut on the show in its fourth episode, which aired on Wednesday night, alongside comedian Seann Walsh. The pair dove right into their first challenge, called Beastly Burrows, which involved walking through dark, muddy tunnels and searching for the stars that represent success in challenges.
Notable moments include Hancock squealing as bugs and thick liquid pour down on him from above. He provided ample comic opportunity to his fellow comic camp, asking, “Which way do you want me to go?” prompting Walsh to reply, “I’m not a sat nav, I don’t know!”
Hancock’s inclusion is seen as an attempt by producers to boost ratings, which have been declining in recent seasons. The launch episode, which aired on Sunday after Hancock’s involvement was announced, drew an average of 9 million viewers, with a peak of more than 10 million at one point, up from the low of 10 years last year, of 8 million.
Viewers were surprised not to see Hancock at the launch as he had landed in Australia on 1 November. McPartlin and Donnelly hinted that he would be joining soon, and confirmed that they would be “rolling out the welcome mat” for the new arrivals shortly.
Matt Hancock during the Beastly Burrows challenge. Photograph: ITV/Rex/Shutterstock
Both Walsh, 36, and Hancock, 44, have tried to rehabilitate their images after kissing scandals. Hancock resigned as health secretary for breaking Covid rules by having an affair with his aide, while Walsh was photographed kissing his dance partner on Strictly, prompting his partner to ‘accused of emotional abuse.
Hancock’s decision to join the program was met with widespread criticism from parliamentary colleagues, as he is a serving MP and will be away from his West Suffolk constituents for its duration, although the producers will allow him to communicate with them and perform recovery surgeries. his return
He had the Tory whip removed and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his “disappointment”.
Producers took Hancock’s phone away after he landed in Australia and he may not be fully aware of the scale of the backlash.
Speaking ahead of her debut on the show, Hancock defended her decision, saying she was driven to find “different ways to communicate with audiences”, particularly young people.
In a letter to constituents in which he acknowledged his “concerns”, he said he did not “expect to serve in government again” and that he could support Sunak “in other ways” as there were “many ways to the work of being”. a deputy”.
Get our weekly pop culture email delivered to your inbox for free every Friday
Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertisements and content funded by third parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
He plans to use the platform to raise the profile of his dyslexia screening bill, which aims to help children receive diagnoses earlier, and will donate part of his show fee to causes such as the British Association of Dyslexia.
Hancock has expressed fears of encountering snakes in the jungle, but not of other challenges. “I’ve never met a snake up close, so I’m pretty apprehensive about anything to do with snakes. I’m not claustrophobic, or at least I haven’t been, but that’s the thing about being a celebrity : is the unknown,” he said.
Asked whether he thought his colleagues in parliament and the British public would vote for him to make judgements, he said he “wouldn’t be surprised”.
Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News that Hancock’s appearance on the show “degrades politics and the work we do”, but admitted he would tune in to see how his col… parliamentary league
Asked if he would vote for Hancock to eat alligator anus during the trials, Reynolds replied, “I think there’s going to be a nationwide landslide for Matt to volunteer for that kind of thing.”