Matt Hancock reveals why he’s decided to go on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Former health secretary Matt Hancock has said his decision to enter the I’m A Celebrity jungle was driven by a need to “deliver important messages to the masses”.
Mr Hancock has revealed he will be jetting off to the jungle in Australia to appear as a contestant on the popular ITV reality show.
His decision has meant his whip has been removed – effectively expelling him from the Conservative parliamentary party and forcing him to sit as an independent until it is reinstated.
Pic: AP
But he is unbowed, telling The Sun newspaper: “It’s our job as politicians to go to where the people are – not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster.”
The MP, who has been widely mocked on social media and by some colleagues for the move, said producers had asked him twice over the summer if he would appear, but he turned them down.
When, he said, the government was more stable following Liz Truss‘s short-lived stint as PM, he was asked again, and agreed.
He told the paper’s readers: “The truth is, I haven’t lost my marbles or had one too many pina coladas.
“Like you, politicians are human, with hopes and fears, and normal emotions just like everyone else.
“Where better to show the human side of those who make these decisions than with the most watched programme on TV?
“There are those who got their news from brilliant shows like This Morning, Loose Women and Gogglebox. It’s popular TV shows like these – and I’m A Celebrity … of course – that help to deliver important messages to the masses.
“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.
“Reality TV is a very different way to communicate with the electorate – it’s both honest and unfiltered.”
Ant and Dec are back hosting the show that has been make or break for a number of celebrities. Pic: ITV
Mr Hancock said that, as someone who had struggled at school with undiagnosed dyslexia, he would be using the platform to widen education about the condition – and would make a donation from his to causes supporting dyslexia and to St Nicholas Hospice in his constituency of Suffolk.
“I want to raise the profile of my dyslexia campaign to help every dyslexic child unleash their potential – even if it means taking an unusual route to get there … via the Australian jungle!
“I’m A Celebrity … is watched by millions of Brits up and down the country.
“I want to use this incredible platform to raise awareness, so no child leaves primary school not knowing if they have dyslexia.”
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‘Now he’s absconding as an MP’
Rivka Gottlieb, from the COVID-19 Bereaved Families For Justice group, was not ready to forgive the former health secretary for his handling of the pandemic.
Mr Hancock stepped down after breaching lockdown rules by conducting an affair in his ministerial office with aide Gina Coladangelo.
Ms Gottlieb criticised his decision to appear on the show as “some kind of popularity quest” and of being “not interested in making any amends for the devastation he caused to tens of thousands of families”.
She told Sky News: “He made catastrophic mistake after catastrophic mistake. He has presided over one of the worst death tolls in the COVID pandemic.
“He’s been an absolutely appalling health minister, and now he’s going to abscond from his job as an MP to go off and play in the jungle and self promote.”
Mr Hancock is the bookies’ favourite to do the most bushtucker trials, though his odds to win the competition are significantly slimmer.
The politician will appear alongside pop icon Boy George and ex-rugby player Mike Tindall, who is married to the King’s niece Zara Tindall.
In Mr Hancock’s constituency, Andy Drummond, the deputy chairman of West Suffolk Conservative Association, told the PA news agency: “I’m looking forward to him eating a kangaroo’s penis. Quote me. You can quote me on that.”
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Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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