Ulster-born former politician Lembit Opik has defended Matt Hancock’s decision to take part in this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity….Get Me Out Of Here!, saying he hopes he does well in the reality TV show.
r Hancock, who was Health Secretary during the Covid pandemic, was unveiled today as a surprise latecomer to the group of well-known faces heading into the Australian jungle.
Following news of the Conservative MP’s addition to the line-up, his party suspended the whip from him with immediate effect, while campaigners for families bereaved in the Covid-19 pandemic accused him of trying to “cash in on his terrible legacy”.
Responding to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman said: “The PM believes that, at a challenging time for the country, MPs should be working hard for their constituents, whether that is in the House or in their constituency.”
However, Bangor-born ex-politician Lembit Opik, who took part in I’m A Celebrity in 2010, branded the Tories “po-faced, woke idiots” for removing the whip.
The former Liberal Democrat MP said more people watch the “crown jewel in reality television” than Prime Minister’s Questions.
And he described Hancock as “courageous, in political terms”, saying he would be voting for him to take part in the notorious Bushtucker trials to give him a chance to prove he’s a “survivor”.
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who is entering the jungle
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Opik said: “I think the Conservatives have enough problems without looking like po-faced, woke idiots.
“Suspending the whip is another brick in the wall of the party image, as more people watch I’m A Celebrity than Prime Minister’s Questions.
“Yes, he’s playing with reality TV fire, but I defend his decision in the same way I defended Nadine Dorries when she took part in the show.
“I will be voting for him to take part in the trials, not as a punishment but because, firstly, I’m curious to see how he does and also, ironically, to give him a break.
“I’d like to see him do well and prove that he’s a survivor. In political terms, he’s courageous for doing this.”
Mr Opik, who lasted 13 days in the jungle and came in 11th place, said if Hancock treated his participation as a bit of fun and not a platform “to set the record straight”, he could enjoy the experience.
But he said he didn’t think the show would bring him “redemption”.
“How he does will depend on his motivation,” Mr Opik said.
“If he wants to have a laugh on the show, the crown jewel of reality TV, then good luck to him. But if he thinks he can use it to set the record straight or make people see the world his way, then dream on.
“I’m A Celebrity isn’t Question Time, nor PM’s Questions, nor an adjournment debate, and he has to remember it’s light entertainment and that everything he says can be used in evidence against him.
“He can’t control how he’s edited, but he can control what he says and his state of mind.”
Mr Opik said that while he would like to see Mr Hancock do well, he couldn’t see him progressing beyond the first few weeks — unless he excelled at the trials.
“The public like to punish weakness, so if he can do well the first time he’s voted to do a trial, then he might stay a few weeks,” he said.
“But this is a man who got lost in the political jungle and now he’s in a place where the snakes in the grass are real and not just metaphors.
“If he stays in for the first three trials he does then that will be a massive victory for him.”
The 57-year-old also said he didn’t believe Mr Hancock would reveal any secrets about Boris Johnson, but that it was still a coup for ITV bosses to secure him.
“If he dishes the dirt then that’s his swansong, plus he’ll be breaking the ministerial code,” he said.
“He would have to live with it afterwards and if he rubbishes his colleagues he’ll rubbish himself.
“But it’s still a great coup for the show and will make for great TV.”
Mr Hancock was forced to quit as Health Secretary in June 2021 after breaking coronavirus social distancing rules by conducting an affair in his ministerial office with aide Gina Coladangelo.
He was among supporters of Rishi Sunak who welcomed the new leader to Conservative headquarters last week but was overlooked for a ministerial job under the new Prime Minister.
An ally of Mr Hancock’s said: “There are many ways to do the job of being an MP.
“Whether he’s in camp for one day or three weeks, there are very few places people will be able to see a politician as they really are.
“Where better to show the human side of those who make these decisions than with the most watched programme on TV?”
It is understood Mr Hancock will make a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk and will also be required to declare the amount he receives from the show to Parliament.
Reacting to the jungle news, Shadow Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said: “To be fair to Matt Hancock, I’d sooner eat wallaby anus than be a Tory MP too.”