Hancock getting all the attention in the I'm A Celebrity jungle

Hancock following an interview at the BBC

Matt Hancock’s entrance into the I’m A Celebrity jungle has been met with mixed reception since it was announced. The former MPs crash onto reality tv was met with almost universal mock and ridicule from the public and his peers. And yet somehow, he is thriving.

The public voted for him as one of 2 candidates to be head of the camp. The first time we’ve been allowed to vote for a Tory leader in almost 3 years. So, let’s see how Hancock is being received now in comparison to his debut.

When Hancock joined the show the first reactions came from his peers. According to Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris. The cabinet minister said: “He should be here with us voting and debating” and speculated that “hundreds” of MPs have downloaded the show's voting app to ensure he takes part in trials.

After news of him being on I’m a celebrity broke, he was almost immediately expelled as a member of the Conservative party. Simon Heart, Tory chief whip said: “I have considered the situation and believe this is a matter serious enough to warrant suspension of the whip with immediate effect”.

Even the prime minister spoke out against him joining the camp. Sunak expressed disappointment in Hancock saying that being an MP was a privilege and that: “We should take that privilege seriously and we should give it the responsibility that is owed.”

It is worth mentioning that Hancock is still an MP. Although he has been suspended from the Tory party, he is still the representative for West Suffolk while being in Australia taking part in trials that see him crawling around in roaches and eating camel penis.

The negative sentiment towards him from the public has been made immediately clear, with them voting for Hancock to take part in the show's trials 4 days in a row. However, overtime audiences seem to have warmed up to the former health secretary.

Although audiences initially reacted badly, they seem to be looking at him more favourably due to his successes in trails. He was voted as one of two candidates to be the leader of the camp and people are surprisingly concerned for his wellbeing with Ofcom receiving 809 complaints with many claiming that he was being “bullied”. A number which was overshadowed by a 44,000-signature petition launched by campaign group 38 Degrees to kick him off the show.

On Tuesday the 15th of November, a banner was flown over the camp by the activist group Families for Justice which read ‘COVID BEREAVED SAY GET OUT OF HERE!’

Lobby Akinnola, a member of the group said: “He’s claimed the inquiry will set the record straight, but it can only get to the truth if it has the evidence it needs. He should be at home sending in those emails rather than being rewarded with £400,000 for not doing his job. His transparent attempt to sell more books and cleanse his public profile has failed.”

Hancock’s book supposedly detailing his experience during the Covid pandemic is set to release on the 6th of December.