Matt Hancock has said being voted leader of the I’m a Celebrity camp “more than makes up for” losing the 2019 Tory leadership election.
The 44-year-old Tory MP was among those throwing his hat into the ring to replace Theresa May, but pulled out midway through the contest before throwing his support behind Boris Johnson.
Sunday’s episode of I’m A Celebrity saw Hancock receive enough votes from the public to go head-to-head with former England rugby star Mike Tindall for control of the campsite.
The former health secretary recruited ITV broadcaster Charlene White, who he has previously clashed with over her breach of Covid-19 guidelines during the pandemic, and they succeeded in a challenge that saw them work together to turn on a series of lights.
Ahead of the task, Tindall joked: “If I went home and lost to Matt Hancock, I’d be in such shit.”
Hancock told White: “We’re definitely the underdogs,” before she responded: “Did you go into the leadership challenge thinking you were the underdog?”
After his win, Hancock said: “Obviously, it’s a great honor and privilege to be leading the field. I want to thank everyone who voted for me.”
White said: “Does this win feel sweet, especially after losing to Boris? Do you feel vindicated?” Asking him to answer, “That more than makes up for it.”
However, its success prompted soap star Sue Cleaver, aspiring MP for Tindall, to say: “Now we have a dictatorship”.
Earlier in the episode, Hancock was stung by a scorpion at camp, later telling fellow contestants: “It was so painful… It hurts so much and I feel a little dizzy.”
Hancock was voted to become leader of the campsite after facing his fifth House of Horrors trial in a row, in which he had to crawl through a giant dollhouse filled with pigeons, snakes and troughs full of offal, looking for stars to feed the camp.
Asked by co-presenter Declan Donnelly why he thought the public kept voting for him to take part in the grueling trials, Hancock said: “It must be the facial expressions.”
Faced with his fear of snakes, the Tory MP located nine of the 11 stars on offer, despite a snake trying to strike him at eye level.
After returning to camp, he admitted: “I was absolutely shitting myself.”