Matt Hancock's girlfriend Gina Coladangelo says he's impressed her as she flies to Australia

Matt Hancock’s girlfriend says that she has been ‘impressed’ with his stint on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here this year, as she heads out to Australia to greet him from the jungle.

Gina Coladangelo was the woman who Hancock was caught having an affair with during his time as Health Secretary and – crucially – whilst Covid-19 restrictions signed off by Hancock himself were in place.

The pair were caught on camera getting – let’s say – closer than the rules or ‘guidelines’ allowed at the time, leading to the breakdown of both of their marriages.

Despite that, the pair are still together, and Hancock has embarked on an attempt to rehabilitate his image with the British public with a spell in the jungle on ITV.

Anyway, when asked about how the aforementioned image rehab is going, Coladangelo told the MailOnline: “It would be difficult not to be impressed, he has done really well.

“He’s made of tough stuff,” she added.

ITV

Whilst admitting that she has ‘obviously’ missed him during his time away, she said that the camp ‘all seem to be getting on OK’ with their various tasks and trials within the show.

There has been much speculation about whether Hancock should even have been allowed onto the show in the first instance, given his position in the public consciousness for his time as Health Secretary during the pandemic, as well as his position as a sitting MP during one of the worst cost-of-living crises in memory.

He’s had the whip suspended by the Conservative Party, meaning when he returns he’ll be an independent MP.

It seems that many who lost relatives and loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic haven’t forgotten about him, either.

This week a banner was flown above the Australian camp that read ‘Covid bereaved say get out of here’.

Hancock has admitted to ‘looking for forgiveness’ by appearing on the show, but it seems even his fellow campers find that a bit hard to get along with.

In the Bush Telegraph, Hancock said: “In a way, lots of the campmates asked questions that the public have got as well, and it’s only respectful to just give completely straight and truthful answers.”

However, despite apologising for what he did, Loose Women presenter and co-star Charlene Douglas said: “Sorry doesn’t cut it.”

REUTERS/Alamy

She added: “It’s massively bigger than that. My aunt died from Covid in the first wave. So, we couldn’t go to the hospital to go and visit her.

“I had to sit by myself in the church at her funeral.

“We couldn’t hug each other because we were following guidance.

“And I get that you fell in love, I understand all of those things, but sorry for a lot of families like mine doesn’t really cut it.”

Hancock and co are still in the jungle, with the show continuing at 9:00pm on ITV this evening.