I'm A Celeb contestant was given 'special treatment' before entering jungle that no one else has had
One of I'm A Celebrity's most controversial contestants was reportedly given 'special treatment' before entering jungle.
Conservative politician Matt Hancock, 46, appeared on the ITV show back in 2022, finishing in third place behind Owen Warner and Jill Scott in first.
The former Health Secretary, who has lost his Tory whip, faced widespread backlash from the start - given his high-profile role in the coronavirus pandemic.
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Meanwhile, Hancock said he wanted to go on I'm A Celebrity to raise awareness of dyslexia and to humanise politicians.
But before joining up with his campmates, the Daily Mail reported that he received 'special treatment' during his isolation period.
Hancock was reportedly given access to a computer to respond to urgent work emails.
The use of his laptop was said to have been monitored, as he was allegedly not allowed to contact loved ones at home.
"As an MP, my first priority is to my constituents. I have agreed with the show's producers that I can be reached at any point on any urgent constituency matters," the politician wrote in The Sun.
His phone and laptop would reportedly be used to speak to his personal adviser on Zoom, despite fellow contestants not being given the same privileges.
"Matt has been given a different arrangement during his isolation period to the other contestants. He has been allowed his phone and laptop so that he can carry on working and keep in touch with his constituents," a source told the Mail.
Though an ITV spokesperson told The Mirror that contact with the outside world was not allowed unless there was an emergency.
"You are correct to say that celebs cannot speak to the outside world at all unless there are exceptional circumstances ie. an emergency," they said.
This comes after hosts Ant and Dec opened up about what it was like to work with Hancock in the jungle.
"I think it’s very difficult not to [feel that way]," Dec told Huffington Post.
"We were all affected by decisions that he made and situations he created, so it was very, very difficult.
"But we tried incredibly hard to be impartial and to put that to one side. And I hope we did it."
Ant agreed that all of the celebrities that sign up to take on the jungle usually come with some form of 'baggage', but it's essential that he and Dec treat them all equally.
"It doesn't matter who you are," he explained.
"Boy George did. Matt Hancock did. Probably all of the campmates [last] year came with a history.
"But once they’re in there, they’re campmates, so we have to treat them like campmates, and let them tell their stories."
Topics: Im A Celebrity, Matt Hancock, Celebrity, ITV
Anish Vij