I’m A Celebrity has become ‘The Matt Hancock show’ – and could end in a bust-up with ‘jealous’ Boy George, Lembit Opik told today’s Jungle Confidential podcast, as he defended the ex-health secretary’s jungle stint, saying it is no different from an MP jetting off on holiday.
Mr Opik, who appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2010, said he thinks the show will be a good opportunity for Mr Hancock to ‘redeem himself’ and repair his public image, and even suggested that he could win the show after his success in his second Bushtucker Trial last night – although he admitted it would ‘take a miracle’.
But he also suggested that there is ‘seething tension’ between Mr Hancock, 44, and the Karma Chameleon singer Boy George, 61, who will ‘probably be a bit jealous’ that the Tory MP is getting more airtime than him.
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Speaking to Jungle Confidential host Katie Hind, Mr Opik, 57, said: ‘In my judgement he’s hated. I know how that feels – I wasn’t popular when I went into the Jungle – and I genuinely think this is an opportunity for him to redeem himself.
‘There are lots of people, a majority of people, who think he shouldn’t be there. But, and it’s a very big but here, Matt Hancock has got one life, he’s making one journey, and he’s chosen to take a colourful diversion into the Jungle.
‘He won’t be available for 16 days maybe, probably maximum 23. But what’s the difference between that and going to Barbados, the way Boris Johnson, a serving MP, did- famously having to fly back for his failed leadership bid this year?
‘The difference is it is very public. If Matt Hancock had gone to Scotland for a three-week fishing holiday, no one would have noticed, no one would have said anything.’
Mr Opik, who described Mr Hancock as a ‘friend’, continued: ‘The [I’m A Celeb] editors will say, “what do the public want to see?” and last night it was the Matt Hancock show because it’s been the Matt Hancock show for the last 10 days.’
Former Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik suggested that Matt Hancock could win the show after his success in his second Bushtucker Trial last (pictured left) night – although he admitted it would ‘take a miracle’
Mr Opik, who himself appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2010 (pictured), said he thinks the show will be a good opportunity for Mr Hancock to ‘redeem himself’ and repair his public image
Jungle Confidential is the Mail’s daily I’m A Celebrity video podcast by MailOnline and MailPlus. It appears on MailOnline from 1pm and can be found on our YouTube channel as well as everywhere you can download podcasts
He continued: ‘They probably wanted to focus on Matt because they know millions of people are switching on to watch him.
‘If Boy George could see it he would probably be a bit jealous and he will be if he watches it when he comes out. There is a seething tension there…
‘My suspicion is they will have to work as a team and the dynamic they are trying to create is a team out of two people who could end up in a big bust-up and a big conflict.
‘Matt doesn’t have anything against Boy George and he accepts the fact that Boy George is in many ways a voice for millions of people who are shouting at the TV, wanting Boy George to challenge Matt.’
Mr Opik’s support for the former health secretary’s appearance on the show stands in stark contrast to many other politicians and indeed his former party, which posted on its official Twitter account: ‘Never mind #ImACeleb and trying to win meals for a jungle camp, Matt Hancock should be in the UK, in his office, and delivering for constituents wondering where their next meal will come from. You’re not a celebrity. You’re an MP with a job to do.’
And viewers haven’t seemed to warm to him yet, with many taking to social media to mock his candid discussion with fellow campmate Babatúndé Aléshé about his affair with Gina Coladangelo last night.
The 44-year-old spoke about the ‘consequences’ of being caught in a clinch on his Whitehall office’s CCTV, which made headlines around the world, cost him his job and led to the collapse of his 15-year marriage to wife Martha, the mother of his three young children.
Sitting on a log in the camp, Babatúndé took him to task over his behaviour and told him: ‘You messed up’ after Mr Hancock confided in him that life had been ‘tough’ since the affair emerged and he was forced to quit Boris Johnson’s cabinet.
He was then repeatedly mocked for ‘grabbing the booty’ of his lover, to which he cringed and said: ‘Oh give over.’ Babatúndé said: ‘Look man, I don’t judge you bruv. I may take the p*** out of you.’
He was also confronted about his actions during the pandemic by TV presenter and property expert Scarlette Douglas who said: ‘It was hard. A lot of people had difficult times.
‘And then to see that people that had kind of set the rules had then broken them, I think was a big slap in the face for everyone.’
Speaking to Jungle Confidential host Katie Hind, Mr Opik said: ‘In my judgement he’s hated. I know how that feels- I wasn’t popular when I went into the Jungle- and I genuinely think this is an opportunity for him to redeem himself.’
A teaser from Friday evening’s programme shows the former health-secretary taking part in yet another Bushtucker Trial alongside campmate Boy George
The rival duo will be taking part in the first eating challenge of the series- a meal at La Cucaracha Cafe, which means the Cockroach cafe in Spanish
The MP for West Suffolk faced a frosty reception on joining camp on Wednesday night’s show which was made worse by the fact he only managed to win six out of a possible 11 stars for camp.
But last night he won all 11 after being voted in by the British public to take on Tentacles of Terror. The trial saw him gasping for breath after being locked in a giant octopus-shaped contraption and lowered into a tank of water.
‘The eels, the sea snakes, I was absolutely petrified,’ he said on completing his second Bushtucker Trial.
‘I can’t believe it. I was so nervous. My heart was racing. I’m really proud of myself for having pulled that off.’
Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver, who earlier in the episode had criticised Mr Hancock for leaving his constituents back home, congratulated him for earning the camp meals, saying: ‘He nailed it, so well done Matt.’
And Mr Hancock will this evening take part in the first eating challenge of the series after being voted to take on yet another trial.
He will be joined by camp rival Boy George for a meal at La Cucaracha Cafe, which means the Cockroach cafe in Spanish.
Viewers haven’t seemed to warm to Mr Hancock yet, with many taking to social media to mock his candid discussion with fellow campmate Babatúndé Aléshé (left) about his affair with Gina Coladangelo
The MP for West Suffolk faced a frosty reception on joining camp on Wednesday night’s show which was made worse by the fact he only managed to win six out of a possible 11 stars for camp in his first Bushtucker Trial (pictured)
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said yesterday that Mr Hancock should ‘voluntarily leave’ the I’m A Celebrity Jungle and return to Parliament.
Taking questions on BBC Radio Humberside, Sir Keir said his decision to enter the show was ‘wrong’.
‘He should get back to Westminster, he should get back to Parliament and do his job,’ he said.
Also in last night’s episode, Seann Walsh spoke about being pictured in October 2018 kissing his Strictly Come Dancing partner Katya Jones while he was in a relationship and she was married to Neil Jones, also a dancer on the show.
The 36-year-old comedian said he wants the show to be a ‘positive experience’ and is still ‘very sorry’ for his behaviour while he was in a relationship with actress Rebecca Humphries.
Mike Tindall also revealed more details about his royal wife Zara Phillips giving birth on the bathroom floor to their third child in March 2021.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! continues at 9pm on Friday on ITV