‘I resigned it’s no excuse but I fell in love, right?
Matt Hancock attempted to justify his covid rule breaching affair with Gina Coladangelo on I’m A Celebrity on Thursday night – but got absolutely rinsed in the process.
The former heath secretary was caught out on CCTV canoodling with his aide at the Department of Health HQ during the pandemic, ending his marriage and costing him his job.
When asked about the incident that was front page news across the UK, the 44-year-old said he broke the strict covid rules at the time because he had fallen in love. The MP said he had suffered “tough times” since.
i am sorry but hancock must be the least sexy person in the entire world, it’s making me want to die pic.twitter.com/EXiklmI1gP
— Hannah Jane Parkinson (@ladyhaja) June 25, 2021
Speaking about the aftermath, Hancock admitted he “messed up and fessed up” to his wife of 15 years, and the mother of his three children, Martha, and the public.
But campmate Babatúndé Aleshe couldn’t making a dig at Hancock’s expense, making light of the fact that Hancock was caught “grabbing booty”.
Babatúndé asks former Health Secretary Matt Hancock how things have been “because you messed up”. Matt explains he just “fell in love”
Babatúndé: “You didn’t just fall in love. You were grabbing the booty” #ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/igUk6pAhhT
— Dionne Grant (@DionneGrant) November 10, 2022
The comedian asked Hancock, who won 11 stars in the Tentacles of Terror trial, how he had been doing. Hancock said: “It’s obviously been really tough. I messed up and I fessed up. I resigned it’s no excuse but I fell in love, right?
“That also had a lot of other consequences as well”.
Babatúndé replied: “You didn’t just fall in love, you were grabbing booty.”
Hancock said: “Oh, give over. You are a comedian. It’s been hard but I obviously brought it on myself. It’s been tough.”
The MP said Coladangelo, 45, plans to meet him over the bridge after being asked by the comedian if they were still together.
He added: “‘With Gina? Yeah very much so, yeah, totally. That’ll be the best thing about being kicked out, seeing her on the bridge.”
Later Babatúndé explained how the conversation went saying that “Matt was embarrassed” and had said he “fell in love…. but he was grabbing the booty… man grabbed the bunda on the front page… it was the bunda’s leader bruv, I see you, ok.”
Viewers also had a few thoughts on Hancock’s justification.
Dan Walker wrote: “I’ve thought about this overnight and it’s clear that a lot of people are finding it very difficult to watch Matt Hancock on #ImACeleb If he really wants to show viewers the human side of politicians, maybe he could leave the show & donate his £400,000 to the NHS.”
I’ve thought about this overnight and it’s clear that a lot of people are finding it very difficult to watch Matt Hancock on #ImACeleb
If he really wants to show viewers the human side of politicians, maybe he could leave the show & donate his £400,000 to the NHS.
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) November 10, 2022
Another wrote: “Not excusing Seann Walsh by any means but he’s far more apologetic and sincere than Matt Hancock who had a full blown affair with his pa and broke his own laws risking the lives of thousands”.
A third viewer added: “Tried to tune in to I’m A Celebrity again, but I just can’t bear to watch it. Seeing Hancock try to justify his lockdown affair made me feel sick, so I had to turn off.” The affair was exposed after Hancock was caught on CCTV canoodling with Gina, with it believed that the images were leaked by an insider at the Department of Health on May 6, 2021.
When Hancock and Coladangelo got together they were both married with children and indoor meetings between people from different households or bubbles were banned, unless they were “reasonably necessary” for work.
Following the scandal, Hancock resigned telling then Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he had let the public down.
#UK Health Sec. Matt Hancock resigned on news that he planted a kiss on his favorite squeeze Gina Coladangelo. In his resignation, Matt said he got the “social” part of the UK’s social distancing rules, but was having trouble with the “distancing” thing.pic.twitter.com/DvwEgjCBsh
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) June 27, 2021
He said: “I owe it to the people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic to be honest when we have let them down.” It follows the drama surrounding Hancock’s arrival on the ITV show, which led to predictions of a mass walkout by fans.
On Wednesday, Boy George confessed he was considering leaving the jungle, with one campmate doing her best to stop him amid suggestions that a mass walkout might be on the cards.
Related links:
- I’m A Celebrity set for ‘mass walkout’ after Matt Hancock arrival as stars close to quitting
- Furious I’m A Celebrity fans complain to Ofcom over Matt Hancock scene
- I‘m A Celebrity’s Ant and Dec react to fans’ anger over Matt Hancock entering camp
- ‘Disgusted’ I’m A Celebrity viewers switched off within minutes of seeing Matt Hancock
- Mike Tindall ‘under investigation’ over I’m A Celeb joke
