I’m a Celebrity: Jill Scott wins as Matt Hancock MP finishes third

Matt Hancock has finished in third place on ITV reality series I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

The former health secretary was beaten by footballer Jill Scott and Hollyoaks star Owen Warner during Sunday’s final.

The MP’s participation in the show has been controversial – he had the Tory whip suspended after his involvement was announced.

Asked by Ant and Dec why he took part in the series, Hancock said: “I wanted to show what I’m like as a person.”

“Lots of people come to me with pre-conceived ideas for obvious reasons, and I just wanted to be myself,” he continued.

“But I also believe that for politicians as a whole, we don’t come across as human enough. And this is probably the most extreme way of showing who you are.”

He added: “I carry with me expectations, people think they know me, and actually they don’t, they know Matt Hancock from the TV and the media.

“I just went in absolutely clear that I was going to be totally myself as if there cameras weren’t on and that’s what I did. And that is what I’m like in private.”

Since last week, the public have been voting to keep their favourite campmates in the jungle, rather than to evict their least favourites.

Hancock took part in 10 Bushtucker trials during his time in the jungle, five of which were the result of a public vote.

During his exit interview, Hancock admitted he was nervous about taking part in the series, and admitted he had expected the tough questions he was asked by other campmates.

“Some of those grillings were really enjoyable and a release, because I could say exactly what I thought, and some were very emotional about some parts of my past that everybody knows about,” he said.

“We had really grown-up conversations about it, and there were strong feelings but there wasn’t any aggro, they were discussions.”

He concluded: “I know it was controversial, me coming in here… but we’ve all got lots of sides to our personalities.”

After his interview, Hancock was seen being reunited with his partner Gina Coladangelo, who he was caught kissing on CCTV in 2021 – events which ultimately led to his resignation as health secretary.

Social distancing guidelines, which Hancock had helped devise, were in place at the time they were pictured kissing. He faced a barrage of criticism when the footage was released by the Sun.

Hancock’s participation in the series was criticised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said Hancock should not be away from his constituents while Parliament is sitting.

Conservative MP Tim Loughton said he was “disgusted” Hancock had put celebrity ahead of his constituents, adding that losing the Tory whip was “the least he deserves”.

The 44-year-old was also criticised by Conservative colleagues and opposition MPs, as well as his local Conservative association who said they were “disappointed” and accused Hancock of a “serious error of judgement”.

Soon after the MP’s arrival in the camp on 9 November, a banner was flown over it bearing a message from the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group.

But Hancock, who said he entered the jungle to raise awareness of his dyslexia campaign, survived all the public-voted evictions during his time on the show.

Hancock previously said he would donate some of his fee for taking part in the series – reported to be £400,000 – to a hospice in his constituency and dyslexia charities.

He was beaten to the jungle crown by footballer Scott, who won, and actor Warner, who finished in second place

Asked how she felt to be crowned Queen of the Jungle, Scott joked: “I just can’t believe it, I think I’m going to owe my grandma a lot of money for 12 million votes.”

She described her fellow campmates as “absolutely incredible”.

“We were one big team,” she continued. “I don’t think there should be one winner, we couldn’t have got through it without all of us, I think we’ve all been winners of I’m A Celebrity.”

She likened her experience to playing with England women’s football team the Lionesses.”There have been so may elements, working together as a team, winning challenges and that feeling of getting to know incredible people.”

She added: “Having all those years playing for incredible teams equipped me well for the jungle.”

Runner-up Warner said he was “so gassed” about Scott’s win. “I think everyone agrees, no-one deserves it more than Jill,” he said.

Earlier in Sunday’s final, Scott, Hancock and Warner were seen taking part in their last Bushtucker trials, before enjoying their final meal together in camp.

Hancock’s trial, Flood Your Face, saw him have his head placed in a tank of water, while wearing a snorkel to breathe, for five minutes. Various critters were added around his face, including eels, yabbies and water spiders.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! is one of ITV’s biggest hits, running for three weeks every November. It has regularly attracted eight million viewers throughout this series.

ITV News presenter Charlene White, A Place In The Sun host Scarlette Douglas, Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver and singer Boy George were among this year’s campmates.

Other contestants included comedians Babatunde Aléshé and Seann Walsh, radio DJ Chris Moyles, and former rugby player Mike Tindall.