‘Not enough popcorn on the planet’: Social media erupts with memes poking fun at Matt Hancock and anticipating his appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
- Twitter erupted with hilarious memes today after Hancock announced for show
- MP for West Suffolk will now serve as independent after being stripped of whip
- Friends today said it was a chance for him to connect to ‘younger generations’
Twitter erupted with hilarious memes today after it was sensationally revealed that Matt Hancock will be starring on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
The former health secretary, 44, who quit after breaking his own lockdown rules by having an affair with long-time aide Gina Coladangelo, will become the 12th celebrity heading to the Australian jungle.
His decision to appear immediately saw him kicked out of the Conservative Party, leading one friend of his estranged wife Martha searing in their condemnation of the father-of-three, branding him a ‘total halfwit who’s making some unwise career moves’.
Meanwhile, one former minister predicted Mr Hancock would be selected for a bushtucker trial ‘every day’.
Referring to the notorious challenge for contestants to eat kangaroo testicles, the Tory told MailOnline: ‘I have sympathy for the poor kangaroo.’
The politician added: ‘Is Matt Hancock technically a celebrity? I think he’s probably in a slightly lower league than Mike Tindall.
‘If he’s eliminated in the first round he’ll be appalled. He’s going to be the hate figure, every single day he will be doing a challenge.’
The news set social media alight, with scores of Twitter users not wasting any time in creating memes to mock the now-Independent MP for West Suffolk.
Matt Hancock, 44, who quit after breaking his own lockdown rules by having an affair with long-time aide Gina Coladangelo , will become the 12th celebrity heading to the Australian jungle
Twitter erupted with hilarious memes today after it was sensationally revealed that Matt Hancock will be starring on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
One meme showed the infamous CCTV image of Mr Hancock kissing his aide in his office, except Ms Coladangelo had been replaced with a maggot, along with the caption: ‘Matt Hancock in the I’m A Celebrity Jungle.’
Another showed a much-shared photo of Mr Hancock jumping over a fence during a run in a park, alongside some text reading: ‘Matt Hancock leaving the jungle when he finds out he’s gotta eat kangaroo ball sack after being dunked in fish guts, rotten meat and cockroaches for the 10th night in a row.’
Clothing retail giant Boohoo also joined in the fun, sharing an image of ousted PM Boris Johnson on a zip wire waving Union Jack flags. The company wrote alongside the photo: ‘How Matt Hancock’s rice and beans will be delivered to the jungle.’
And in a reference to Britain’s crippling PPE shortages at the outset of the Covid pandemic, mock news account Newsthump shared an image of Mr Hancock falling out of a plane in a suit with no parachute attached.
The account wrote: ‘Matt Hancock’s first Bushtucker trial to involve skydiving into the jungle without the appropriate PPE.’
One fan said there ‘would not be enough popcorn on the planet’, adding: ‘You just know Matt Hancock will be doing every single challenge.’
Clothing retail giant Boohoo also joined in the fun, sharing an image of ousted PM Boris Johnson on a zip wire waving Union Jack flags. The company wrote alongside the photo: ‘How Matt Hancock’s rice and beans will be delivered to the jungle.’
It comes after the news drew a rapid rebuke from Number 10, with Rishi Sunak’s spokesman saying the Prime Minister believes MPs should be ‘working hard for their constituents’ at a ‘challenging time for the country’. Mr Sunak is ‘unlikely’ to watch Mr Hancock in action, the spokesman added.
Chief Whip Simon Hart announced he had removed the whip from Mr Hancock – the same fate that befell fellow Tory MP Nadine Dorries when she went on the ITV show in 2012.
‘Following a conversation with Matt Hancock, I have considered the situation and believe this is a matter serious enough to warrant suspension of the whip with immediate effect,’ he said.
PR expert Mark Borkowski estimated Mr Hancock could have been paid a £350,000 appearance fee.
He told MailOnline: ‘They paid Noel Edmonds £500,000 and that was a top booking – either Hancock is desperate for the visibility or the money… if it’s the money I’d expect £350,000 – he should be very careful what he wishes for.’
Mr Hancock will stay as MP for West Suffolk but serve as an independent. While he will be able to keep his party membership, he will not be able to stand for election as a Conservative party candidate, vote in party contests or stand for committee chairman posts.
A source close to the MP said he would donate some of the appearance fee to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk, but would not say how much.
Today, a political ally said he had accepted he was unlikely to become a minister again and wanted to connect with ‘younger generations’.
‘Politicians like Matt must go to where the people are – particularly those who are politically disengaged,’ they said.
‘Matt’s of the view that we must embrace popular culture. Rather than looking down on reality TV, we should see it for what it is — a powerful tool to get our message heard by younger generations.’
Mr Hancock first turned down the opportunity to appear on the show because of ‘instability’ the government was facing at the time, according to the source.
However, he now believes the administration is ‘stable’ and views his stint on the show as an ‘amazing opportunity’ to talk about issues he really cares about, they claimed.
Matt Hancock will be heading to the Australian jungle to take part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! it emerged today
An ally of Mr Hancock said producers of the ITV show have agreed that Mr Hancock can communicate with them if there is an urgent constituency matter
‘When he was first approached to take part — while he was flattered and naturally curious — it didn’t take him too long to turn the opportunity down because of the instability Government was facing at the time,’ the ally said.
‘Now, though, the Government is stable. Rishi Sunak has made a great start and the whole of the Conservative Party is united behind him.
‘Rishi has a big majority, so he can get his agenda through Parliament. Matt’s talked to the whips, in the same way any MP would when going on a foreign visit, which happens all the time.
‘As I say, Matt doesn’t expect to serve in Government again, but he can support Rishi and the Government in different ways. This is an amazing opportunity to engage with the public and talk about issues he really cares about — including his dyslexia campaign.’
The ally said producers of the show have agreed Mr Hancock can communicate with them if there is an urgent constituency matter.
But former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe told Sky News it was wrong for a serving MP to be away ‘for weeks on end’ and asked what would happen ‘if there’s an emergency’.
Andy Drummond, deputy chairman of West Suffolk Conservative Association, said he was looking forward to seeing Mr Hancock ‘eating a kangaroo’s penis’ on the show — a reference to the notorious bushtucker trials in which contestants compete in a series of gruesome challenges to win stars. ‘Quote me, you can quote me on that,’ he added.
Today’s news drew a rapid rebuke from Number 10, with Rishi Sunak’s spokesman saying the PM believes MPs should be ‘working hard for their constituents’ at a ‘challenging time for the country’
One friend of Mr Hancock’s estranged wife Martha (who he’s pictured with) was searing in their condemnation of the father of three today, branding him a ‘total halfwit who’s making some unwise career moves’
Who takes part in each trial goes down to a public poll, and today bookmaker Ladbrokes suggested voters’ desire for ‘payback’ had seen Mr Hancock become odds-on favourite to set a new record for the most bushtucker trials ever carried out by an I’m A Celeb contestant.
Today’s news drew mockery from political rivals, with SNP MP Pete Wishart tweeting: ‘It speaks volumes that @MattHancock would rather be stranded in a remote jungle eating kangaroo testicles than spend a moment longer on the Tory benches at Westminster, as @RishiSunak’s government lurches from one crisis to another.’
Shadow health minister Andrew Gwynne added: ‘To be fair to Matt Hancock, I’d sooner eat wallaby anus than be a Tory MP too.’
Joining Mr Hancock for three weeks of creepy crawlies are former England rugby player Mike Tindall, 80s hitmaker Boy George, Love Island star Olivia Attwood and DJ Chris Moyles.
Also starring in the new series on November 6 will be actor Owen Warner, Loose Women’s Charlene White, A Place In The Sun presenter Scarlette Douglas, Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver, comedian Babatúndé Aléshé and retired England Lioness Jill Scott.
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