Matt Hancock has broken his silence and explained his reasons for going on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.
The politician was suspended as a Tory MP and lost the whip yesterday when the news broke that he would be joining this year’s famous contestants in the Australian jungle.
Now, in a column in The Sun, Hancock has explained that he hasn’t ‘lost his marbles’ by choosing to go on reality TV.
Rather, he wants to use the platform to reach people who ‘aren’t always interested in politics’ and ‘show the human side of those who make decisions’.
Hancock told the paper: “While there will undoubtedly be those who think I shouldn’t go, I think it’s a great opportunity to talk directly to people who aren’t always interested in politics, even if they care very much about how our country’s run.
ADVERTISEMENT
Matt Hancock will join the rest of the I’m A Celebrity 2022 cast. Credit: ITV
“It’s our job as politicians to go to where the people are — not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster.
“There are many ways to do the job of being an MP. Whether I’m in camp for one day or three weeks, there are very few places people will be able to see a politician as they really are.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Like you, politicians are human, with hopes and fears, and normal emotions just like everyone else.”
Next week, I'm going into the jungle, as part of this year's @imacelebrity
He added that he hopes to use the platform to raise awareness for his campaign to better identify and support dyslexic children.
Saying that he had been approached three times by ITV before accepting the place on I’m A Celebtity, Hancock continued: “And no, it wasn’t the cheque that changed my mind. I will be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk and causes supporting dyslexia off the back of my appearance.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I will, of course, also declare the amount I receive from the show to Parliament to ensure complete transparency, as normal.”
Matt Hancock will be joining other celebrities including Boy George, Sue Cleaver and Jill Scott on this year’s I’m A Celebrity 2022, which will be back in Australia for the first time in two years.
Other I’m A Celebrity 2022 contestants will be Manchester-based TV personality and former Love Island star Olivia Attwood, Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner, ex-England rugby player Mike Tindall MBE, and comedian Babatúndé Aléshé.
Completing this year’s line-up are presenter and property expert Scarlette Douglas, presenter and journalist Charlene White, and radio legend Chris Moyles.
Ant and Dec will be back as hosts as the celebs battle it out to be crowned king or queen of the jungle.
ADVERTISEMENT
Campmates will spend their first night on an island and face their first trial there, ITV has confirmed.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here 2022 will return to ITV on Sunday 6 November at 9pm.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons / ITV/The Manc Group
TV & Showbiz
Major Greater Manchester names on lineup as BBC Comedy Festival heads north for 2026
Emily Sergeant
The BBC’s popular comedy festival heading up north next month, and there’s some major local names on the lineup.
Previously held in other major cities like Belfast, Glasgow, Cardiff, and Newcastle but this year pitching up in Liverpool, the BBC Comedy Festival is opportunity for those working in the TV industry to get together, discuss, and celebrate comedy.
Bolton‘s finest Diane Morgan, alongside other northern names like John Bishop, Lee Mack, Sir Michael Palin, and Sue Johnston are among a stellar lineup of comedy talent taking part in next month’s festival, as well as other big names like Ruth Jones, James Corden, Gbemisola Ikumelo, and the creators and producers of hit BBC show Amandaland.
Talent on the lineup will take part in a selection of talks, panels, screenings, and live comedy shows across the two days – with many events also being open to the public to attend.
Sir Michael Palin and Lee Mack are two major names appearing at BBC Comedy Festival 2026 / Credit: Wikimedia Commons (Ralph PH | Amanda Benson)
Last year’s BBC Comedy Festival proved to be a big success, with 16 panels and masterclasses, and more than 70 comedy names taking to the stage.
The BBC says the 2026 festival in Liverpool – which is set to take place on 13 and 14 May – ‘marks the start’ of expanded script‑development opportunities across the North West, with more details to come.
Alongside some of the more household names on the lineup, other comedians set to appear this year include Ash Atalla, Jessica Knappett, Philippa Dunne, Michael Odewale, Emma Garrett, David Mumemi, and Simon Mayhew Archer, among many others.
Speaking ahead of the festival next month, Jon Petrie, who is the Director of Comedy at the BBC, said: “Liverpool has funny bones and a rich culture of producing top tier comedy creatives, so we’re delighted to be bringing the BBC Comedy Festival 2026 to the city.
“Comedy occupies a unique place in the television industry and British culture.
“It’s important that we provide a forum that brings together some of the best comedy minds to celebrate and discuss the success of the sector now and in the future.”
Featured Image – BBC / Al Campbell
TV & Showbiz
Morrissey claims sole credit for The Smiths’ iconic Salford Lads’ Club photo shoot idea
Danny Jones
Morrissey is once again raising the issue of credit and disputes over The Smiths’ legacy, as the controversial former frontman has now claimed that their iconic photo shoot outside of Salford Lads’ Club was entirely his idea.
The 66-year-old lead singer turned solo star from Urmston is no stranger to sparking debates and attracting controversy, and it seems his latest is to do with one of the most iconic images in British music history, let alone just Greater Manchester.
The Davyhulme-born bard and divisive artist goes on to claim that the other co-founding members of the iconic Manc band initially viewed as more of his “lunacy” – the suggestion seemingly being (as it often is with Morrissey) that they simply didn’t understand the ‘genius’ at the time.
Many of his most die-hard fans still believe that most don’t and never will.
He even jokes that, in another life, it could very well have been something entirely different and random, such as the Kellogg’s factory in Trafford, basically suggesting that other members would have simply followed suit.
In his words, he argues that “now millions of people come from all over the world to be photographed on that very spot, it is claimed as a Smiths idea. It wasn’t, it isn’t, and it never shall be.”
Once again, this is by no means the first time he’s called into question, ‘who did what’ and/or who owns what bit of intellectual property; in fact, there was apparently another one of these instances with Johnny Marr only recently.
‘Moz’ and Marr have been at loggerheads pretty much ever since the group disbanded back in 1987, and still look to be far away from seeing eye to eye on virtually anything.
Daisy Jackson -
2nd November 2022 
