LONDON: From the political jungle in the UK to an actual jungle in Australia, Britain’s scandal-tarred former health secretary Matt Hancock has courted fresh controversy by participating in a reality TV show.
UK politician and reality TV show
The 44-year-old Conservative MP has drawn criticism from colleagues within his own ruling party after disappearing from parliament to be in the latest series of the reality TV show “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!” The popular media channel reality TV show takes a group of household names — some better known than others — to a rainforest in Australia, pitting them against the elements and challenges involving snakes and other creepy-crawlies.
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Reality TV shows, and deal with cockroaches
Since making his first appearance a week ago, Hancock — an ever-present public figure during the Covid pandemic who was then forced to step down after breaching social distancing rules — has been filmed partaking in a series of wincing scenes. According to the TV show, the MP has eaten kangaroo testicles, been sprayed with slime, had to deal with spiders and cockroaches, faced an impressive snake in an attack position, and been stung by a scorpion.
TV show and criticism against the MP in the UK
His antics, fairly typical for the reality survival series first launched in 2002, have left skeptical fellow lawmakers back in Britain fuming. “He should be here with us voting and debating in parliament,” Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris told a TV. APP/AFP
