A political ally of Mr Hancock defended his decision to appear on the show, saying: “I’m A Celeb is the most watched show on TV. Matt doesn’t expect to serve in government again so it’s an incredible opportunity for him to interact with the 12 million Brits who tune in every night. “Matt told the whips in Parliament and will use his time in the jungle to promote his dyslexia campaign.” The ally said Hancock had a “fantastic team” working with him in his West Suffolk constituency, but that the show’s producers had agreed he could contact them on urgent matters. “Matt has always believed in communicating directly with the people he represents – whether he’s going out and hitting the streets in West Suffolk, through all kinds of media or through those press conferences,” the ally added.

“There are many ways to do the work of an MP. Whether it’s in camp for a day or three weeks, there are very few places where people will be able to see a politician as he really is. Where better to show the human side of them who make these decisions rather than the most watched program on television? “Politicians like Matt need to go where the people are – especially those who are politically disengaged. Matt believes we should embrace popular culture. Instead of looking down on reality TV, we should look at it as is – a powerful tool to get our message heard by younger generations.
“Matt will be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk and, of course, will declare the amount he receives from the show in Parliament to ensure full transparency, as usual.” “When he was first approached to join – while he was flattered and naturally curious – he was quick to turn down the opportunity because of the instability the government was facing at the time. But now, the government is stable. Rishi Sunak has made a great start and the entire Conservative party is united behind him. Rishi has a large majority, so he can pass his agenda through Parliament.”

Mike Tyndall in the cast of the series

News of his appearance comes after reports that former England rugby player and Royal husband Mike Tyndall, married to the King’s niece Zara, will also enter the Australian jungle. Buckingham Palace did not deny on Monday night that Mike Tyndall had sought advice before entering the show. Aides declined to say whether the former England rugby player, who is married to Zara, the King’s niece, had asked permission to take part or whether certain topics were off limits. A spokesperson simply pointed out that she is not a working member of the royal family.