POLITICS ASIDE 'MATT'S HOPING HIS KIDS WILL SEE HIM IN A BETTER LIGHT'

FORMER MP LEMBIT OPIK TALKS ABOUT MATT HANCOCK’S CONTROVERSIAL STINT ON I’M A CELEB

Matt Hancock’s decision to enter the I’m A Celebrity jungle has been one of the most talked-about appearances in the show’s history. Matt resigned as health secretary in 2021 after being exposed for breaking his own Covid rules, when leaked CCTV footage revealed his affair with aide Gina Coladangelo. When it was announced he was going to the jungle, the dad-of-three was suspended from the Conservative Party.

But his politician pal and I’m A Celebrity 2010 alumni Lembit Öpik has defended the 44-year-old’s stint on the show. “Matt is the most unpopular person in Britain right now,” Lembit, 57, tells OK!. “He’ll either maintain this role or he’ll redeem himself.”

Here, Lembit discusses the reasons for his friend’s latest adventure…

What do you make of Matt’s decision to take part in I’m A Celebrity? I was really pleased – I was probably the only person in Britain to say he was perfectly entitled to enter the jungle. Matt is the most unpopular person in Britain right now so there are two outcomes – he’ll either maintain this role or he’ll redeem himself. What does he have to lose?