Matt Hancock claims he did not ‘primarily’ go on I’m A Celeb for the money and defends ‘decent’ charity donation
Matt Hancock says he did not “primarily” go on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! for the money.
He also defended the 3% of his £320,000 appearance fee which he donated to charity as a “decent sum”.
The former health secretary said the £10,000 donation was “more than my MPs’ salary” that he still received while appearing on the reality TV show in the Australian jungle.
Entering the show despite criticism from constituents and colleagues, Mr Hancock‘s team had told reporters he would be donating a portion of his appearance fee.
Ahead of his appearance, Mr Hancock said he signed up to raise awareness of dyslexia, which he was diagnosed with while at Oxford University.
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Mr Hancock later revealed he had given a share of the £10,000 sum to the St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk and the British Dyslexia Association after official records showed his fee amounted to £320,000.
“I didn’t primarily do it [go on the reality show] for the money, I primarily did it to try to show who I am,” Mr Hancock told ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme.
“I think £10,000 is actually a decent sum.”
He also confirmed he still received his MP salary while in the jungle, but said his donations were larger than that sum, which is around £7,000 per month.
The West Suffolk MP, who was kicked out of the Conservative Party over his appearance on the show, did concede that “of course there was a discussion and negotiation over the fee”.
But he argued that he “certainly would have considered” appearing on the programme for just £10.
He also denied that negotiations about his fee soared after he turned down initial offers.
Mr Hancock finished in third place on the show behind actor Owen Warner and England professional footballer Jill Scott.
Records on the MPs’ register of interests showed Mr Hancock received £320,000 from Lifted Entertainment, ITV Studios, for the work which he listed as lasting for 30 days.
The appearance was criticised by many MPs, including the prime minister.
More than 1,000 complaints were made to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom over his participation.
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The families of some of those who died during the COVID-19 pandemic even flew a message over the I’m A Celebrity camp, demanding his removal.
A statement from the group behind the banner, 38 Degrees – a British non-profit political activism organisation – said his appearance on the show was “sickening”.
Mr Hancock’s campmates, including singer Boy George and TV journalist Charlene White, also questioned his actions during the pandemic inside the camp.
The Conservative MP resigned as health secretary for breaking social distancing guidance after video emerged of him kissing and embracing an aide in his office.
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He has since confirmed he will not be standing for the Conservative Party at the next general election.
It was previously revealed that Mr Hancock had also earned £45,000 for taking part in Channel 4’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins during September and October.
