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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

Matt Hancock's ITV I'm A Celebrity arrival date 'confirmed' by Good Morning Britain star after viewers' questions

Matt Hancock's arrival into the jungle has been revealed on Good Morning Britain. The former health secretary looks set to ruffle feathers as a latecomer to the camp in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Tuning into the series opener on Sunday night (November 6), viewers saw Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly back where they belong in Australia after two years of hosting the ITV reality show from a castle in Wales due to travel restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Geordie duo were seen welcoming the show's ten new campmates to the Gold Coast after they had been split into two teams. Kicking off the series in style, Olivia Attwood, radio DJ Chris Moyles, Loose Women star Charlene White, comedian Babatunde Aleshe and former England footballer Jill Scott arrived by a luxury car at a waterside villa on the Gold Coast.

READ MORE: ITV I'm a Celebrity viewers declare the winner just minutes into new series as Ant and Dec poke fun at Babatunde fail

Meanwhile, arriving one-by-one by boat to a marina was Boy George, rugby player Mike Tindall, Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver, TV presenter and property expert Scarlette Douglas and Hollyoaks’ Owen Warner.

But as Boy George and Olivia were voted the very first 'VIPs', and chose Chris and Scarlette to join them, and the remaining six contestants headed off for their first tasks of the series, I'm A Celebrity viewers were left with the same question... where is Matt Hancock?

While the broadcaster still hasn't confirmed his surprise appearance as a latecomer to the series, reportedly alongside comedian Seann Walsh, Matt himself confirmed his own signing as he was snapped arriving into Brisbane Airport as well as writing an article to defend his decision to say yes to appearing on the popular programme.

The 44-year-old MP's addition to the line-up was revealed last week and Matt, who has been suspended by the Tory party in the wake of his controversial signing being revealed, said he was taking part so he can "go to where the people are — not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster."

Matt Hancock arriving at Brisbane Airport last week (Tim Merry/Mirrorpix)

But as the messages about his appearance came flooding in during the launch episode, Ant and Dec confirmed there will be two extra arrivals to the camp and poked fun at Matt.

"We've also got not one but two late arrivals and fortunately we've managed to keep their identities a secret," quipped Ant. "Nobody's got a clue who they are." And Dec agreed: "Yeah. You're going to be so surprised guys." He then added cheekily: "We'll be rolling out the welcome Matt for them very soon."

And it appears viewers won't be waiting very long to see him in the jungle. During Monday's episode of Good Morning Britain, Radio 1 DJ and the news programme's stand-in entertainment reporter Vick Hope confirmed that Matt will be making his first appearance in just 48 hours.

"He's set to enter camp on Wednesday," Vick said. However, she added that, according to reports, the MP is already receiving special treatment. It is claimed he was granted special permission to access his laptop and phone to carry on working during his isolation period.

"Or you could just stay and do your job and not go in," Vick jibed as Susanna smiled and commented: "A little bit of politics." But an ITV spokesman responded to a Mirror inquiry last week by saying: "You are correct to say that celebs cannot speak to the outside world at all unless there are exceptional circumstances ie. an emergency."

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