Matt Hancock has made it to the final four I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! contestants, after comedian Seann Walsh became the seventh person to be eliminated from the reality TV show.
The former health secretary, Mike Tindall, Jill Scott and Owen Warner are now left in the running to be crowned king or queen of the jungle.
The MP for West Suffolk has faced criticism from opposition politicians, from within his own party, and other I’m A Celeb contestants for joining the show at a time when parliament is sitting – but Walsh has voiced his support for the former cabinet minister.
Speaking to Ant and Dec, hosts of the ITV show, after his exit, Walsh described Hancock, 44, as a “lovely guy” and said “he’s still in there for a reason”.
“No one was expecting Matt Hancock to be there,” he added.
Walsh and Hancock entered the Australian jungle together as they joined as undercover moles after the other celebrities had arrived.
They then had to undertake a series of missions in secret before revealing they were the moles to the other campmates, earning them treats.
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“We all listened to each other in there,” Walsh said on Friday evening.
“I don’t know if that is common in the jungle… and everyone kind of got their story out and there was so much support and I feel like everyone in there, not just for me, but I think we all accepted one another for who we are today.”
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Walsh revealed he wanted former England player Scott to win the whole show.
Earlier on Friday following DJ Chris Moyles’ elimination, Hancock told the Bush Telegraph: “We’re so near the end and I’m delighted to be still here.
“I never thought I’d make it to the final five and here I am, so I’m very grateful.”