Matt Hancock is not the first politician to enter the Australian jungle for I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here.
The new series, which begins on Sunday (6 November), will see the former health secretary, who resigned in 2021 after violating his own Covid regulations, join the new batch of contestants a few days in.
His participation in the series has been condemned not only by fans, but by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said on Tuesday (1 November) that, rather than competing in a reality series, MPs “should be working hard for their constituents in the House or in their constituencies”.
But Hancock is not the first politician to have entered the jungle.
Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Brian Paddick kicked off the wave of MPs being asked to take part, signing up in 2008. He finished in seventh place. Former Labour MP and Mep Robert Kilroy-Silk also participated in that year’s series,...
The new series, which begins on Sunday (6 November), will see the former health secretary, who resigned in 2021 after violating his own Covid regulations, join the new batch of contestants a few days in.
His participation in the series has been condemned not only by fans, but by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said on Tuesday (1 November) that, rather than competing in a reality series, MPs “should be working hard for their constituents in the House or in their constituencies”.
But Hancock is not the first politician to have entered the jungle.
Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Brian Paddick kicked off the wave of MPs being asked to take part, signing up in 2008. He finished in seventh place. Former Labour MP and Mep Robert Kilroy-Silk also participated in that year’s series,...
- 11/2/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - TV
Tinchy Strider, Gemma Collins, Melanie Sykes and Michael Buerk (What?) were all confirmed to be taking part in I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! this afternoon.
But in a few years, will we even remember them? Unless they pull some Paul Burrell or Gillian McKeith-style stunts, frankly it's unlikely.
Why? Because we completely forgot these 9 big names have been there, done that and swallowed the testicles…
9. Neil Ruddock
Long after Razor stopped playing for Liverpool, but before he was taking part in Celebrity Big Brother, we forgot that he came seventh on the ITV show. He also 'starred' in a recent episode of C5's Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away, in which he had his stuff respossessed by bailiffs. So, unlike most celebs, the jungle didn't prove to be the lowest point in Neil's career.
8. Nigel Havers
Havers was the Buerk of his day. Not just literally,...
But in a few years, will we even remember them? Unless they pull some Paul Burrell or Gillian McKeith-style stunts, frankly it's unlikely.
Why? Because we completely forgot these 9 big names have been there, done that and swallowed the testicles…
9. Neil Ruddock
Long after Razor stopped playing for Liverpool, but before he was taking part in Celebrity Big Brother, we forgot that he came seventh on the ITV show. He also 'starred' in a recent episode of C5's Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away, in which he had his stuff respossessed by bailiffs. So, unlike most celebs, the jungle didn't prove to be the lowest point in Neil's career.
8. Nigel Havers
Havers was the Buerk of his day. Not just literally,...
- 11/12/2014
- Digital Spy
Tinchy Strider, Gemma Collins, Melanie Sykes and Michael Buerk (What?) were all confirmed to be taking part in I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! this afternoon.
But in a few years, will we even remember them? Unless they pull some Paul Burrell or Gillian McKeith-style stunts, frankly it's unlikely.
Why? Because we completely forgot these 9 big names have been there, done that and swallowed the testicles…
9. Neil Ruddock
Long after Razor stopped playing for Liverpool, but before he was taking part in Celebrity Big Brother, we forgot that he came seventh on the ITV show. He also 'starred' in a recent episode of C5's Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away, in which he had his stuff respossessed by bailiffs. So, unlike most celebs, the jungle didn't prove to be the lowest point in Neil's career.
8. Nigel Havers
Havers was the Buerk of his day. Not just literally,...
But in a few years, will we even remember them? Unless they pull some Paul Burrell or Gillian McKeith-style stunts, frankly it's unlikely.
Why? Because we completely forgot these 9 big names have been there, done that and swallowed the testicles…
9. Neil Ruddock
Long after Razor stopped playing for Liverpool, but before he was taking part in Celebrity Big Brother, we forgot that he came seventh on the ITV show. He also 'starred' in a recent episode of C5's Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away, in which he had his stuff respossessed by bailiffs. So, unlike most celebs, the jungle didn't prove to be the lowest point in Neil's career.
8. Nigel Havers
Havers was the Buerk of his day. Not just literally,...
- 11/12/2014
- Digital Spy
Martina Navratilova, Joe Swash and George Takei have handed out award trophies to every member of the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! camp. The three finalists gave Robert Kilroy-Silk the 'Conqueror Of The Creepy Crawly' honour for his heroic work, and crowned Dani Behr 'Queen Of The Stir Fry' for her tasty cooking. George Takei said that Carly Zucker was his 'Angel Of The Night' for looking after him when he had trouble sleeping, while the threesome agreed that Timmy Mallett was the worthy recipient of the 'King Of The Cackle' prize. Nicola McLean was given the 'Biggest Boob In Camp' award, Simon Webbe the 'Gentleman Prince' honour and Brian Paddick was named 'The Naked Sheriff' for being the only contestant (more)...
- 12/5/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
Brian Paddick has become the sixth contestant to be voted off I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!. The former police officer received the least amount of support from the public and follows Robert Kilroy-Silk, Carly Zucker, Dani Behr, Timmy Mallett and Esther Rantzen off the show. Speaking after his eviction, Brian told Ant and Dec that he entered the jungle in order to do something "trivial" after his career in law enforcement and (more)...
- 12/1/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
I'm A Celebrity's first eviction was a ratings success on Wednesday night, with an average of 8.66m (35.9%) tuning in over 90 minutes from 8.30pm. The latest update from the jungle, which included Robert Kilroy-Silk's departure, peaked with 9.24m (37.6%) at 9pm. An hour-long episode of Coronation Street preceded I'm A Celebrity with 9.33m (40.6%) from 7.30pm, following on from Emmerdale's 6.83m (32.5%) at 7pm. The audiences combined to boost ITV1's overall primetime share from 28.3% to 32%. BBC One had a relatively poor night, falling from a share of 18.7% to just 16.1%. Little Dorrit hit a new low of 2.62m (11%) at 8pm, down 1.2m week-on-week, then Wild About Your Garden enticed just 2.44m (10.1%). In the 9pm hour a New Tricks repeat picked up 3.73m (15.4%). The channel's top audience of the (more)...
- 11/28/2008
- by By Neil Wilkes
- Digital Spy
Robert Kilroy-Silk has claimed that I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! bosses have edited the show poorly. The politician and former TV presenter, who was the first to be voted out of the jungle this week, said that a number of participants are not getting their fair share of the limelight. The Mirror quotes him as saying: "I haven't seen the show and I won't. I have to move on now - but from what I've heard it doesn't bear a lot of reality to what I saw in the camp. I'm sure everybody in there would say that and how they've not been featured (more)...
- 11/28/2008
- by By Sarah Rollo
- Digital Spy
The I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestants have discussed Robert Kilroy-Silk's elimination from the competition. The Mep became the first campmate to leave the show after earning the least support in a public vote. David Van Day, who claimed Kilroy's bed after he left, said: "He really didn't want to be the first and so when he went out I think he was a bit shocked and he was actually broken up a bit. You could see in his face, he was very emotional." Dani Behr mourned Kilroy's (more)...
- 11/28/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
Robert Kilroy-Silk has become the first contestant to leave the I'm A Celebrity... camp. The politician won the lowest number of public votes after 12 days of life in the jungle and made his exit last night. Kilroy-Silk told Ant and Dec that he was fine and was looking forward to seeing his loved ones, adding: "I pleaded with the viewers for another night, just one more night, but they wouldn't give it to me." The former TV presenter said the experience had been tough, but that he was glad to have had the opportunity and revealed that (more)...
- 11/27/2008
- by By Sarah Rollo
- Digital Spy
Robert Kilroy-Silk has revealed that he would miss Martina Navratilova more than anyone else if he were to leave I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!. The contestants were given scones, jam and cream as a treat, but only if they told the group who they will miss the most when their time on the show comes to an end. "[Martina] just gets on with everything. She's kind of a cultured renaissance woman as well (more)...
- 11/27/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
Robert Kilroy-Silk has told Dani Behr that he does not like some of his I'm A Celebrity... campmates. The former talkshow host revealed that any current hostility in the camp is only going to escalate. "There are people I don't like very much but I try not to rub them up and keep out of their way. It's going to get worse. If I was going to offend someone I would have said you're a such-and-such," he said. Kilroy also criticised Joe Swash's (more)...
- 11/25/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
Esther Rantzen has assigned the I'm A Celebrity... campmates government roles. The TV presenter said she would install Brian Paddick as Prime Minister, while Robert Kilroy-Silk would "of course" be leader of the opposition. "Nicola is minister for defence, she's got the bazookas. Martina is the chancellor of the exchequer, bean counting and making sure it's Ok. Credit crunch? No problem with Martina," (more)...
- 11/23/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
Robert Kilroy-Silk has quizzed Martina Navratilova on her sexuality on I'm A Celebrity... . He asked the former tennis champion, who came out as a lesbian in 1981, about her attraction to women. "Are you like me? Do you look at girls and fancy them?" he said.
"Yeah, it depends if I'm in a relationship or not which I usually am, so I try to shut it out but (more)...
"Yeah, it depends if I'm in a relationship or not which I usually am, so I try to shut it out but (more)...
- 11/23/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
Timmy Mallett has apologised to Robert Kilroy-Silk for making fun of him as he took part in the Jungle Gym challenge. Tensions have been rising between the pair, with Mallett telling the Bush Telegraph that the former talkshow host "seems to be easily rubbed up by me". Mallett defended his actions, saying: "There are one or two serious folk in here. And you think: 'No, the world demands laughter.'" However, the children's television star later caught up with Kilroy-Silk and apologised. "I owe you an apology, Robert. I think you're a hero. I think you're a trouper. (more)...
- 11/22/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
Robert Kilroy-Silk has successfully completed the live trial on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!. The other campmates gathered in the trials area to cheer on the former talkshow host as he navigated the Jungle Gym challenge, in which he had to use the special I'm A Celebrity... workout equipment. Kilroy-Silk started by pedalling on the Bug Bike for one minute while cockroaches and other jungle critters were thrown towards him. He then had to complete the Push Ups Of Pain, during which he successfully retrieved three stars from boxes guarded by rats, worms and eels. He then tackled the Bite Bag, a punch bag filled (more)...
- 11/22/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
Robert Kilroy-Silk tricked his fellow I'm A Celebrity... campmates into thinking he had failed his latest Bushtucker Trial. The former talkshow host was enclosed in a Perspex suit for the John T-revolting task, which featured animals being placed into the costume where they could crawl over his body. Kilroy endured the maximum ten minutes in order to win a meal for each campmate, but later led them to believe that he had not succeeded. "Sorry. had to get into a case and they're going to put rats there which is where I got (more)...
- 11/21/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
Robert Kilroy-Silk has admitted that he feels "victimised" after the public voted for him to take part in another Bushtucker Trial. The former chatshow host said he was "apprehensive" about taking on a second challenge because there are more mouths to feed since the Home and Away factions were merged. However, he vowed that he will not let his feelings distract him from the upcoming trial. "It doesn't make a difference that I did a trial yesterday and I'm (more)...
- 11/20/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
Robert Kilroy-Silk has been branded "a real villain" by his fellow I'm A Celebrity contestant George Takei. The Mep's behaviour came under close scrutiny as the Home Camp members discussed their rivals in Away Camp on the ITV1 jungle series. After Takei voiced his disapproval of Kilroy-Silk, the other celebrities were divided as they debated whether his antics were genuine. "I think we're painting him in a bad picture. I think he's a wind up merchant," Joe Swash insisted. "I think when he comes on people should form their own opinions. That's the thing with Kilroy. You don't know whether (more)...
- 11/19/2008
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! star Joe Swash has secured victory in his third Bushtucker Trial of the series. The former EastEnders actor faced off against Robert Kilroy-Silk in a battle for food after previously taking part in the Trauma Tank and I Scream Van challenges. In the latest task, Swash and Kilroy-Silk were placed in separate chambers before being chained with leg irons, waist belts and handcuffs. The pair were required to free themselves by finding keys at the bottom of their prison, with the first celebrity to be released (more)...
- 11/19/2008
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Politicians have criticised Robert Kilroy-Silk for taking part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, with one calling him "an absolute disgrace". Kilroy-Silk agreed to appear on the reality show while still acting as an Independent Mep for the East Midlands in the European Parliament. "I think it shows a complete lack of respect for voters," Labour Mep Glenis Willmott told The Mirror. "We are in serious times and people expect their politicians to do a job of work. "You can't do that if you are in the jungle, (more)...
- 11/17/2008
- by By David Balls
- Digital Spy
Politicians have criticised Robert Kilroy-Silk for taking part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, with one calling him "an absolute disgrace". Kilroy-Silk agreed to appear on the reality show while still acting as an Independent Mep for the East Midlands in the European Parliament. "I think it shows a complete lack of respect for voters," Labour Mep Glenis Willmott told The Mirror. "We are in serious times and people expect their politicians to do a job of work. "You can't do that if you are in the jungle, (more)...
- 11/17/2008
- by By David Balls
- Digital Spy
Robert Kilroy-Silk has expressed concern at the controlling behaviour of Esther Rantzen and Carly Zucker in the jungle. The politician and former TV presenter told the Bush Telegraph that the pair may cause "problems" as the show progresses. "Esther likes being in control as perhaps we all do," he said. "I think the other two [females] are quite feisty and they're quite opinionated (more)...
- 11/17/2008
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestant Robert Kilroy-Silk has confessed that the Away Camp is miserable. This presenter said the group, which consists of himself, Carly Zucker, Esther Rantzen, Nicola McLean and Simon Webbe, must sleep on the floor and can be reprimanded by being placed in Jungle Jail. "We're very down and miserable but somehow everybody (more)...
- 11/17/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestant Robert Kilroy-Silk has confessed that the Away Camp is miserable. This presenter said the group, which consists of himself, Carly Zucker, Esther Rantzen, Nicola McLean and Simon Webbe, must sleep on the floor and can be reprimanded by being placed in Jungle Jail. "We're very down and miserable but somehow everybody (more)...
- 11/17/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
George Takei has flown Down Under to become the oldest contestant on the British edition of I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here. “I’m physically fit. I used to run marathons, now I work out every day,” he told the Daily Mirror.
Of the grueling challenges awaiting him in the Outback, he noted, “I’m Japanese and love sushi. I’ve even eaten live fish. It was delicious.”
His arrival got off to a shaky start when no one from the show was present to meet him at the airport. “I’ve been left wandering the airport for 30 minutes. They assured me there would be someone to meet me,” Takei said. A gaggle of reporters, on hand for the celebrity’s arrival, guided him to his destination.
His fellow contestants include local politician Robert Kilroy-Silk., ex Met deputy Brian Paddick, former tennis champ Martina Navratilova, Carly Zucker,...
Of the grueling challenges awaiting him in the Outback, he noted, “I’m Japanese and love sushi. I’ve even eaten live fish. It was delicious.”
His arrival got off to a shaky start when no one from the show was present to meet him at the airport. “I’ve been left wandering the airport for 30 minutes. They assured me there would be someone to meet me,” Takei said. A gaggle of reporters, on hand for the celebrity’s arrival, guided him to his destination.
His fellow contestants include local politician Robert Kilroy-Silk., ex Met deputy Brian Paddick, former tennis champ Martina Navratilova, Carly Zucker,...
- 11/15/2008
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Robert Kilroy-Silk is the favourite to be the first contestant voted off I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!. Bookmaker William Hill is offering 5-2 odds on the former TV presenter making an early exit, followed by Nicola McLean at 11-4. Former EastEnders actor Joe Swash has been named the favourite to win the show at 7-2. Blue singer Simon Webbe is (more)...
- 11/15/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
Robert Kilroy-Silk has claimed that his time in the jungle as part of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! will be a challenge. The former television presenter revealed that he is looking forward to the show and thinks it is "really going to be interesting". However, he admitted that his family are "dreading" seeing him on TV because they fear he may get into trouble. "My wife would say I'm difficult. My daughter would (more)...
- 11/13/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
ITV has confirmed the lineup for this year's series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Esther Rantzen, Robert Kilroy-Silk and former Blue singer Simon Webbe are among the ten contestants heading to the jungle for the eighth series of the reality show. Joining them will be Wag Carly Zucker; tennis icon Martina Navratilova; TV presenter Dani Behr; ex-EastEnder Joe Swash, former Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police Brian Paddick; glamour model Nicola McLean and Heroes and Star Trek actor George Takei. Speaking about her decision to take part in the programme, Rantzen said: "I have to face the worst, (more)...
- 11/12/2008
- by By Simon Reynolds
- Digital Spy
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