Matt Hancock’s I’m A Celebrity debut brings in lowest viewing figures so far at 7.9 million-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

Matt Hancock’s slurrying didn’t convert into peak viewership (Picture: ITV)

Matt Hancock’s debut on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! on Wednesday night failed to draw the viewers that had perhaps been expected.

The former health secretary was seen entering the jungle with comedian Seann Walsh as this year’s late entrants in scenes broadcast last night.

He made the controversial decision to join the series as a sitting MP during a cost of living crisis while parliament is sitting, after being forced to quit his Cabinet role for breaking his own pandemic rules by kissing a colleague last June.

Mr Hancock has since had the Tory whip suspended after his own party reacted to him entering the jungle.

However, his arrival heralded a dip in viewing figures as an average of 7.9 million tuned in to watch his first appearance and Bushtucker trial.

Although up 2.1 million viewers compared to the equivalent episode in 2021 according to ITV, it’s also the lowest rating of the series so far.

The former health secretary joined the show late with comic Seann Walsh (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)

I’m A Celebrity’s launch night on Sunday saw the ITV reality show capture 9.1 million viewers – and a peak of over 10 million – and the second night fell to 8.2 million.

Last night’s 7.9 million viewers represents the smallest audience so far for the show this year.

Some fans have reacted angrily to the sitting MP’s inclusion on the show, complaining he has ‘ruined’ the entire season already.

‘Sadly no longer watching. First time I ever deliberately not watched. Gutted you ruined the show,’ one viewer wrote.

Some viewers complained that Mr Hancock’s involvement was ‘ruining’ the show for them (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)

Another pointed out that it was likely the British public would ‘vote him for every trial’ and it would ‘ruin [the show] by giving him attention’.

‘Can’t imagine how it feels for people who suffered from this person’s decisions and having to see him in one of their favourite TV shows’.

Mr Hancock’s fellow campmates were also seen grappling over their feelings towards him following his arrival, as Charlene White got to questioning him about why he had signed up for the series.

A matter of hours after his arrival and the sitting MP was voted to face another Bushtucker trial (Picture: ITV/UNPIXS)

Boy George was seen tearfully considering leaving the show, following his mother’s hospitalisation with Covid during the pandemic.

He explained: ‘I feel like, I don’t want to be sitting here like I’m having fun with him.

‘It’s difficult for me because, you know, had something happened, if my mum had gone, I wouldn’t be here now.

‘I would have gone when he walked in.’

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In tonight’s episode, the MP is set to face new trial Tentacles of Terror, after surprising no-one by being voted for by the public to undergo the challenge.

He’s already been covered in buys and slurry alongside Walsh on their arrival, as the duo managed to collect six stars out of a possible 11 for dinner for the camp.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! continues tonight at 9pm on ITV.

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