Matt Hancock is ‘unconvincing’ with plea for forgiveness on I’m A Celebrity – and has revealed signs he isn’t being ‘genuine’-Sabrina Barr-Entertainment – Metro

Matt Hancock’s interactions with his campmates on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2022 have been labelled ‘unconvincing’… with the politician showing signs through his body language that he may not be acting as ‘genuine’ as he would like to come across.

On Friday night’s episode of the ITV programme, the former health secretary revealed to Loose Women presenter Charlene White that he’s hoping for ‘forgiveness’, after he was caught in 2021 kissing his married aide Gina Colangelo, who he is still in a relationship with.

The politician, who was also married when the CCTV footage circulated, resigned from his role following criticism for breaking his own social distancing guidelines at the time.

While some of the stars of I’m A Celebrity have appeared sympathetic to Hancock opening up about his past, some – such as radio DJ Chris Moyles – have expressed their belief that the MP isn’t ‘being real’… with body language expert Judi James telling Metro.co.uk that there are ‘several cues and clues that he is right’.

‘Matt has been the consummate politician here. He performed sufficient visual rituals of humility to allow the main group to feel vilified in their forgiveness. His head was bowed, his voice low and his master-stroke was in rubbing his hands over his face and sounding close to tears,’ James said.

‘Charlene and Sue [Cleaver] are both self-appointed mums of the group and a threat of tears would have triggered their nurturing response.’

Hancock’s ‘most authentic-looking body language’ came when he discussed the so-called politician’s ‘pivot’, James said (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

However, ‘Matt’s body language is unconvincing though’, she added.

‘His laughter is often an overkill behaviour, where he screws his face up or throws his head back with his mouth open, and they are also lightening smiles and responses, i.e. they happen suddenly and disappear again just as quickly to suggest they aren’t genuine.

‘His most congruent and authentic-looking body language so far came when he relaxed and started enjoying being the centre of attention, showing off about all the tricks politicians use to fool their interviewers and the public.’

Some of the campmates have started to show sympathy towards Hancock (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

On I’m A Celebrity, comedian Seann Walsh was left astounded when Hancock explained the ‘pivot’ technique used by politicians, when they’re asked a question, but are able to steer their response so they can present the answer they want to give.

James noted that Hancock appeared to use this very method in casual conversation, as she stated: ‘He gave examples of the “pivot” where a politician will divert from a killer question to a different topic or answer. He also gave the example of the Tony Blair “Look…” technique before a major pivot.

‘The ironic thing was that he was describing techniques that he had been using when he was quizzed by the campmates, pivoting onto the point that, “Look, I fell in love,” and his point about wanting some forgiveness as well as plugs for his own book.’

The body language expert added that Hancock was the one who initiated hugs with the other celebrities, ‘when it should have been the others volunteering the forgiveness and hugs’.

She continued: ‘He’s even been supplying his own sound-bites like ‘I messed up and I fessed up’ to influence thinking and responses by hooking into the mind of the audience.

‘So Chris’s assessment could well be right, but the group dynamics will pull in Matt’s favour in terms of forgiving and forgetting.’

Tonight, Hancock is set to take part in yet another fourth Bushtucker Trial, this time teaming up with Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner for the Who Wants To Look Silly On Air? challenge.

I’m A Celebrity viewers have complained about the politician doing four challenges in a row, with some calling on the programme to implement a rule preventing campmates from doing consecutive trials.

I’m A Celebrity returns tonight at 9pm on ITV.

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