After Matt Hancock proved that a politician can excel on I'm A Celebrity, another British politician could be following in his footsteps in the jungle.
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss is tipped to follow in Matt Hancock's footsteps and appear on the upcoming series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here. Surprisingly, Truss, who is the shortest-serving PM in British history, is among the most potential candidates for this year's series.
Liz Truss tipped to join I'm A Celeb
Truss is a Conservative MP who served as the Secretary of State for International Trade from July 2019 until September 2021. She became Britain’s shortest-serving Prime Minister last year when she served for only 44 days. Truss is currently a sitting MP and serves her constituents for South West Norfolk.
According to UK betting websites, Truss is currently sitting at 25/1 odds to be announced as one of the next batch of contestants on I'm A Celebrity.
Truss would not be the first politician to take part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! In fact, Matt Hancock's appearance last year was something of a surprise, with many questioning the wisdom of a serving MP taking time out of his busy schedule to participate in a reality TV show. However, Hancock's stint in the jungle was widely regarded as a success, with the former Health Secretary defying expectations and making it all the way to the grand final, ultimately finishing in third place.
During his 21-day stay in the jungle, he took part in a number of gruesome Bushtucker Trials, including a particularly challenging eating trial alongside Boy George. He was also voted to do six consecutive trials by the public and served as Camp Leader. Although Hancock received a lot of criticism for his decision, he managed to earn an astonishing amount of £320,000 for his appearance on the reality show.
Is it appropriate for a serving MP to join TV shows?
Truss, who is still a sitting MP representing South West Norfolk, may well be looking to follow in Hancock's footsteps and use the show as an opportunity to show a different side to herself. Although her tenure as Prime Minister was short-lived, Truss is still seen as a high-profile figure within the Conservative Party and her appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! would no doubt generate significant media attention.
According to the Times, it is not unusual for ex-MPs to transition into TV roles, however, having current politicians on our screens can often be a contentious topic.
Hancock's recent appearance in the Australian jungle is reminiscent of former Conservative Party member Nadine Dorries' participation in I'm A Celebrity in 2012. Similarly, in 2017, MSP Kezia Dugdale faced backlash from the Labour Party for her appearance on a reality show as she had not obtained permission beforehand.
Other potential contestants for the upcoming series
According to Metro, the current favourite to win the show is Thomas Skinner, a former contestant on The Apprentice, who is currently being offered at odds of 3/1 by OLBG. Meanwhile, former Premier League referee Mike Dean is the second favourite at 9/2. Other names currently in the mix include former England footballer Peter Crouch and former Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing.
The new I'm A Celebrity All Stars edition, which recently gave viewers a sneak peek during a filming stint in South Africa, is also generating significant excitement among fans of the show. According to reports, the program is scheduled to be broadcasted for a period of three weeks, airing each weeknight starting from Monday, April 24th.
Among the celebrities announced for the South Africa special are Janice Dickinson, Helen Flanagan, and Carol Vorderman, with Ant and Dec returning as hosts. Phil Tufnell, Jordan Banjo, Shaun Ryder, Amir Khan and Olympian Fatima Whitbread have also been confirmed to be re-entering camp, reports the Sun.
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