Category Archives: i’m a celebrity

Jamie Lynn Spears Leaves I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! On Medical Grounds

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Jamie Lynn Spears has become the second of this year’s I’m A Celebrity contestants to leave the jungle on medical grounds.

On Wednesday afternoon, ITV confirmed that the singer, actor and younger sister of Britney Spears had left camp and not be returning.

A spokesperson said: “Jamie Lynn Spears has left I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! on medical grounds.

“She’s been a fantastic campmate who has triumphed at trials and bonded well with her fellow celebrities.”

It’s been confirmed that Jamie Lynn’s final appearance on the show will air during Wednesday night’s episode.

The former Zoey 101 star’s exit follows that of Grace Dent earlier this week, who also left the show for medical reasons.

Grace Dent in the jungle
Grace Dent in the jungle

ITV/Shutterstock

In a statement given to her fellow campmates, the journalist and MasterChef star said: “My dear campmates, I’m so sorry to let you down. I have left the camp for medical reasons,” the statement read.

“My heart is broken, I have loved and enjoyed getting to know you all. You’ve held me up and it’s been a pleasure being your friend through this experience.

“Leaving you all at this stage will be one of the saddest things in my life. I love you all.”

It was revealed during Tuesday’s instalment that YouTube personality Nella Rose had paid a visit to the show’s medical team, and was therefore absent from a live portion of the episode.

However, ITV has since confirmed to HuffPost UK that Nella is back in camp.

I’m A Celebrity continues on Wednesday night at 9pm on ITV1.

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Matt Hancock To Make First Commons Appearance In Seven Weeks

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Matt Hancock is set to end his near seven-week break from parliament when the sitting MP appears in the Commons for the first time since his I’m A Celebrity hiatus.

The former health secretary is scheduled to be back in parliament on Friday to debate his dyslexia bill, on the same day his pandemic journals are serialised in the Daily Mail.

The ex-minister last spoke in the Commons on October 17, when he welcomed the “return of an iron-clad fiscal responsibility” under new chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

His re-appearance comes as speculation mounts over whether he will have the Tory whip restored and seek to stand again at the next election.

He is currently sitting as the independent MP for West Suffolk, having been suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party for choosing to head to the Australian jungle at a time when the house was sitting.

The MP is expected to tell parliament that the current approach to dyslexia “must change”.

“It is not only an issue of morality, but also of both social and economic justice,” he will say.

Friday's order paper
Friday’s order paper

UK Parlament

Hancock, who was diagnosed with dyslexia at university, had vowed to use the “incredible platform” offered by I’m A Celebrity to raise awareness of the learning difficulty.

While his jungle jaunt drew criticism from colleagues, including prime minister Rishi Sunak, Hancock has “no intention of standing down or stepping away from politics”, according to his team.

Tory MPs have been given until Monday December 5 to declare their intention to re-run at the next general election, expected to be in 2024.

The second reading of Hancock’s dyslexia screening and teacher training bill is third on Friday’s order paper, meaning it is likely to be heard before the end of business.

Hancock will tell MPs: “So we rightly screen for physical health conditions to provide the support to individuals, so why don’t we screen for neurological conditions, too?

“My bill today would result in every child being screened for dyslexia in primary schools and giving teachers the adequate level of training to be able to teach dyslexic children properly.”

He will call it an “outrage” that “while every teacher is a teacher of a dyslexic child, teachers do not need to be trained to support dyslexic children”.

“This leaves thousands of dyslexic children left in the classroom without the education they need and deserve.”

“It is a scandal that only one in every five dyslexic children leave school identified with their dyslexia. That means 80% of dyslexics go on to further education or into the world of work not knowing that they have a neurological condition, but just thinking they are bad at reading.”

As is normal procedure, other MPs can join the debate and representatives for both the government and opposition will have their say.

Some might take the opportunity to have a dig at Hancock’s TV escapades since it will be their first chance to put their views to him directly in the house.

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Tony Blair Defends Matt Hancock Over I’m A Celebrity Appearance

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Tony Blair has defended Matt Hancock over his appearance in the I’m A Celebrity jungle – suggesting that his decision to park his political responsibilities for a spell in Australia “took courage”.

The former health secretary has faced a cross-party backlash and questions about his future in Westminster after coming third in the ITV show.

The West Suffolk MP, who explained he was “looking for a bit of forgiveness” by appearing on the show, reached the final but came behind the winner, Euro 2022 champion Jill Scott, and Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner in a public vote on Sunday night.

Hancock broke coronavirus social distancing rules during the pandemic by having an affair in his ministerial office with aide Gina Coladangelo, and has told campmates it was caused by the fact he “fell in love”.

But even though prime minister Rishi Sunak said Hancock’s decision to enter the jungle was not “noble” because he was failing to prioritise his “constituents and our country”, he seemed to have support from the former Labour PM.

Blair, who said that he had not been watching the popular TV show, told The News Agents podcast: “When you’ve been through the wringer as he has, and you know, as a politician who’s got to a certain level in politics, he’s probably got quite a lot of courage to go and do something like that.

“And I mean, people can attack him or whatever. But I always say this to (former Labour frontbencher) Ed Balls, who reinvented himself in this extraordinary way after leaving politics, and literally this is the most surprising thing I ever came across in terms of a post ministerial career.

“But, you know, it takes a lot of courage to go do something like that.

“I wished him well, from the outset. I worked with him a bit during the pandemic. And, you know, he was working hard, they were all working hard on it.”

The former Labour leader suggested that Hancock, who said entering the jungle would allow him to reach out to voters in a new way, might have had “a point”.

“I don’t think people’s political views are going to be changed one way or another.

“But I think the problem with politics nowadays is how do you communicate with people when you’re going into fragmented, media, social media, and when it’s quite difficult to get a message across to people who aren’t in your circle, because the way the media works today is essentially, it works by developing a constituency of people and essentially appealing to that constituency.

“And if you’re not careful, you don’t break out and go and talk to the people who disagree with you. So, I guess in that sense, he’s got a point. But it’s quite an extreme way of reaching the public.”

Earlier, business secretary Grant Shapps suggested that Hancock’s time on the show indicated he may have come to the conclusion his career in Westminster is “pretty much done”.

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Matt Hancock Makes It Through To I’m A Celebrity Semi-Final As Seventh Star Is Voted Out

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Matt Hancock has done what some would have said just a few weeks ago was truly unimaginable and made it through to this year’s I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! semi-final.

The former health secretary was a late arrival in the jungle when the new series of I’m A Celebrity got underway earlier this month.

His decision to sign up for the show was met with a widespread backlash – due to his handling of the Covid pandemic during his tenure as health secretary and the fact he is still a sitting MP – and led to his suspension from the Tory party.

However, Friday night’s episode of I’m A Celebrity featured the last elimination of the series before the final, with Hancock once again garnering enough public support to avoid being sent packing.

Instead, comedian and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Seann Walsh became the seventh star to leave the jungle, with just four contestants now remaining in camp.

While Seann told Ant and Dec he was backing Jill Scott to win, he also praised Hancock, with whom he entered the jungle on the same day, describing him as a “lovely guy”.

“He’s in there for a reason,” the comic added.

Sean also said of his time in camp: “We all listened to each other in there. 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.

“I feel like everyone in there, not just for me, but I think we all accepted one another for who we are today.”

Seann Walsh leaves the I'm A Celebrity jungle
Seann Walsh leaves the I’m A Celebrity jungle

James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock

Last week, news presenter Charlene White became the first celebrity to be eliminated, with A Place In The Sun’s Scarlette Douglas, Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver and pop singer Boy George leaving in the following days.

Since then, comedian Babatunde Aleshe and radio presenter Chris Moyles have also been sent packing, while Love Island finalist Olivia Attwood left the show on medical grounds earlier in the series.

Hancock will be joined in the semi-final by footballer Jill Scott, Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner and rugby player Mike Tindall, one of whom will be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle at the end of the series.

I’m A Celebrity returns on Saturday night at 9.15pm on ITV1, with the final then airing on Sunday.

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Matt Hancock had made it through to the I’m A Celebrity final, rather than the semi-final.

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Matt Hancock Admits He’s ‘Starting To Enjoy’ The I’m A Celebrity Bushtucker Trials

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Matt Hancock has admitted he is “starting to enjoy” the I’m A Celebrity Bushtucker trials as the politician completed his sixth consecutive challenge.

The public voted on Sunday night for the former health secretary, 44, to take part in another trial, which saw the MP for West Suffolk lying on his back in an underground pit as he attempted the Deserted Down Under.

Before the trial, he said: “I’m growing in confidence. I quite like a challenge anyway. So, you know, I don’t think I should say this … I’m starting to enjoy them and look forward to it.”

Hancock struggled through the challenge, which saw him given 11 minutes to unlock 11 stars while faced with spiders and cockroaches, as well as his biggest fear, snakes.

At one point Hancock told the show’s presenters, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly: “I’m just trying to talk about them (the snakes) as if they’re completely normal.”

Later Hancock got a fright, shouting: “Something’s going up my leg. It’s inside my shorts.”

It comes after he faced his fear of snakes in his previous trial House of Horrors, where a snake attempted to strike him at eye level.

Approximately four minutes into Deserted Down Under, Hancock said: “I can’t get this done.”

The politician became frustrated with himself during certain points of the challenge, and at one point the lights went out and he was left to complete the challenge in the dark.

At the end of the trial, it was confirmed that Hancock had won seven out of a possible 11 stars.

Reflecting on the experience and being in close proximity to snakes during the challenge, Hancock said: “I just managed to keep really calm. I had to be gentle with them, but they were fine.”

Adding: “My biggest fear [was snakes]. I kind of feel like I’ve faced that. I’ve conquered a fear.”

Hancock seemed disappointed with himself, commenting on the number of stars he managed to secure: “It’s not 11 is it? Fine for dinner, haven’t hit it out of the park.”

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Boy George Reveals He Apologised To Victoria Beckham Over Plane Tweet

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Boy George has revealed he apologised to Victoria Beckham after mistakenly tweeting she’d received preferential treatment on a flight they were both on.

The singer had tweeted back in June: “Nice touch for @britishairways to leave everyone in first class waiting for steps while Victoria Beckham’s car picks her up at the aircraft. Proper going to avoid flying BA for a while!”

However, he later found out that Posh had apparently paid a lot extra to alight the plane first.

Discussing his hasty tweet with his fellow I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! campmates, Boy George revealed: “You know when you’ve been on a long flight and you wake up and you’re in a grumpy mood and you’re trying to get off the plane and they take Posh Spice off before you…

“I was like ‘Why are we having to wait? She’s just walked off the plane, I could have gone with her.’

“I do that a lot when I tweet something and then I think, ‘Why did I tweet that?!’, so I said to my friend who knows her, I said: ‘Just tell her I’m so sorry, I didn’t realise that she’d paid extra for concierge service, it was nothing to do with me!’”

Shortly after finding out he’d been mistaken about Posh’s exit from the plan, George confessed his error on Twitter.

“I’m an impulse tweeter but I get over it faster than most!” he tweeted back in June.

“Myself and @britishairways are back in love. Now I know it costs 6,000 to get off the plane before everyone else.”

I’m A Celebrity airs nightly at 9pm on ITV.

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Graham Norton Takes Aim At Matt Hancock In Savage Comedy Monologue

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“We’ve got a great show for you tonight,” the host began, joking: “I tell you, I couldn’t be more excited than if I was a maggot about to crawl into Matt Hancock’s ear.”

Flashing up a picture of Hancock arriving in Australia, Graham continued: “Do you think, has Hancock forgotten he’s got a job as an MP? I mean, I suppose it’s possible. For months, he had forgotten he was married.”

Graham concluded: “This here is the endless jungle Matt Hancock will be staying in. Dense and incredibly thick – just two of the things producers have called him.

“Personally, I think I speak for the nation when I say, ‘Matt Hancock should be given the sack’. And when he’s finished eating that, the testicles and penis.”

Hancock served as health secretary under former prime minister Boris Johnson throughout the early stages of the pandemic, but was eventually forced to resign when it emerged he’d broken Covid restrictions while conducting an extra-marital affair with an aide.

He is still the MP for West Suffolk, but was suspended from the Tory party shortly after it was first reported he’d be appearing in the jungle.

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

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Nadine Dorries Pokes Fun At David Cameron’s New Look

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Culture secretary Nadine Dorries has issued a warning about buying tickets from touts – by tweeting a viral photo of former prime minister David Cameron.

The photo quickly became the basis of a meme on social media, with many joking the outfit made Cameron look like the kind of shady character you might find at a pub or car boot sale.

And Cabinet minister Dorries, who once described her one-time party leader as an “arrogant posh boy”, joined in the fun.

She wrote: “Whether it’s a major music festival, sporting event or concert, it’s important that people pay a fair price to see the events they love. Please remain vigilant when considering to buy from ticket touts. Guidance is available if you are unsure.”

Last week, Dorries accused a Tory MP who claims to have faced “intimidation” from their party of “attention-seeking behaviour”.

Many pointed out this was a comment made by the same politician who once appeared on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here and ate ostrich anus on TV.

In any case, Dorries appeared to be going with the consensus in her ribbing.

Last year, Cameron was embroiled in controversy over his intense lobbying for collapsed finance firm Greensill Capital – which was laid bare in 45 emails, texts and WhatsApp messages to ministers and officials.

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I’m A Celebrity Castle In Security Breach After Intruder Removed From Set

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An intruder was removed from the set of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! after a security breach at the castle, ITV has said.

It is understood the intrusion happened earlier in the week, before adverse weather conditions forced the show to pre-record an episode on Friday as Storm Arwen battered the UK with winds as high as 98mph.

A statement from the programme said: “A security breach was identified and an intruder was removed from the location with immediate effect.

“The safety of both our celebrities and our production crew remains our primary concern.”

It has been an eventful first week at Gwrych Castle in North Wales, where the programme is being filmed for a second year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

I'm A Celebrity
I’m A Celebrity

On Thursday Richard Madeley announced he was leaving the show after he was taken to hospital as a precaution when he fell ill in the early hours of the morning.

The TV star later said he felt “fit as a fiddle” and was “gutted” that Covid restrictions meant he was not able to return to the show.

Friday’s episode of the ITV series was the first to be pre-recorded due to the weather conditions.

Co-hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly recorded their links early in the evening as part of “precautionary measures” put in place by ITV following severe storm warnings.

The duo posted a video from outside the castle ahead of the show, with the wind whipping and roaring in the background.

“You’ve probably heard we’ve had to record the show a bit earlier tonight because of the winds here at Storm Arwen,” said Donnelly.

“It’s bad, isn’t it, it’s really windy. You can hear it, it’s rattling the tent, it might blow this away, so we’ve got to get it done and get out of here,” said McPartlin.

“It’s due to get worse later so everyone is afraid that the satellite is going to go down and all of that, so it’s a bit risky to do a live show, so we’re going to have to do it recorded tonight, which is the first time we’ve ever done that,” added Donnelly.

He said: “It’s very, very windy but even worse than that it was lentils for lunch, so Ant is a bit windy as well.”

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I’m A Celebrity Pre-Recorded For First Time Ever Due To Storm Arwen

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Friday’s episode of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! was pre-recorded for the first time ever due to adverse weather conditions.

Co-hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly recorded their links early in the evening as part of “precautionary measures” put in place by ITV following severe storm weather warnings.

It comes as Storm Arwen battered the UK with winds as high as 90mph.

The duo posted a video from outside Gwrych Castle in Wales ahead of the show, with the wind whipping and roaring in the background.

“You’ve probably heard we’ve had to record the show a bit earlier tonight because of the winds here at Storm Arwen,” said Dec.

“It’s bad isn’t it, it’s really windy. You can hear it, it’s rattling the tent, it might blow this away, so we’ve got to get it done and get out of here,” said Ant.

“It’s due to get worse later so everyone is afraid that the satellite is gonna go down and all of that, so it’s a bit risky to do a live show, so we’re going to have to do it recorded tonight, which is the first time we’ve ever done that,” said Dec.

He added: “It’s very, very windy but even worse than that it was lentils for lunch, so Ant is a bit windy as well.”

“Sorry guys, it’s just adding to the mayhem,” added Ant.

A spokesperson for I’m A Celebrity said the celebrities were being kept inside the castle and that contingencies were in place to ensure their safety.

“Tonight’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! will be broadcast as a pre-recorded show rather than live due to the developing Storm Arwen and precautionary measures we’re putting into place on production,” they said.

“Our celebrities will remain inside the castle, which is secure, and we have contingencies in place to cover all weather scenarios to ensure the safety of our cast and crew.”

The majority of the UK was blanketed by weather warnings on Friday night and into Saturday as the storm arrived.

A rare red warning stretched along the east coast from Middlesbrough to beyond Aberdeen – the first maximum alert to be issued since Storm Dennis in February 2020.

The warning, which is the highest the Met Office issues, means the impact is likely to be severe, with the potential for damage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down.

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