Holly Willoughby has defended Matt Hancock amid the “brutal” backlash to his I’m a Celeb casting.
Earlier this month, it was confirmed the former health secretary, 44, would join this year’s line-up on the ITV reality show, with Matt’s casting discussed on Wednesday’s episode (November 2) of This Morning.
As Phillip Schofield warned Matt would be “tortured by the public”, his co-star Holly defended the Tory MP and said people may “begin to feel sorry for him” during his jungle stint.
READ MORE:Piers Morgan demands ‘disingenuous’ Matt Hancock resign amid I’m A Celeb backlash
She said: “Is it high risk?
“The thing is, can it get much worse?
“The opinion of him hasn’t been great of late so maybe this isn’t a risk, maybe this is a chance for him to possibly turn it around… or people begin to feel sorry for him.
“If you look at the narrative that’s being said about him, it is brutal.”
Holly later added that she had interviewed Matt on This Morning and suggested she “personally, found him quite charming.”
(Image: ITV)
Offering a different view, Phil added: “He’s going to be tortured by the public.
“He’s gong to be voted in for every single trial.
“MPs haven’t fared well on I’m a Celeb. You sort of predict he’s going to do every single trial and then get sent home.”
Holly and Phil aren’t the only broadcasters to have chimed in with their opinions on Matt’s I’m a Celeb stint, with former ITV colleagues Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid recently sharing their own views.
(Image: Mirror Online)
While Piers called Matt’s explanation behind his I’m a Celeb stint “disingenuous horse-s**t” and called for the Tory MP to resign, Susanna said he’s “not a celebrity”.
In a fierce Good Morning Britain debate, Susanna said: “The programme’s called I’m A Celebrity – he’s not a celebrity, he’s an MP!”
On his own Talk TV show Piers Morgan Uncensored, Piers added: “I’m actually glad you’re going to a remote, tarantula-infested jungle on the opposite side of the world.
“On behalf of the entire British public… I think I’m safe in saying, I hope you stay there.”
This Morning airs from 10am on weekdays on ITV.
READ NEXT:
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
