Matt Hancock’s partner Gina Coladangelo ‘is full of confidence’: SARAH PACKER reveals what life behind the scenes on I’m A Celeb is REALLY like as she joins Jungle Confidential from down under
Matt Hancock ‘s girlfriend Gina Coladangelo was ‘full of confidence’ as she arrived in Australia as he competes on I’m a Celebrity , MailOnline’s chief showbiz reporter Sarah Packer reveals in today’s episode of our video podcast Jungle Confidential.
She speaks to Katie Hind about life behind the scenes in the jungle in Queensland , Australia and reflects on the series so far.
Sarah also reveals who she thinks could be this year’s winner and what it’s like spending time with the contestants, including Mike Tindall and Jill Scott.
Jungle Confidential is the Mail’s daily I’m A Celebrity video podcast by MailOnline and MailPlus. It appears on MailOnline from 1pm and can be found on our YouTube channel as well as everywhere you can download podcasts.
Watch it here:
It comes after Sarah reported how Gina Coladangelo praised the Tory MP’s stint in the I’m A Celeb jungle as she touched down in Australia to support him.
The former aide, 45, who landed in Brisbane on Wednesday morning local time following a 24-hour journey, told MailOnline she’s been ‘missing’ her partner and watching the show every night to see him in action.
When asked if she’s been impressed by Matt’s performance on the show so far, after he was voted to do six trials, she said: ‘It would be difficult not to be impressed, he has done really well.’
Landed: Matt Hancock’s girlfriend Gina Coladangelo has praised the Tory MP’s stint in the I’m A Celeb jungle as she touches down in Australia to support him
She continued: ‘He’s made of tough stuff.’
The mother-of-three, who looked glamorous in an all-black outfit, replied: ‘Obviously, yes, I have’ when asked if she’s been missing the former Health Secretary.
A member of security and an ITV chaperone escorted her out of arrivals, before she was hurried into a car that waited for her outside.
Gina admitted it’s been good to see Matt’s fellow campmates be nominated for some of the trials now, saying: ‘I think it’s great everybody is having a bit of a go. I think they all seem to be getting on okay.’
Support: The former aide, 45, who landed in Brisbane, Australia, on Wednesday morning local time following a 24-hour journey, told MailOnline she’s been ‘missing’ her partner
‘I fell in love’: Matt said the best thing about being eliminated from I’m A Celeb will be seeing girlfriend Gina, who will be waiting for him at the end of the show’s famous red carpeted bridge
She landed in Australia to meet Matt when he’s booted off I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, with evictions beginning this Friday.
Gina was seen at London’s Heathrow on Tuesday evening before making the trip to Brisbane, to meet Matt, who confessed to his campmates last week to ‘falling in love’ with his former aide.
MailOnline understands that ITV offers to fly one family member and friend to Australia via business class, giving them the full celebrity treatment.
Jungle beau: The mother-of-three, who looked glamorous in an all-black outfit, replied: ‘Obviously, yes, I have’ when asked if she’s been missing the former Health Secretary
Ms Coladangelo flew with Singapore Airlines, known to be one of the most luxurious in the world and her business class flight is believed to have cost over £11,000.
Tiffany Austin was seen touching down at Brisbane Airport on Tuesday, where she was joined by Charlene White’s sister Carina, who was seen pushing her bags through the airport.
Tiffany, who works in music management, gave her travelling attire a designer touch as she arrived wearing a Givenchy jumper and sported a Christian Dior bag.
She was pictured pushing an airport trolley which was laden with her suitcase and her bag, which retail for £2,450.
Ready to fly: Gina, 45, was seen at London’s Heathrow on Tuesday evening before making the 24-hour journey to Brisbane
Arrivals: Chris Moyles’ girlfriend Tiffany Austin was seen touching down at Brisbane Airport on Tuesday. She was joined by Charlene White’s sister Corena, who was seen pushing her bags through the airport
Touchdown: Tiffany, who works in music management, gave her travelling attire a designer touch as she arrived wearing a Givenchy jumper and sported a Christian Dior bag
Casual: Meanwhile, Carina cut a cosy figure in a caramel coloured hoodie with matching jogging bottoms
Stunning: Her brunette locks were plaited in neat braids, and she went makeup free letting her natural beauty shine through
Meanwhile, Carina cut a cosy figure in a caramel coloured hoodie with matching jogging bottoms. She pushed her suitcases on a trolley and carried a checked Louis Vuitton handbag.
It comes after Hancock confessed to falling in love with her when quizzed by campmates over breaching social distancing rules when they were caught kissing in his ministerial office last year.
The passionate clinch marked the end of Matt’s 15-year marriage to ex-wife Martha, with whom he shares his three children.
The former health secretary said: ‘It was really tough. I messed up and I fessed up. I resigned and it’s no excuse, but I fell in love, right? That also had a lot of other consequences, obviously.’
Love: It comes after Hancock confessed to falling in love with her when quizzed by campmates over breaching social distancing rules
His fellow campmate Babatunde Aleshe, 34, replied: ‘You didn’t just ‘fall in love’ you were grabbing booty bruv!’
The politician replied ‘Oh, give over!’ before adding: ‘That’s been hard. I obviously brought it on myself, so yeah… it’s been tough.’
He said the best thing about being eliminated from I’m A Celeb will be seeing Gina, who will be waiting for him at the end of the show’s famous red carpeted bridge.
‘That’ll be the best thing about being kicked out, seeing her on the bridge’, he added.
Since being in the jungle, Hancock has been stung by a scorpion, eaten a camel penis and sheep vagina, and completed six Bushtucker trials.
But at no point has Gina left the Tory MP’s mind, with Matt referring to her on several occasions, even calling the businesswoman by her full name, Regina.
Unhappy: I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! has been hit by 1,100 Ofcom complaints over Matt’s appearance on the show
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! has been hit by 1,100 Ofcom complaints over Matt’s appearance on the show.
The first episode got an audience of over 10 million people at its peak – up two million from last year’s launch.
But not everyone was pleased, with Ofcom receiving nearly 2,000 complaints in total over the first week.
The majority of the complaints stem from the arrival of Matt in the jungle, around 1,100 in total.
Other complaints were surrounding viewers’ concerns about how the MP, 44, was being treated by the other campmates.
The West Suffolk MP has faced backlash from viewers after reportedly earning £400K for his appearance while parliament is still in session.
Ofcom said: ‘It’s worth being aware that under our rules, in principle – and taking into account freedom of expression – there’s no ban on any particular person taking part in programmes.
‘However, if the mere presence of a person is likely to cause offence, we would expect broadcasters to take steps to mitigate or justify that offence. How they do that editorially, is up to them.’
Matt defended his decision to appear on the reality show, writing in The Sun that it’s his job as a politician ‘to go where the people are’ and that he wants to ‘engage with voters’.
He said: ‘While there will undoubtedly be those who think I shouldn’t go, I think it’s a great opportunity to talk directly to people who aren’t always interested in politics, even if they care very much about how our country’s run.
‘It’s our job as politicians to go to where the people are – not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster.
Unimpressed: Not everyone was pleased, with Ofcom receiving nearly 2,000 complaints in total over the first week
‘There are many ways to do the job of being an MP. Whether I’m in camp for one day or three weeks, there are very few places people will be able to see a politician as they really are.
‘So, the truth is, I haven’t lost my marbles or had one too many pina coladas. It’s something I’ve given a lot of thought to.
‘I was elected by the people, and it’s important to engage with voters, especially younger voters, no matter where they are, and show the human side of politicians.
‘I want to raise the profile of my dyslexia campaign to help every dyslexic child unleash their potential – even if it means taking an unusual route to get there… via the Australian jungle! I’m A Celebrity… is watched by millions of Brits up and down the country.
‘I want to use this incredible platform to raise awareness, so no child leaves primary school not knowing if they have dyslexia.’
Silenced? Boy George, 61, accused Scarlette Douglas of trying to shut him down as he debated Matt’s political choices during Wednesday’s episode of I’m A Celebrity
During Wednesday’s episode, Matt was quizzed about the government’s political decisions while was serving as Health Secretary by Boy George.
The singer, 61, claimed A Place In The Sun presenter Scarlette Douglas, 35, changed the subject any time she heard George talking to West Suffolk MP Matt about his policies.
Chatting in the camp, George told the former Health Secretary of the government’s choices: ‘Just spend less on arms. £35 billion a year. Why do you sneer at spending less on arms?’
Matt said: ‘I don’t, I don’t, it’s just a different debate.’
Debate: George claimed Scarlette Douglas, 35, changed the subject any time she heard George talking to West Suffolk MP Matt (pictured) about his policies
Change of topic: Scarlette (pictured) changed the subject to socks while George was speaking to Matt about governmental decisions
Interrupting, Scarlette said: ‘Matt, just quickly, you know when you asked whose socks they were and I asked you to put them over here… remember the socks from this morning, I said just stick them… where did you put them?’
Noting the topic change, George said: ‘She’s trying to save you, very interesting.’
He added in the Bush Telegraph said: ‘I just noticed sometimes when I start a debate with Matt, Scarlette comes in and kind of shuts me down a bit or tries to change the subject. I don’t know whether Scarlette’s got political aspirations. But sorry, I’m just not going to stop talking. I will say what I want.’
George joked to Matt: ‘You haven’t got out of that debate, come back.’
Matt replied: ‘I’m not doing that one. I’m not doing it,’ prompting George to say: ‘That’s interesting.’
In the Bush Telegraph, Matt said: ‘I seem to have a trial whether I go out on an official trial or stay in camp. But most of the conversations are really interesting and I love a debate anyway, so that’s fine.’
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