The former health secretary, 44, will join the rest of the contestants in the camp after spending time in isolation, with his entrance teased by co-hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly during tonight’s show. Hancock’s decision to star in the series meant he was stripped of the Tory whip – effectively kicking him out of the Conservative parliamentary party and forcing him to sit as an independent until reinstated. The MP, who has been widely mocked on social media and by some colleagues for the move, said producers asked him twice over the summer if he would appear, but he turned them down. Mr Hancock was given access to his phone and laptop during his isolation so he could continue to work and stay connected to his constituents. Comedian Seann Walsh, who has been widely tipped as the second surprise entry, is also said to be joining the camp soon. It comes after former Love Island contestant Olivia Attwood was forced to leave the ITV show for ‘medical reasons’ after just one day in the jungle. The star, who shot to fame appearing on Love Island in 2017, “absolutely loved every second of the show” before doctors told her it was no longer safe for her to take part, according to a post on her official Instagram account. . The post said “heartbroken is an understatement” after she began her journey home to the UK and promised fans would hear “the truth” from the star in due course. Image: Olivia Attwood was forced to retire from the jungle for medical reasons. Photo: ITV/Shutterstock Confirming her departure, an ITV spokesperson told Sky News: “As a precautionary measure Olivia has had to leave the jungle to undergo medical checks. “Unfortunately the medical team have advised that it is not safe for Olivia to return to camp as she needs further investigation. “She was absolutely brilliant and will be sorely missed on the show.” Her early exit from the jungle means she had one of the shortest scenes in the jungle, matching that of former EastEnders actress Elaine Lordan, who quit after fainting twice within 24 hours of her arrival in 2005. Other celebrities taking part in this year’s series include: Culture Club star Boy George, TV presenter and property expert Scarlette Douglas, Lioness Jill Scott, Coronation Street actress Sue Cleaver, Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner, star rugby player Mike Tindall, comedian Babatunde Aleshe and journalist and broadcaster Charlene White. Image: I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! 2022 contestants. Photo: ITV I’m A Celeb returned to the Australian jungle for the first time since 2019 after filming the show at Gwrych Castle in North Wales for the past two years due to travel restrictions due to COVID. McPartlin and Donnelly confirmed on Sunday that there would soon be two more arrivals at the camp, including Hancock, joking that they would be “rolling out the welcome mat soon”. I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! continues on Tuesdays at 9pm on ITV and the ITV Hub.
