ITV bosses ‘worried I’m A Celeb’s Matt Hancock will be booed if reality show scoops gong at NTAs’ following politician’s scandalous COVID clinch
ITV bosses are said to be fearful that a possible win for I’m A Celeb at Tuesday’s NTAs could be overshadowed by boos for former political Matt Hancock.
The ex-health secretary, 44, appeared in the latest series after resigning from the cabinet for breaking his own social distancing rules and getting caught in a clinch with then aide and now girlfriend Gina Coladangelo.
The series has won the Bruce Forysth Entertainment Award for the past four years with the cast traditionally invited on stage to accept the honour and while Matt has been invited to the O2 ceremony it is unclear if he will attend.
A source told The Sun: ‘They don’t want that glorious moment on stage to be affected by anything negative, but they also know the strength of feeling against Matt’.
‘They realise there’s not a great deal they can do to control the crowd of up to 20,000 people’.
Awkward: ITV bosses are said to be fearful that a possible win for I’m A Celeb at Tuesday’s NTAs could be overshadowed by boos for former political Matt Hancock, 44
Smooch: He appeared in the latest series (pictured)after resigning from the cabinet for breaking his own social distancing rules in a clinch with then aide and now girlfriend Gina Coladangelo
Before adding: ‘Anyone who saw I’m A Celebrity last year and the reaction he sparked among campmates will see that he still has the power to divide more than two years after he was forced to quit Cabinet.’
MailOnline have contacted ITV for comment.
Matt’s appearance in the series and divided both viewers and fellow campmates which the Tory butting heads with Boy George.
He eventually finished in third place behind Hollyoaks’ and Lioness champion Jill Scott.
Matt was married at the time of the clinch to wife of 15-years Martha, an osteopath, with whom he shares two-sons and a daughter.
They tied the knot after first meeting met as students at Oxford University.
Mrs Hancock is said to have believed that her marriage was ‘happy and stable’ until her husband revealed that he was in love with his aide Gina Coladangelo.
Last year cays after they faced huge backlash for the ‘queuegate’ scandal, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were booed at last year’s ceremony as they accepted the Best Daytime Award for This Morning.
ITV’s This Morning presenters sparked outrage after they were alleged to have skipped the queue to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II at her lying in state in September 2022
Drama: Matt’s appearance in the series and divided both viewers and fellow campmates which the Tory butting heads with Boy George
Affair: Matt was married at the time of the clinch to wife of 15-years Martha, an osteopath, with whom he shares two-sons and a daughter (Matt and Gina pictured together)
While he did not address the controversy, Schofield said the award means ‘so much to us every year, especially this year’.
‘Please don’t think we ever get complacent and please don’t think we ever take it for granted. This means so much to us every year, especially this year. We have the best boss.’
Willoughby added: ‘This Morning has a very special relationship with you, you make our show for us, you really do. All these guys on the stage here, Alison [Hammond] and Dermot [O’Leary], Rochelle [Humes] and Vernon [Kay], Josie [Gibson], everyone. Thank you for all your support.’
Despite having won Best Daytime for many years, there are doubts around whether This Morning will win at this year’s ceremony, after the show was shrouded in controversy following Phillip’s affair scandal.
The presenter admitted to an ‘unwise but not illegal’ relationship with a much younger colleague, and has stepped down from ITV altogether.
National Television Awards 2023: NOMINEES
New Drama
Beyond Paradise
Blue Lights
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Wednesday
Reality Competition
Love Island
Race Across the World
SAS: Who Dares Wins
The Traitors
Authored Documentary
Deborah James: Bowelbabe in Her Own Words
Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now
Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction
Rob Burrow: Living with MND
Returning Drama
Call the Midwife
Happy Valley
Stranger Things
Vera
TV Presenter
Alison Hammond
Ant & Dec
Bradley Walsh
Claudia Winkleman
Martin Lewis
Factual
Clarkson’s Farm
Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs
Sort Your Life Out
The Martin Lewis Money Show Live
Drama Performance
Brenda Blethyn, DCI Vera Stanhope, Vera
India Amarteifio, Young Queen Charlotte, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
James Norton, Tommy Lee Royce, Happy Valley
Judy Parfitt, Sister Monica Joan, Call The Midwife
Sarah Lancashire, Catherine Cawood, Happy Valley
The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award
Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway
Gogglebox
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
The Masked Singer
Serial Drama
Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks
TV Interview
Louis Theroux Interviews…
Piers Morgan Uncensored
The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show
The Graham Norton Show
Serial Drama Performance
Charlotte Jordan, Daisy Midgeley, Coronation Street
Danielle Harold, Lola Pearce-Brown, EastEnders
Dominic Brunt, Paddy Kirk, Emmerdale
Maureen Lipman, Evelyn Plummer, Coronation Street
Quiz Game Show
Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel
Richard Osman’s House Of Games
The 1% Club
The Chase Celebrity Special
Rising Star
Benjamin Chivers, Isaac, The Devil’s Hour
Bobby Brazier, Freddie Slater, EastEnders
Channique Sterling-Brown, Dee-Dee Bailey, Coronation Street
Lewis Cope, Nicky Milligan, Emmerdale
Daytime
Loose Women
The Chase
The Repair Shop
This Morning
Comedy
Brassic
Ghosts
Ted Lasso
Young Sheldon
Talent Show
Britain’s Got Talent
Strictly Come Dancing
The Great British Bake Off
Source: Read Full Article