Les Dennis has revealed he received ‘a lot of abuse’ after tweeting about Matt Hancock making it to the final of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
The 69-year-old comedian has been critical of the MP’s decision to appear on the ITV reality show, with many people across the country sharing the same opinion after his role during the pandemic, including quitting as Health Secretary after he was found to be breaking his own social distancing rules while having an affair with his aide and now-girlfriend Gina Colangelo.
In Saturday’s episode, it was revealed Hancock had reached the final three alongside Owen Warner and eventual winner Jill Scott, with Mike Tindall just missing out.
Les tweeted in response: ‘I’ve just finished watching tonight’s I’m A Celebrity. I am gobsmacked. Mat Hancock is still in there??? WTF is going on? (sic)’
Although plenty of his followers agreed with the sentiment, others insisted the politician was ‘entitled to redemption’, and some even described him as the ‘best contestant’, with others responding with more aggressive posts.
Les later addressed his critics and said they are ‘entitled to their opinions’, while he opted against tweeting about Sunday’s final.
He wrote: ‘I’ve had a lot of abuse re my post about #imaceleb Lots of people calling me a has been and an ex celebrity. Like me those people are entitled to their opinions.
‘I try not to criticise here and I considered deleting the tweet but I stand by it. I won’t be posting about the final (sic)’
He received messages of support from his fans, and Pointless star Richard Osman replied: ‘Les, you’re the best.’
Hancock was suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party and had the whip withdrawn following criticism over his 18-day stint in the jungle from fellow Tories including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as well as furious Covid campaigners who have slammed his handling of the pandemic.
He is now sitting as an Independent MP and has until December 5 to declare whether he will stand again, and his spokesperson has insisted he isn’t leaving politics.
A spokesperson for Mr Hancock told Sky News: ‘Matt has no intention of standing down or stepping away from politics’, adding that there as been ‘no conversation’ with any PR consultant.
