Covid victims’ families rage at ‘disgusting’ ITV for Hancock’s I’m A Celebrity call-up

On Nov 2, 2022

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Family members of those who lost their lives during the pandemic have said they are “absolutely disgusted” with ITV for signing the former health secretary Matt Hancock to the upcoming season of I’m A Celebrity. One mourner, Susie Crozier-Flintham, said she was “angry” with the former cabinet minister and suggested the only reason he has been called onto the show was because “of his response to the worst public health crisis in 100 years”. Another mourner, Lobby Akinnola, accused Mr Hancock and ITV of “trivialising” the deaths of Britons during the pandemic.

Susie Crozier-Flintham said: “Well, I am angry. The fact that he is as well known as he is is because of his response to the worst public health crisis in 100 years.

“I think it is absolutely disgusting and I think ITV should be ashamed of themselves as well.”

Lobby Akinnola, from the organisation COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, suggested that Mr Hancock’s appearance “trivialises” the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.

He said: “Hundreds of thousands of people have died under his watch and I think it trivialises that loss that we are going through.”

While doing the media rounds this morning, transport secretary Mark Harper was pressed on his views on Mr Hancock’s announcement.

He suggested that the former health secretary had not made the “right judgment” in his decision to go on I’m a Celebrity.

Asked on LBC whether the former health secretary had made a misjudgment, Mr Harper said: “I think members of parliament should focus on doing their job, serving their constituents. That’s our first priority.

“I think we can draw conclusions from the fact that the whip has been taken away that perhaps Mr Hancock hasn’t made the right judgment in this case.”