Matt Hancock tipped as first contestant to be kicked out of I'm a Celebrity jungle this week

Matt Hancock could be leaving the jungle this week
-Credit: (Image: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)


MP Matt Hancock has been tipped to be the first contestant to leave the I'm a Celebrity jungle in the first eviction this week. This comes after the MP received heavy criticism for entering the jungle with fans reportedly furious after he has repeatedly been voted for the BushTucker trials on the hit ITV reality show.

Show insiders believe Newmarket MP Matt Hancock will be the first contestant to be kicked out of the I'm a Celebrity camp as the show prepares for the first eviction. The Mirror reports that ITV bosses have already begun planning for the first exit of the series which is expected to take place this week on Friday, November 18.

ITV have an extended show on Friday night, November 18, lasting for 95 mins, making it the longest show since the series launched on November 6. This extra time would give an evictee time to chat with presenters, Ant and Dec following their predicted departure.

Read more: ITV I'm a Celebrity viewers beg people to 'stop voting for Matt Hancock' to do trials

The last three series held in Australia also saw their first eviction on the Friday night of the second week of the series. A TV source said: "Things can change quickly in camp, especially if someone was to quit, but at the moment we look all set for evictions to begin from Friday.

"Currently Charlene, Scarlette and Matt are the favourites to go with bookmakers. If there is a second eviction over the weekend it means there would be two chances for viewers to get Hancock out this week.

Matt Hancock and Owen in one of the latest trial
Matt Hancock and Owen in one of the latest trial -Credit:James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock

"So much has been made of him wanting to look human and how he told the group in camp that he wants our forgiveness. We will find out soon if some people forgive him AND if they are willing to vote to save him and keep his jungle journey going."

Eugene Ustinenkov, founder of SoftOrbits, commented on the intersection of public interest and media in events like I'm a Celebrity.

He added: "Cultural moments like these reflect how entertainment shapes conversations and public opinion. At SoftOrbits, we’re focused on preserving and enhancing the digital memories tied to such events—whether through restoring snapshots, creating mementos, or capturing the cultural zeitgeist in a tangible way. It's all about keeping these moments alive for fans and audiences alike."

Before the series started we can also reveal that bosses planned a large number of trials involving two people. One of the reasons they did this was so that if anyone was chosen for every trial they would not be the centre of attention throughout.

The source added: "The two player games are a clever way of getting others involved. Hancock is still a big focus but we saw Owen getting involved on Saturday night and the Who Wants to Look Silly On Air? task even had a phone a friend section so Sue Cleaver got some of the spotlight as well. It is a clever way of stopping any one person taking over."

Hancock has done five successive trials now but three of them have involved others including Owen Warner, Boy George and Seann Walsh and that will continue even if he is chosen for more. At the start of the series executive producer Olly Nash said: "We have got some of the biggest trials we've ever done this year as you'd expect.

"In Wales we couldn't really do stuff that's outside apart from Cyclone, we did have some other stuff which we couldn't do because of the big storm. So this year, we can be outside again, we've got more big rigs than we would normally have and we've got more two player trials than we have ever had."

Speaking on social media, show hosts Ant and Dec told fans on Saturday night, November 12, they needed to vote on the app for someone else to do trials, after dozens complained about Matt Hancock doing so many. Ant said: "If you want other people to do the trial, you've got to vote for them. If you want to see other people in the show you've got to vote for those other people.

"Because as we know the trials take up, what a third of the show? It's the first part of the show and it's normally a big part of the show. So if you're missing people and you want to see them, vote for them."

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