I’M A Celebrity star Charlene White was “robbed” of a proper experience in camp because of Matt Hancock’s inclusion, her Loose Women co-star has claimed.
Denise Welch has long been critical of the former Health Secretary following his shambolic and negligent handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
She was livid to see him flown into the jungle for a whopping £400,000 payday after his decisions during the pandemic led to the deaths of thousands of vulnerable people in care homes.
Journalist Charlene, 42, struggled being in camp with Matt over fears her impartiality would be questioned, and she was ultimately voted out first on Friday night.
Ahead of Charlene’s exit, Denise told New Magazine: “I don’t think she’s enjoying the experience she was promised. I’m angry about the life-changing experience that’s been robbed from her.”
She continued: “She’s not being given the screen time she deserves to show the world a side to her they might not see on Loose Women or the news, all because I think every thought of hers surrounds ‘how should I be around Matt Hancock?’”
Charlene admitted that she was “walking a tightrope” from the minute Matt arrived in camp — because she feared he would jeopardise her job.
The ITV newsreader revealed she was “constantly worrying” that being seen to become friendly towards the MP would damage her professionally.
And she said she was also consumed by thoughts of the grieving families who suffered the losses during the pandemic — including her own.
She told us: “It went from me having a laugh to constantly worrying about whether or not I could still do my job when I came out.
“I didn’t want anyone to feel like I was being too sympathetic to Matt because that would jeopardise the job that I love and it would jeopardise my journalistic integrity.
“It would have shattered the impartiality that I’ve consistently had for 20 years.”
Charlene, whose great-aunt Dell died aged 82 at the peak of the pandemic in 2020, continued: “I spoke to so many families who had lost dads, mums, grandads, grandparents and as soon as he walked in I thought… I’m going to be walking a tightrope here.”
The Loose Women star was slammed by viewers during the ITV series for “rule-breaking” when she chose not to sleep in the duvet-clad RV with Matt after he elected her as his deputy camp leader.
Charlene blamed spiders in the van for turning down the privilege, but later admitted she was scared Covid-hit families might judge her.
She said: “I was wrong, completely wrong not to be more explicit about it. I understand that now and hindsight is a wonderful thing.
“But I only ever had the thoughts of those who have lost loved ones and still want answers and who feel, I assume, that wasn’t the right thing for Matt to do.”
Charlene was also quizzed on the MP’s failure to mention dyslexia so far in the camp.
She added: “I think what we kind of focused on mostly in camp was getting through the experience and we were always very much there for each other.”
