FORMER Lord Chancellor David Gauke was shocked his ex employee Sharon Gaffka was going on Love Island, but wished her the best.
The 25-year-old was reported to have quit her job as a civil servant in the Department for Transport and it was claimed that her decision to go on the show was a shock to her department, including the former Lord Chancellor.
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They worked together in 2018 at the Ministry of Justice with David saying he was “very surprised” to learn Sharon was on the ITV dating show.
But he did thank Sharon for her “very kind” words after she described him as “very human, very natural and very funny” and her favourite politician to work for.
“Being a Cabinet Minister can be a pretty serious business most of the time, but there are the occasional lighter moments,” he told The Mirror.
“I suppose, as Lord Chancellor, I was trying to cultivate a reputation for authority and gravitas, but if I came across as fun, I won’t complain.”
While he doesn’t watch Love Island himself, David said he would tune in to see how Sharon was ‘getting on’.
“I don’t normally follow the Love Island line-up that closely,” he explained.
“It’ll be something that might impress my kids more than most things I did as a minister.”
But he also admitted her political expertise might come in handy to help explain the big issues to her fellow Love Islanders.
“People aren’t going to be tuning into Love Island to learn about Brexit, but if Sharon is able to make a few points, reaching a wider audience, that’s no bad thing,” David said.
Even though she quit her public service job to go on Love Island, Sharon has every intention of returning to her career once she leaves the Mallorca villa.
Speaking to HOAR Online, and other press, ahead of the launch, she said: “My intention post Love Island is to return to my profession.
“I did tell my boss and colleague that I am going on Love Island. They are really big fans of the show so I think they are more excited about it than I am.”
Asked if she will have to monitor her behaviour because of her job, she explained: “I think that there is that civil service code of conduct to be aware of but it’s not something that is massively unaligned from my own personal morals and code of conduct anyway.
“I am not there to talk about my job or profession. I am there to find love, I am not particularly conscious or nervous that I will say something I shouldn’t.”
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And, while most Islanders are hoping for clothing line deals when they leave, Sharon has bigger aspirations, saying: “It is in my long term plan to potentially be an MP, so you know it would be a first for the show.”
Love Island starts at 9pm Monday 28th June on ITV2 and ITV Hub. Episodes are available the following morning on BritBox
