Vanessa Feltz has urged 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!' viewers not to "confuse" Matt Hancock "the politician with Matt Hancock the performer".
Vanessa Feltz insists I'm A Celebrity isn't a way for Matt Hancock to secure redemption
The TV and radio presenter has hit out at the former Health Secretary, who was suspended as a Tory MP after it was revealed he had signed up for the ITV show, for taking part in the programme, insisting it isn't a way for him to "secure redemption".
She said: "Don't confuse Hancock the politician with Hancock the performer. Don't forget he's been spectacularly caught on camera already.
"Winning over celeb pals and convincing viewers you’re not as repellent as you appeared, when on your best behaviour and aware there’s a lens pointing right at you, is no way to secure earthly redemption."
Matt previously came under fire after he was caught kissing his aide Gina Coladangelo - who is now his girlfriend - amid the COVID-19 pandemic, going against his own social distancing guidance.
Vanessa believes the 44-year-old MP should "truly seek forgiveness" from his wife and kids.
Writing in her Daily Express newspaper column, she added: "If you truly seek forgiveness seek it from your wife and children.
"If you want rehabilitation, meet the families bereaved by COVID still seeking explanations for the decisions that robbed them of their loved ones.
"Let no one be foolish enough to think a stint playing silly games on the small screen achieves any semblance of a worthwhile resurrection."
Last week, Matt admitted on the show he wanted "forgiveness" after breaking his own lockdown guidance.
He said: "No I did not break any lockdown rules. I didn't break any law! Guidance is guidance but it was my guidance, that's why ... it was a mistake because I fell in love with somebody. It's true!
"In a way, lots of the campmates ask questions that the public has got as well so it's only respectful to give straight and truthful answers. That's why I'm apologising for it.
"It's bigger than just a sorry. Well, there you go and that's one of the reasons that I regret it as much as I do.
"The pandemic as a whole, I'm much more robust in my defence of it. PPE for instance, of course, I saw what happened too but that's because we needed masses more PPE and so did everybody else in the world. There's reasons so much was taken. And ultimately, those problems were caused by the virus and not the people who were trying to solve the problem.
"What I'm really looking for is a bit of forgiveness. That's what I'm really looking for. We all make mistakes. I made a pretty big one."
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