Blow to I’m a Celeb as Liz Truss joins Boris Johnson in turning down appearance

Matt Hancock mocked by deputy speaker over I’m A Celeb

ITV suffered another blow today as the Express understand former Prime Minister Liz Truss has also shut down rumours about an impending appearance.

Yesterday afternoon it emerged Boris Johnson had turned down a “sensational” approach, with the show clearly hoping to repeat Matt Hancock’s headline-grabbing stint on last year’s show.

According to The Sun, ITV executives contacted Mr Johnson’s team several weeks ago, but despite a very large proposed pay offer he politely declined.

A TV insider said: “Having former Health Secretary Matt Hancock on the show last year created a buzz which I’m A Celebrity has not seen in years.

“It’s not as crazy an idea as it first seems as his father, Stanley Johnson, went into the jungle six years ago and his sister, Rachel Johnson, was on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.”

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Mr Johnson was reportedly offered over £700,000 for a stint in the outback.

Following the news he had been approached, Liz Truss’s name quickly emerged as another former PM with time on her hands.

Approached about the rumour, a source close to the former Prime Minister quickly poured cold water on the idea.

Ms Truss, along with ex-Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, Sajid Javid and Kwasi Kwarteng are also reported to be ‘catching the attention of ITV bosses’.

In June, the Express’s political gossip column revealed Dominic Raab had been approached by Channel 4 following his resignation as Deputy Prime Minister, asking him to appear as a contestant on the next series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.

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While Matt Hancock’s appearance on I’m a Celebrity last year proved incredibly successful, reaching the final 3 of the competition, he wasn’t the first politician to take to the world of celebrity TV competitions.

Nadine Dorries, the former Culture Secretary, appeared on the show in 2012, being sacked as a Tory MP in the process.

Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt, who rose to national prominence for her sword-carrying skills during the coronation, appeared on ITV’s short-lived celebrity diving show Splash! In 2014.

Footage from the programme reemerged last year as she battled to become Tory leader, showing Ms Mordaunt belly-flopping into a swimming pool from a 7.5-metre diving board.

Former shadow Chancellor Ed Balls famously took Britain by storm on Strictly, a show Nicola Sturgeon is now rumoured to be taking a place on.

George Galloway pretended to be a milk-drinking cat on Big Brother.

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