Matt Hancock has said his affair with Gina Coladangelo has led to the former health secretary having “an absolute bucket of shit poured over my head”.
In an interview with The Mail+ to coincide with his return from the I’m A Celebrity jungle, he renewed his pleas for “forgiveness” as he admitted his relationship with his assistant in the midst of the Covid pandemic was a “failure of leadership”.
Advertisement
The ex-minister was forced to quit last year after video footage emerged of them kissing in his office in breach of social distancing rules he had set.
He told the publication they had fallen “deeply” in love, and as a result his “political judgment was off”.
“I want forgiveness for the mistake I made, the failure of leadership at the end of the pandemic when I fell in love with Gina and I broke the guidance that I’d signed off,” he said.
“I want forgiveness for the human error I made… but I’m not asking for forgiveness for how I handled the pandemic.
Advertisement
“I woke up every single morning determined to do the very best I could in the most impossible circumstances until I needed to go to bed at night. I did that for 18 months.
“There is a good, honest explanation for every single decision I made, whether it turned out to be right or not.”
<img class="img-sized__img landscape" loading="lazy" alt="The Sun newspaper with the story about Matt Hancock and Gina Coladangelo.” width=”720″ height=”480″ src=”https://www.wellnessmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/matt-hancock-thinks-hes-had-a-bucket-of-st-poured-over-my-head-2.jpg”>
The Sun newspaper with the story about Matt Hancock and Gina Coladangelo.
Kirsty O’Connor – PA Images via Getty Images
Hancock, who like Coladangelo, was married with three children when they embarked on their affair, said he was not seeking forgiveness for falling in love with her “because I love her very deeply”.
“We realised what was happening was of huge consequence that would last for the rest of our lives but… this was an affaire de coeur and therefore my political judgment was off,” he said.
Advertisement
He said that he had faced “horrific” abuse after he announced that he was appearing on the reality TV show while still an MP.
“It’s been absolutely horrific, especially for Gina,” he said. “I love that woman and what does she get out of it? All she gets is me.”
He added: “I’ve had an absolute bucket of shit poured over my head. The even bigger bucket of shit has been poured over Gina’s.
“She’s given up everything other than her children and, just when she was putting her life back together, she lost an unpaid, positive charity role because I was going on I’m A Celebrity.”
He said that each day the public voted for him to remain he was “really pleased” but missed his children “desperately” and felt “guilty” about being away from his Coladangelo.
Advertisement
He added: “I knew it was a risk the whip would be suspended – after all that is the precedent (when Tory MP Nadine Dorries went into the jungle) – but I didn’t expect it and went out of my way to go and see the Chief Whip before coming here.
“I haven’t seen everything Rishi said, but I do agree that public service is a noble profession.
“I think it’s vital MPs connect with the electorate, including the large swathes of people — especially younger people — who don’t connect through the traditional political media.”
The interview comes as Hancock’s Pandemic Diaries: The Inside Story Of Britain’s Battle Against Covid, are serialised in the Daily Mail and The Mail+.
They were released as he returned to Westminster for the first time following his controversial appearance on the ITV show.
The 22-year-old presenter and actor will take to the dancefloor with professional dancer Amy Dowden on the Christmas Day episode of the BBC ballroom show.
The news was revealed on Friday’s edition of Strictly companion show It Takes Two.
Speaking of joining the line-up, George said in a statement: “I love Strictly and have watched it every year. I’ve always dreamed of being on the show one year and I’m so excited to be on this year’s Christmas Special! To be partnered with Amy is such an honour, we get on so well, she’s so lovely and an amazing dancer.
“I’m looking forward to being Strictlyfied. Bring on the glitter and everything else. I can’t wait to perform on the Strictly dancefloor.”
Last month, George won a Bafta Children & Young People award for Best Presenter for his work on CBeebies.
He made history when he joined the BBC’s pre-school channel in 2021, being the first presenter on CBeebies with Down Syndrome.
George was also included in the top 20 in the Radio Times 100 list for creating change in entertainment and is in the Shaw Trust disability 100 power list.
Meanwhile, it was previously reported that former Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli would be returning to the ballroom for the Christmas special, where he’ll be performing a festive number.
The current series of Strictly Come Dancing continues on Friday at 8pm on BBC One, with the Christmas special airing on Christmas Day, time TBC.
A Question Time panellist has defended the comments made by a royal aide to a Black domestic abuse campaigner, who was asked repeatedly where she “really came from” at a Buckingham Palace reception.
Ngozi Fulani, founder of the charity Sistah Space, has accused the royal family of institutional racism after the incident involving the late Queen’s lady in waiting, Lady Susan Hussey.
Advertisement
Lady Susan, the Prince of Wales’s 83-year-old godmother, resigned from the household and apologised after she challenged Fulani when she said she was British at the Queen Consort’s reception highlighting violence against women and girls.
But on the BBC’s flagship politics show, Olivia Utley of the GB News broadcaster said Lady Susan was “cancelled for one misspeak”.
She said: “I think it was definitely a very clumsy and surprisingly crass comment from someone who’s spent their life doing these sorts of events.
Advertisement
“But on the other hand I think it’s a bit sad that we live in a society where an 83-year-old woman with 60 years of public service behind her can just be cancelled for one misspeak.
“My heart really goes out to Ngozi Fulani because it sounds like a horrible experience and I can’t quite understand how it happened like that.
“But I think that everyone who knows Lady Susan Hussey says that she’s not in any way racist, she’s a very kind hearted woman, and the rest of her life is going to be blighted by that incident.
“So I worry a bit about cancel culture angle of this whole story but that’s not in any way to undermine what Ngozi Fulani went through because it does sound like a horrible experience.”
GBNews’ Olivia Utley: “Wouldn’t it be a bit nicer if we’d live in a society where people could be forgiven if they profusely apologise?”
If Olivia Utley doesn’t think people over the age of 65 should be held politically responsible when they say racist things… If @OliviaUtley wants us to treat them like children…
Describing how Lady Susan also touched her hair during the incident, Fulani told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “I was stood next to two other women – black women – and she (Lady Susan) just made a beeline for me, and she took my locks and moved it out of the way so that she could see my name badge.
“That’s a no-no. I wouldn’t put my hands in someone’s hair, and culturally it’s not appropriate.”
Fulani said the comments were down to racism, not Lady Susan’s age.
“I’ve heard so many suggestions it’s about her age and stuff like that. And I think that’s a kind of a disrespect about ageism,” she said on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“Are we saying that because of your age you can’t be racist or you can’t be inappropriate?
“If you invite people to an event, as I said, against domestic abuse, and there are people there from different demographics, I don’t see the relevance of whether I’m British or not British. You’re trying to make me unwelcome in my own space.”
Advertisement
The Palace moved swiftly to respond to Fulani’s tweets on Wednesday morning, saying it took the incident at Tuesday’s reception “extremely seriously” and had investigated immediately.
The US singer and fellow band member said she had not known McVie was ill until Saturday night, and had wanted to visit her in London.
Advertisement
McVie’s family confirmed her death, following a short illness, on Wednesday.
“A few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975, had passed away,” Nicks wrote in a heartfelt post on social media.
“I didn’t even know she was ill…until late Saturday night. I wanted to be in London, I wanted to get to London – but we were told to wait.
“So, since Saturday, one song has been swirling around my head, over and over and over. I thought I might possibly get to sing it to her, and so I’m singing it to her now.
“I always knew I would need these words one day… It’s all I can do now.”
Nicks then shared lyrics to the song Hallelujah by Haim, handwritten, adding: “See you on the other side my love. Don’t forget me. Always, Stevie.”
Advertisement
Fleetwood Mac were founded in London in 1967 and sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the most successful groups ever.
Their best-known songs include Dreams, Go Your Own Way and Everywhere.
Despite its tumultuous history, Fleetwood Mac became one of the best-known rock bands of the 1970s and 80s, comprising Mick Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie, as well as Lindsey Buckingham and Nicks.
Perhaps their best-known album, Rumours released in 1977 became one of the best-selling of all time and included hits such as Second Hand News and You Make Loving Fun.
Singer-songwriter and keyboardist McVie penned Songbird, one of the band’s most famous tracks, as well as You Make Loving Fun, Oh Daddy and Little Lies.
Advertisement
<img class="img-sized__img landscape" loading="lazy" alt="Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks in 2018.” width=”720″ height=”605″ src=”https://www.wellnessmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/stevie-nicks-shares-moving-tribute-to-best-friend-in-the-whole-world-christine-mcvie-2.jpg”>
Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks in 2018.
via Associated Press
Another tribute to McVie came from US musician Sheryl Crow, who wrote: “I am so sad to hear of Christine McVie going on to heaven.
“The world feels weird without her here. What a legend and an icon and an amazing human being. RIP.”
A statement from the band on Twitter described McVie as “truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure”.
“There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie. She was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure,” the statement read.
“She was the best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life.
Advertisement
“We were so lucky to have a life with her. Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed.”
Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie has died following a short illness at the age of 79, her family have confirmed.
The British-American rock band, founded in London in 1967, sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the most successful groups ever.
Advertisement
Their best-known songs include Dreams, Go Your Own Way and Everywhere.
Christine McVie in 1983.
via Associated Press
A statement from her family said: “It is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine’s death. She passed away peacefully at hospital this morning, Wednesday, November 30th 2022, following a short illness.
“She was in the company of her family. We kindly ask that you respect the family’s privacy at this extremely painful time and we would like everyone to keep Christine in their hearts and remember the life of an incredible human being, and revered musician who was loved universally.”
A statement from the band said on Twitter: “There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie. She was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure.
Advertisement
“She was the best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life.
“We were so lucky to have a life with her. Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed.”
Despite its tumultuous history, Fleetwood Mac became one of the best-known rock bands of the 1970s and 80s, comprising Mick Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie, as well as Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.
Perhaps their best known album Rumours, released in 1977, became one of the best-selling albums of all time and included hits such as Second Hand News and You Make Loving Fun.
In addition to several multi-platinum tracks, the record sold more than 40 million copies worldwide.
McVie’s death comes two years after Fleetwood Mac co-founder Peter Green died at the age of 73.
Singer-songwriter and keyboardist McVie penned Songbird, one of the band’s most famous tracks, as well as You Make Loving Fun, Oh Daddy and Little Lies.
Advertisement
In 1970, McVie released her first solo album, Christine Perfect, after her maiden name. In an interview this year, she told Uncut magazine: “There’s maybe a couple of good songs on it.”
It took McVie another 14 years to release a follow-up solo album – titled Christine McVie – before releasing another album In The Meantime in 2004.
In June this year, the singer-songwriter released another album titled Songbird, a collection of songs drawn from two of her previous solo albums.
She was among the eight members of the band who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
McVie left the band in 1998 after almost three decades but rejoined in 2014 when a one-off appearance at the O2 reignited her love of performing.
Advertisement
At the time she told the Guardian: “It was amazing, like I’d never left. I climbed back on there again and there they were, the same old faces on stage.”
In 2017, she appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, revealing that she had retreated from the world and developed agoraphobia after she quit the band and moved from California to Kent.
McVie’s death comes two years after Fleetwood Mac co-founder Peter Green died at the age of 73.
The crunch England against Wales match in the World Cup was dubbed the Battle of Britain. But fans across the divide were united in their bafflement as they were treated to an unlikely performance from musician Chesney Hawkes.
Hawkes, known almost exclusively for his 1991smash hit I Am the One and Only, started to trend on social media as his name was mentioned during the BBC coverage at the end of the first-half of the game.
Yes, the 51-year-old had been booked by the Qataris as the half-time entertainment, and given the dour 0-0 scoreline, those in the stadium appeared grateful for something – anything – as a distraction.
The one-hit wonder blasted out his one hit, and the pictures suggest Hawkes himself was enjoying himself.
Then a funny thing happened.
Within minutes of the second half commencing, England scored two quickfire goals through Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden, and looked set fare for the last-16 of the tournament.
Jokers on Twitter were crediting the guitar-slinger for the turnaround.
Tony Blair has defended Matt Hancock over his appearance in the I’m A Celebrity jungle – suggesting that his decision to park his political responsibilities for a spell in Australia “took courage”.
The former health secretary has faced a cross-party backlash and questions about his future in Westminster after coming third in the ITV show.
Advertisement
The West Suffolk MP, who explained he was “looking for a bit of forgiveness” by appearing on the show, reached the final but came behind the winner, Euro 2022 champion Jill Scott, and Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner in a public vote on Sunday night.
Hancock broke coronavirus social distancing rules during the pandemic by having an affair in his ministerial office with aide Gina Coladangelo, and has told campmates it was caused by the fact he “fell in love”.
But even though prime minister Rishi Sunak said Hancock’s decision to enter the jungle was not “noble” because he was failing to prioritise his “constituents and our country”, he seemed to have support from the former Labour PM.
Advertisement
Blair, who said that he had not been watching the popular TV show, told The News Agents podcast: “When you’ve been through the wringer as he has, and you know, as a politician who’s got to a certain level in politics, he’s probably got quite a lot of courage to go and do something like that.
“And I mean, people can attack him or whatever. But I always say this to (former Labour frontbencher) Ed Balls, who reinvented himself in this extraordinary way after leaving politics, and literally this is the most surprising thing I ever came across in terms of a post ministerial career.
“But, you know, it takes a lot of courage to go do something like that.
“I wished him well, from the outset. I worked with him a bit during the pandemic. And, you know, he was working hard, they were all working hard on it.”
The former Labour leader suggested that Hancock, who said entering the jungle would allow him to reach out to voters in a new way, might have had “a point”.
“I don’t think people’s political views are going to be changed one way or another.
“But I think the problem with politics nowadays is how do you communicate with people when you’re going into fragmented, media, social media, and when it’s quite difficult to get a message across to people who aren’t in your circle, because the way the media works today is essentially, it works by developing a constituency of people and essentially appealing to that constituency.
Advertisement
“And if you’re not careful, you don’t break out and go and talk to the people who disagree with you. So, I guess in that sense, he’s got a point. But it’s quite an extreme way of reaching the public.”
Earlier, business secretary Grant Shapps suggested that Hancock’s time on the show indicated he may have come to the conclusion his career in Westminster is “pretty much done”.
However, Friday night’s episode of I’m A Celebrity featured the last elimination of the series before the final, with Hancock once again garnering enough public support to avoid being sent packing.
Instead, comedian and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Seann Walsh became the seventh star to leave the jungle, with just four contestants now remaining in camp.
He entered as a mole but is leaving as a legend. Seann is the seventh Celeb to leave the Jungle after keeping everyone entertained with his non-stop laughs and spot-on impressions! 💛 #ImACelebpic.twitter.com/faZidmwUhI
While Seann told Ant and Dec he was backing Jill Scott to win, he also praised Hancock, with whom he entered the jungle on the same day, describing him as a “lovely guy”.
“He’s in there for a reason,” the comic added.
Sean also said of his time in camp: “We all listened to each other in there. I don’t know if that is common in the jungle – and everyone kind of got their story out and there was so much support.
“I feel like everyone in there, not just for me, but I think we all accepted one another for who we are today.”
Seann Walsh leaves the I’m A Celebrity jungle
James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock
Last week, news presenter Charlene White became the first celebrity to be eliminated, with A Place In The Sun’s Scarlette Douglas, Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver and pop singer Boy George leaving in the following days.
Hancock will be joined in the semi-final by footballer Jill Scott, Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner and rugby player Mike Tindall, one of whom will be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle at the end of the series.
I’m A Celebrity returns on Saturday night at 9.15pm on ITV1, with the final then airing on Sunday.
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Matt Hancock had made it through to the I’m A Celebrity final, rather than the semi-final.
The former Dynasty star was one of the contestants during Strictly’s fifth series back in 2007, during which time she was partnered with professional dancer Vincent Simone.
Advertisement
And while she and Vincent only lasted one week in the competition, it seems she doesn’t have the best memories of her time in the ballroom.
Speaking to OK! magazine, Stephanie recalled her time on Strictly as an “absolutely hateful” experience, but insisted she is still an avid viewer of the show despite it all.
“I’m a fan of Strictly and I think [Anton Du Beke] is doing a terribly good job [on the panel],” she explained. “But doing it was absolutely hateful.”
Stephanie in the Strictly ballroom with her dance partner Vincent Simone
Advertisement
While the majority of the celebrities who come through Strictly have spoken favourably about their experience on the show, Stephanie is far from the only star who had a rather different take.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been mired in controversy from the moment it was announced the tiny Persian Gulf country would be hosting the tournament 12 years ago. But while the football has now started, the negative headlines have yet to subside.
In the build-up, thousands of migrant workers died in the nation’s extreme heat and construction accidents building the stadiums for what The Times called the “biggest sportswashing coup” in history – referring to nations that host sporting events to distract from their human rights records.
Advertisement
At the last minute, all alcohol was banned in the stadiums – not surprising in a Muslim nation, but the wealthy can down whatever they want in their luxury stadium suites. What’s more, prior World Cup hosts Brazil and Russia also prohibited drinking in stadiums – but governing body FIFA successfully pressured both countries to lift those rules for the 2014 and 2018 tournaments respectively.
In a bizarre speech on Saturday, FIFA head Gianni Infantino defended Qatar’s human rights record, as he called Europeans hypocrites for complaining about it. He indicated he knew just how the oppressed in Qatar felt because he had been bullied as a boy – in Switzerland – for having red hair and freckles.
All this before a ball was kicked. And little more than 24 hours since the opening game, the action on the pitch has yet to provide much of a distraction.
1. Iran team send a message home
<img class="img-sized__img landscape" loading="lazy" alt="Iran players Ehsan Hajsafi, Alireza Beiranvand and Morteza Pouraliganji do not sing the national anthem before the World Cup match versus England.” width=”720″ height=”479″ src=”https://www.wellnessmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/5-embarrassing-moments-for-the-qatar-world-cup-in-its-first-24-hours-4.jpg”>
Iran players Ehsan Hajsafi, Alireza Beiranvand and Morteza Pouraliganji do not sing the national anthem before the World Cup match versus England.
Sebastian Frej/MB Media via Getty Images
Advertisement
Against the backdrop of two months of protests in Iran, the country’s players didn’t sing their national anthem and didn’t celebrate their goals in the match against England – a brave act of solidarity given the repercussions they could receive from the hardline regime at home.
The protests in Iran were sparked by the death of a young woman in the custody of the morality police, and marks one of the boldest challenges to Iran’s clerical leaders since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It has resulted in the deaths of at least 419 people, according Human Rights Activists in Iran, a group that has been monitoring the protests.
Meanwhile, in the stands, many Iranian fans showed solidarity with the protest movement – holding signs and flags at odds with the image the tournament hosts want to project.
Before international matches, Iran’s players usually sing the national anthem with the right hands on their heart. On Monday they stood silently, their arms draped around each other’s shoulders, prompting Iran’s state TV to cut from a close-up of the players’ faces to a wide shot of the pitch.
Advertisement
During the match, the players didn’t celebrate their two goals, something that has become common in Iranian league matches since the protests began.
2. Armband showdown
A stand-off over armbands is another flashpoint organisers of the tournament would rather have avoided.
The football associations of England and Wales, along with other European countries, announced they would not wear the rainbow-coloured One Love anti-discrimination armband in their World Cup matches after FIFA threatened them with sporting sanctions at the last minute. They feared a yellow card being issued for their captain.
LGBTQ+ people face the death penalty just for existing but some footballers can’t risk getting a yellow card for making a small token gesture towards our community.
The former Lioness defender was seen wearing a One Love armband on air as she presented the the BBC’s coverage in Doha.
The 38-year-old former wore the anti-discrimination symbol as England played Iran in their opening match.
Scott received praised for wearing the band from many.
Pride in Football, which represents LGBT+ fan groups in the UK, wrote on Twitter: “England may not be wearing the #OneLove armband, but @AlexScott is right now on BBC.
“This is more than just LGBTQ+ rights, this is Human Rights.”
Even the basic logistics were not running smoothly.
Several fans heading to the Enngland v Iran fixture endured ticketing problems as they attempted to enter the stadium, with some missing part of the game.
Concerns were also raised about the availability of food within the stadium and at the main fan park in central Doha.
<img class="img-sized__img landscape" loading="lazy" alt="Empty seats are seen inside the stadium after ticketing problems outside the stadium prior England v Iran.” width=”720″ height=”480″ src=”https://www.wellnessmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/5-embarrassing-moments-for-the-qatar-world-cup-in-its-first-24-hours-6.jpg”>
Empty seats are seen inside the stadium after ticketing problems outside the stadium prior England v Iran.
Catherine Ivill via Getty Images
With the 4pm local time kick-off approaching, some supporters were frantically refreshing the official ticketing mobile app on their phones in a bid to have their QR code load.
This left them enduring some stressful and frustrating moments, with a group of England fans also seen arguing with officials as they kept being told entry to the queue was closed and repeatedly moved down to another entrance.
Advertisement
4. Rainbow bucket hats confiscated
First it was armbands, then it was headwear.
Female Wales supporters wearing rainbow bucket hats had them confiscated in Qatar ahead of the clash with the USA, according to fans.
Wales’ Rainbow Wall, a group of LGBTQ+ supporters, said male supporters wearing the hats were allowed to keep them but the items were taken from women.
Former Wales international footballer Laura McAllister, now a professor at Cardiff University, wrote on Twitter: “So, despite fine words from @FIFAWorldCup before event, @Cymru rainbow bucket hats confiscated at stadium, mine included.
“I had a conversation about this with stewards – we have video evidence. This #WorldCup2022 just gets better but we will continue stand up for our values.”
Advertisement
The bucket hat has become the must-have accessory for Wales fans over the past decade.
The yellow, green and red hats are worn in their thousands by the so-called Red Wall, with a rainbow version also produced.
Wales’ Rainbow Wall wrote: “Our rainbow bucket hat. We are so proud of them, but news on the ground tonight is our welsh female supporters wearing them in #Qatar are having them taken off them, not the men, just women.”
5. Qatar embarrassed on the pitch
On the pitch, things weren’t much better for the hosts.
Despite more than a decade of hothousing players for this moment, Qatar’s national team lost 2-0 in the tournament curtain-raiser against Ecuador on Sunday before more than 67,000 soccer fans.
