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Arlene Phillips has spoken out about the fact that female contestants on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! are often the first to be eliminated, as she appeared on MailOnline’s Jungle Confidential.
The choreographer, 79, appeared on the show in 2021 where she became the first campmate to be sent home.
She was followed out by Snoochie Shy and Kadeena Cox, while the year before saw Victoria Derbyshire and Beverley Callard follow Ruthie Henshall and Hollie Arnold out of the castle, leaving just two women and six men.
Having her say: Arlene Phillips has spoken out about the fact that female contestants on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! are often the first to be eliminated, as she appeared on MailOnline’s Jungle Confidential
Speaking on the departure of Scarlette Douglas on Sunday night, Arlene told Katie Hind there were questions about her exit.
She said: ‘I was really surprised, she’s just warm, bubbly, eager to take on challenges, she seems to me to be the perfect jungle contestant. I love her personality. For her there are questions’.
When asked to elaborate, she said: ‘I think why a female quite frankly? Because on our show I was first, then Kadeena then Snoochie.
‘Frankie did remain in right until the bitter end, but it did seem to be exclusion of females as quickly as possible.’
First to go: The choreographer, 79, appeared on the show in 2021 where she became the first campmate to be sent home
‘Charlene I really got her. She was strong and brave. What do females have to do to be recognised? Their strength doesn’t seem to appeal as much as for the male strength.’
Arlene went on to say the problem was systemic, and could be seen in all aspects of society.
She said: ‘It’s very interesting, where women really stand in society. You only need to watch Parliament on TV and as much as parties are trying to bring in females, again in the House of Lords, we are dominated by males, we are swamped by them.
‘Which is why I think it’s very important for women of every age to be on television. We need to be a stronger dominant force and be able to hold those strong positions,
When asked to elaborate, she said: ‘I think why a female quite frankly? Because on our show I was first, then Kadeena then Snoochie.’
‘And sometimes I think it’s maybe female viewers because sometimes they’re the ones who do not necessarily support women.’
She then raised the question: ‘In our year, there were many more men than women, as indeed there are this year. If we were to switch the balance, would it have been different?’
Elsewhere in the chat, Arlene spoke about her feelings for the other campmates still in the jungle.
She said that the accusations of gaslighting against Seann Walsh and Boy George’s past conviction of assault and false imprisonment in 2009 were ‘private histories’.
Kicked out: The year before saw Victoria Derbyshire (top left) and Beverley Callard (top right) follow Ruthie Henshall (bottom left) and Hollie Arnold (bottom right) out of the castle first
She explained: ‘There are many people that have history and they are in some sense private histories that have become public due to their exposure. I always say we don’t know what’s happening in any household all over the UK.’
‘There is someone with a more public history which I find disconcerting. With Boy George, exactly what happened I don’t think any of us know.’
Speaking about Matt Hancock’s controversial appearance on the show, Arlene said that it made her ‘uncomfortable’ as it wasn’t the right thing for a politician to do, as he should be with his constituents.
She said: ‘I think it makes me extremely uncomfortable. Because when somebody becomes a politician they have a status to uphold, that they set to lead, to guide, to create calm and evenness.
‘Questions’: Speaking on the departure of Scarlette Douglas on Sunday night, Arlene told Katie Hind there were questions about her exit
‘And I’m not sure that can be fully represented by allowing snakes to walk over you. When I went into it and I’d been made a dame it was like what’s a dame doing in the jungle, is that what one does?
‘I feel like we all have our own reasons and inner demons, and you think here’s a quick way to lose those fears and you’re trying something different. But as a politician I think you have to uphold your presence.
‘Especially a politician I think has failed the public greatly, just be there as for you constituents, be there as the human being you are. Don’t try and be lovable or ask for forgiveness on television.’
Matt said he’s going on I’m A Celebrity to ‘prove politicians are humans too’ and connect with a younger audience, after his decision to enter the jungle sparked a fierce backlash from Westminster and the public.
Despite political insiders telling MailOnline that Matt’s decision to go on I’m A Celebrity will end his frontline political career, he insists he’s received plenty of support from his fellow MPs, although admitted he doesn’t expect to serve in Government again.
She added: ‘Charlene I really got her. She was strong and brave. What do females have to do to be recognised? Their strength doesn’t seem to appeal as much as for the male strength’
Matt, who was forced to quit Boris Johnson ‘s Government after he was caught flouting his own Covid lockdown rules with his married aide Gina Coladangelo, also revealed that he’s ‘looking forward’ to showing the public a different side to him after his time in the cabinet.
He said: ‘I don’t expect to serve in Government again but there are lots of ways you can communicate and engage with people.
‘When I got approached to take part, I did think long and hard about it but one of the reasons that I felt able to say yes was because the IAC team have put in place a system so I can be reached at any point on any urgent constituency matters.
‘Lots of people have a view on me from being Health Secretary in the pandemic dealing with some very difficult issues, but that’s not the whole story. I am looking forward to throwing myself into it all like I do everything in life. You can’t hide anything in the jungle, you see somebody warts and all.’
Going on to insist he has received a lot of support despite having his Conservative Party whip suspended, Mr Hancock added: ‘I informed the Whip and I gave my reasons. I have had a lot of supportive messages from people who can see what I am trying to do to show that politicians are people too.’
Opinion: She said that the accusations of gaslighting against Seann Walsh and Boy George’s past conviction of assault and false imprisonment in 2009 were ‘private histories’.
Matt was publicly condemned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said the MP will alienate voters in his West Suffolk constituents more than 10,000 miles from his ITV jungle camp, saying: ‘I was very disappointed with Matt’s decision.’
And despite jungle veteran Lembit Opik insisting that Mr Hancock is ‘looking for a change of career’ by entering I’m A Celebrity, the MP insisted that the first thing he’ll do upon leaving the jungle is return to Suffolk to hold a surgery with his constituents.
He explained: ‘We will take it from there. There are lots of different ways to communicate with the public and we (politicians) are wrong if we think you can only do that on the traditional political shows where you are mainly only talking to people who take an active interest in politics.
‘It’s important we engage with everyone including young people in who our politicians are and this programme is a good way to do that. I am looking forward to it.’
During his time on the show he is also hoping to raise awareness for dyslexia, and a spokesperson said this in a statement before he headed to the jungle: ‘The second reading of Matt’s Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill is just days after I’m A Celebrity… finishes.
‘By going on the show, Matt hopes to raise the profile of his dyslexia campaign and will use the platform to talk about an issue he really cares about in front of millions of people. Matt is determined that no child should leave primary school not knowing if they have dyslexia.
‘Matt has been working on constituency matters this week and show producers have agreed that Matt can communicate with his team if there’s an urgent constituency matter while he’s on the show.
‘As soon as Matt’s time in camp is up, he will return to Suffolk to hold surgeries where he will catch up with his constituents and discuss matters of concern.
‘Matt will be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk, and causes supporting dyslexia – including the British Dyslexia Association, off the back of his appearance. He will, of course, declare the amount he receives from the show to Parliament to ensure complete transparency, as normal.’
Controversy: Speaking about Matt Hancock’s controversial appearance on the show, Arlene said that it made her ‘uncomfortable’ as it wasn’t the right thing for a politician to do
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