Matt Hancock and his girlfriend Gina Coladangelo can’t keep their hands off each other

They reunited following three weeks apart after he left the I’m A Celebrity… Get Out Me Here! during Sunday night’s finale.

And Matt Hancock and his girlfriend Gina Coladangelo didn’t leave each other’s side as they returned to their hotel together in Brisbane with his campmates.

The former Health Secretary, 44, who finished in third place, was seen wrapping his arm around Gina, 45, as she nuzzled into his chest during a PDA-packed display.

As they stood and chatted to his co-stars and their loved ones, including Scarlette Douglas and her brother, Matt kept his hand on Gina’s stomach.

The MP was still wearing his jungle attire, as he sported a navy T-shirt and a pair of red shorts with hiking boots. 

Meanwhile, Gina showcased her svelte physique in a black crop top, which she wore with a pair of beige linen trousers and trainers. 

 

The former Health Secretary was beaten only by Jill Scott and Owen Warner to first and second place respectively, with the Lioness, 35, being crowned as the 2022 Queen of the Jungle.

He defied all expectations in making the grand final and, after his exit, Matt admitted he decided to enter the jungle because he wanted to show the ‘lighter side’ to his personality.

Upon leaving the Australian jungle, Matt was reunited with his girlfriend Gina Coladangelo and the pair shared a close embrace and kiss on the iconic bridge.

As they hugged, an overwhelmed Matt was heard saying ‘I love you so much’ to his partner, who travelled more than 9,000 miles to greet the Tory MP.

Matt lasted an impressive 21 days in the jungle, and took part in his final gruesome Bushtucker Trial before his exit in the final – narrowly missing being crowned as Jungle King.

During his jungle stint, he served as Camp Leader, and was voted to do six consecutive trials by the public, including a gruesome eating trial alongside Boy George.

And after his exit, he spoke to hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly about his time in the camp, saying he decided to join the show because he said politicians aren’t viewed as ‘human enough’ by the public.

‘I just wanted to show what I’m like as a person. Lots of people come to me with pre-conceived ideas for obvious reasons, but I just wanted to be myself,’ he said.

‘Politicians as a whole, we don’t come across as human enough. This is an extreme way of doing that.’

‘People think they know me, but they don’t. They know Matt Hancock from the TV and the media,’ he added. 

Speaking about the controversy surrounding his arrival, Matt admitted he was ‘nervous’ to walk into the jungle and meet the other celebrities.

He said: ‘When I first walked in, there was just Seann [Walsh], and we got slightly giddy. He makes everyone look good as he laughs at everyone’s jokes. When we walked into main camp and discovered some of the existing dynamics, that was tough.’

During the show, Matt was famously questioned by ITV newsreader Charlene White over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and how he broke his own social distancing guidelines when he was caught having an affair with aide Gina Coladangelo.

Addressing the moment, Matt said he was ‘grateful’ to his fellow campmates for being able to have ‘grown-up conversations’ despite their strong feelings, and admitted they also had a number of ‘important’ discussions about politics and his dyslexia. 

He said: ‘We managed to talk about some important things, not just politics narrowly but dyslexia, especially with Jill and George about growing up gay, all sorts of interesting conversations.’

Speaking of his campmates confronting him about why he was on the show, he added: ‘Some of those grillings were really enjoyable and a release, because I could say exactly what I thought, but some were really emotional. 

‘I felt it, but what I was able to do and what I was grateful for is that we had really grown-up conversations about it. We had strong feelings but there wasn’t any aggro.’

The Tory MP also admitted he was well-aware that his entrance in the jungle was seen as controversial by the public, but said he wanted to show the ‘lighter side’ to his personality by taking part in the reality competition.

‘I know it was controversial me coming here, I know people said people in your position shouldn’t put themselves in embarrassing situations,’ he explained.

‘There is a lighter side to everyone’s personality. I went in clear I was going to be totally myself, as if the cameras weren’t on.’ 

When asked who he wanted to win I’m A Celebrity, Matt said it was an ‘impossible’ question, before saying he wanted Jill to take home the crown. 

Lioness Jill and Hollyoaks actor Owen then joined hosts Ant and Dec to reflect on their time in the jungle, before Jill was revealed to be 2022’s Queen of the Jungle.

Radio DJ Chris Moyles famously teased Owen by making up stories about his life during the jungle after realising Owen didn’t know who he was, and Ant and Dec quizzed Owen about the amusing moments.

But a shocked Owen admitted he wasn’t aware that Chris had made up any tales, sharing his complete surprise and asking a sheepish Jill whether she knew, to which she admitted that she did.

Reflecting on meeting the other celebrities in the jungle, Owen, 23, admitted he found it difficult not to ‘compare’ himself with everybody around him, saying he is still at the start of his career.

‘There were a lot of big characters, I was at the beginning of my journey, and I was comparing myself, but I can’t do that and I’ve got to live my own journey. Realising that has made me comfortable in myself,’ he said. 

When asked what being crowned King of the Jungle would mean to him, Owen sweetly said: ‘[Jill] is a superstar, she’s a sweet, sweet soul. Seeing her crowned would win it for me, honestly.’

Despite his pranks on Owen, Chris Moyles then gushed over the actor as all the former campmates shared their views on who should be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle.

‘Little Owen, he has been brilliant, I think he will be so blown away and grateful to be King of the Jungle,’ Chris said.

Meanwhile, Babatunde Aleshe said of Jill: ‘Jill is one of the best people I’ve met in my entire life, I love that woman, she’s fantastic.’

Speaking about Jill, Mike added: ‘Jill should win because she’s the most genuine person in there, she’s one of the nicest and most infectious people I’ve met.’

And it was Jill who was crowned as the 2022 Queen of the Jungle, with Declan Donnelly revealing that the majority of the 12million public votes had been awarded to her.

After her victory, Owen said he was thrilled for her, gushing: ‘I’m so gassed for Jill, I think everyone agrees, nobody deserves it more than Jill!’

An overjoyed Jill was presented with her crown by her former campmate Mike, but said they had all been a ‘team’ and there shouldn’t just be one winner as she gushed over her campmates.

She said: ‘I can’t believe this. I just can’t believe it. Honestly, I’m gonna owe my grandma, a lot of money for the 12 million votes that came in. It’s definitely hard to take in. These guys have been incredible, there shouldn’t be just one winner, we couldn’t have got through it without each other.’ 

The Lioness could be heard crying ‘Oh my God, wow’ as she walked across the bridge on her way out of the jungle and sweetly reunited with her fiancée Shelly Unitt.

Just moments before hearing of her victory, Jill – who was part of the England team when they won the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 – urged children to go into the sport as she explained her experience as part of her team had helped her with her time on the show.

The former footballer spoke about facing her fear of rats in her final Bushtucker Trial and said playing in sporting teams for years and learning about ‘hard work’ helped her overcome the obstacle. 

She said: ‘I always say that’s why kids need to go into sport – it’s not about going to the highest level or anything. It’s about supporting, winning, losing, and hard work. I think, you dunno how you’re gonna react to rats but I think all those years playing for incredible teams helped me.’

Addressing her comedic moments on the show, she added ‘I was trying to tone it down at first thinking ‘Come On Jill, you’re live on ITV, your grandma is watching, your nieces are watching’, but then as it went on you just forgot you were on a TV show.’

Earlier in Sunday’s grand finale episode, Matt was forced to face one last gruelling challenge before finding out who will be crowned Jungle King or Queen.

The former Health Secretary, 44, was joined by fellow finalists Jill and Owen  in taking part in their individual final Bushtucker Trials.

For the first time in the show’s history, the stars were forced to compete for stars in front of their fellow campmates in the final, which producers hoped would add increased tension among the finalists.

They were each forced to take on a gruesome challenge to win an epic final meal together in camp, consisting of a three-course banquet with a starter, main, and dessert.

But it proved no easy feat as they had to either take on Flood Your Face, Bushtucker Bonanza, a second instalment of the show’s iconic eating trial, or Rat Race, which featured thousands of bugs in a box.

And unlucky Matt was chosen for the dreaded Flood Your Face trial, where he had to have his head submerged in a clear container filled with water as critters crawled over his face.

Explaining the trial, Declan Donnelly said: ‘You’ll sit in here with your head in the tank which will fill with water. You’ll have a snorkel to breathe through and you’ll stay in there for five minutes. 

‘You’ll win a star for each minute you endure. It’s pretty straightforward, apart from the fact that this is a Bushtucker Trial so there will be some surprises along the way in that five minutes.’

Meanwhile, Ant McPartlin added: ‘The first three stars are for your three desserts, the fourth is for your drink and the fifth is for your treat.’

As Matt’s tank began to fill up with water, various terrifying critters were also added to the box, including eels, yabbies and water spiders.

The gruesome trial saw a frog sit on top of Matt’s head while a massive spider also crawled over his face in one very scary moment.

Jill encouraged him: ‘Well in Matt, you’re doing great!’ 

Although Matt looked very uneasy at moments, he bravely gave his fellow finalists and hosts Ant and Dec a thumbs-up as he braved the trial.

The Tory MP managed to secure all of his stars during the five-minute challenge, adding to the epic feast for himself and his fellow finalists back in main camp.

Owen, who has complained about his hunger during the series, took on the dreaded final eating trial, while Jill braved Rat Race – and they both won all their stars.

Earlier in Sunday’s episode, Matt had shared his shock that he had made it to the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! final alongside Owen and Jill.

He admitted he was thrilled to become a finalist after Mike Tindall was the eighth celebrity to be eliminated from the Aussie jungle in Saturday’s episode.

The politician said it was ‘unreal’ and he was ‘so grateful’ to have made it down to the last three as he joined Hollyoaks star Owen and Lioness Jill in voicing their shock.

Speaking in the Bush Telegraph after Mike’s exit, Matt said: ‘I can’t believe I’m in the final. It’s brilliant… I’m just so grateful.’

Meanwhile, Owen, 23, said: ‘I’m in the final baby! What is going on? I don’t know what to say, I don’t know what to think… I want to speak to my mum.’

After waving Mike off, the finalists all shared a group hug as they celebrated making it into the 2022 final.

Matt said: ‘That is unreal!’

While a shocked Jill, 35, added: ‘I need to just sit down.’

In the Bush Telegraph, former footballer Jill admitted she never thought she would make it ‘anywhere near’ the final after seeing which celebrities were in camp.

‘When I first stepped into the jungle and looked around at all of the celebrities, no way am I getting anywhere near that final,’ she said.

‘To be part of the final three with Owen and Matt, god, it just means the world, it really does.’

Ahead of their Bushtucker Trials, Matt said he was ‘delighted’ to be in the final, while Jill said she was still ‘in shock’ over making it so far in the contest.

Dec said: ‘Congratulations on making it to the final.’

A shocked Jill replied: ‘Just in shock to be honest. I can’t believe we’re in the final, I’ve watched it since being a little kid. I’m still in shock to be honest.’

While Owen said: ‘It feels a little bit mad to be honest.’

And Matt added: ‘I can’t believe it. I’m just delighted. I’m very grateful.’

But on Saturday, Mike appeared skeptical of Matt’s surprise as he accused him of attempting to sway the public vote by placing his name-printed clothing in shot of the camp cameras.

The former rugby pro joked that Matt ‘clearly wants to win’, while claiming that the Tory MP was ‘polling for votes’ in a bid to be crowned King Of The Jungle.

Each campmate has their name and voting lines printed on the back of their jackets and T-shirts, with Mike claiming Matt was making these more visible to the cameras.

Talking in the Bush Telegraph, he said: ‘Matt’s making sure his t-shirt and his phone numbers are on display at all times. Matt clearly wants to win.’

Mike was seen turning the MP’s belongings over other way around, adding to the camera: ‘I’m taking great pleasure in turning it around every time he leaves camp.’

‘Once a politician, always a politician. Always polling for votes,’ added the sportsman.

Mike later became the eighth star to be eliminated from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in Saturday night’s episode, ahead of the much-anticipated grand finale.

The former rugby player, 44, was greeted by his wife Zara, the niece of King Charles – the first royal to visit the jungle to greet a departing star – as he left the camp in Australia’s Queensland.

Zara had been missing from the ranks of friends and family who arrived in the Gold Coast two weeks ago, but the late Queen’s granddaughter had made the 9000-mile trip to support Mike before he missed out on securing a place in the final.