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Matt Hancock has confessed he regrets his ‘weak leadership’ at the end of the pandemic during his first, rather savage, interrogation on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
The disgraced former health secretary, 44, resigned from his position in Boris Johnson’s cabinet after breaching Covid social distancing rules by kissing a colleague in government offices.
He addressed his affair with now-girlfriend Gina Coladangelo during the new series’ opening episode, after he was pulled into the first chat with the course instructors.
This followed his ‘catastrophic failure’ during the initial challenge, which saw the 16 celebrity contestants, which also include former Towie star James ‘Arg’ Argent and ex rugby pro Gareth Thomas, tasked with crossing poles at a terrifying height.
After being labelled a ‘complete and utter buffoon’ by the DS team of ex-Special Forces operators for barely managing to leave the platform he started on, instead somersaulting through the air, he was questioned by former Special Forces Operator and Royal Marine Mountain Leader Chris Oliver and Royal Marine Commando and Special Forces Sergeant Jason ‘Foxy’ Fox.
As he first reflected on his biggest challenge in government, Hancock said: ‘I was managing a very difficult scenario in a professional sense and thought I’d done a good job.
‘And then I fell in love with someone who I’d known since university and worked closely with in government.’
However, the DS were not letting him get off that lightly, with Chris suggesting that his behaviour made it seem like he thought he was ‘above’ the rules he imposed on the rest of the country in lockdown.
‘The truth is I was very careful to not break the law,’ Hancock responsed, claiming that the guidance he went against was not ‘legally binding’.
Although he appeared to have a hint of tears glimmering in his eyes, the MP held his resolve and even dared to try and interrupt his interrogation twice to defend himself – but was quickly shut down.
When he was then accused of showing ‘weak leadership’ in the pandemic, he agreed, adding: ‘I regret the lack of leadership at the end.’
Returning to his fellow contestants, Hancock rejected a hug as he confirmed: ‘I didn’t cry – I’m not much of a crier.’
However, the DS then discussed the politician being ‘heavily guarded because of who he is’ and how he expected people to ‘dig into him from the start’.
Elsewhere in the episode, Hancock, who claimed her was nursing a broken rib during filming, was pitted against retired footballer Jermaine Pennant for a brutal punching challenge where they were told to hit at each other until told to stop.
It was to be another task that Hancock failed.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins continues at 9pm on Channel 4 on Sunday.
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