Hancock's Half Hour: Confessions Of An Ex-Health Secretary.

Matt Hancock was the Health Secretary when Boris Johnson was Prime Minister. Hancock had overseen the response to waves of Covid and the responding lockdowns. When historians look back on this period of time some will think under the circumstances the government handled it well. And there will be those who will take the opposite view.

Covid took many friends and loved ones until a vaccine was developed. The vaccine itself was controversial and for some it remains so. Of course, there will be many rushing to get it while others do not trust it. The vaccine seems to stop you from ending up in a hospital. However, you can still get it as you can any virus such as influenza.

Mr. Hancock's fall from grace came when pictures were splashed across the media. Pictures of him in a clinch with his then-secretary. Hancock had always been friends with her and pictures revealed something more than friendship. Subsequently, Mr. Hancock knew he had been caught and resigned. Hancock returned to the backbenches until his appearance on 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here'.

Some of his fellow campmates were not happy about his appearance. Boy George for example was most upset by the MPs' appearance. Other campmates such as ITV news presenter Charlene White also. Ms. White asked Mr. Hancock did he receive a fine over his misdemeanour with his secretary during the lockdown. This was at a time when people were not allowed to visit friends and family. Mr. Hancock replied "no of course I didn't". Charlene then told a story from the time of lockdown.

Ms. White said how her relative had died of Covid. She was not allowed to visit this relative at the time of lockdown. She sat alone in the church at her relative's funeral because of social distancing. This is a story many of us would recognise. However, the Johnson administration told us to abide by lockdown rules yet broke them themselves. The old story of one rule for one and one rule for another.

When asked if he was sorry about his affair with his Italian secretary Mr. Hancock said, "I fell in love that's why I did it". Mr. Hancock said he regretted his time as Health Secretary. At least this is what one can gather from Mr. Hancock's responses. Whether Mr. Hancock was being genuine is something he alone will know. Hancock has lost the Conservative whip in parliament but is being paid a handsome sum for appearing in the programme. What his Suffolk constituents make of his antics remains to be seen.

'Im A Celeb' meanwhile continues with its exploitation of so-called stars. People these days seem to get a kick out of seeing others suffer. While that perilous pair Ant and Dec look on with glee.

One wonders if they themselves would be prepared to endure what others have to on the show. Whoever gets voted off the show and becomes Monarch of the Jungle are all paid well. Plus they have a choice as to whether to go on the show or not. Sadly, the critters that take part in the show alive or dead do not get a choice. They are there to be our entertainment and that is a sad indictment of us as humans.

The RSCPA, PETA, etc, have also called on ITV and Ant and Dec to stop this exploitation. But no as long as the ratings keep going there is no way this will happen. We have gone back to a Roman arena-like mentality. Where we get entertainment out of the suffering of humans and other species. Bread and circuses my friend bread and circuses.