JUNGLE FLAW
I’m A Celeb hit with Ofcom complaints over ‘bullying’ of Matt Hancock by his campmates
I'M A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here has been hit with a wave of Ofcom complaints over Matt Hancock being "bullied" by his co-stars.
Today, the broadcasting regulator revealed they had received almost 2,000 complaints since the ITV show has been airing its new series.
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MP Matt, 44, was revealed to be part of the line-up of this year's show just days before it hit screens earlier this month.
His inclusion sparked outrage from ITV fans as well as politicians - and now, almost 2,000 complaints have been submitted to Ofcom.
Despite only being on air for just over a week, the programme has received a mammoth 1,968 official complaints about Matt.
Of those 1,159 came from fans who were hitting back against the working West Suffolk MP being on the show.
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But a whopping 809 were said to have come with concern over Matt's welfare, as they hit out at "bullying" in the jungle camp.
In a statement about the figures, Ofcom said: "It’s worth being aware that under our rules - and taking into account freedom of expression - there's no ban on any particular person taking part in programmes.
"However, if the mere presence of a person is likely to cause offence, we would expect broadcasters to take steps to mitigate or justify that offence. How they do that editorially, is up to them."
It comes after I'm A Celeb fans took to social media to complain about "bullying" on the show, asking bosses to intervene.
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They hit out after Matt took part in his SIXTH trial in a row - as some of his other campmates talked about him behind his back.
One posted on Twitter: "Feeling a bit uneasy now watching Matt Hancock on I'm A Celeb, as it's clearly just glorified bullying now."
Another said: "I've watched I'm A Celebrity since day one, but I'm struggling to watch this pile of hate filled bile.
"You are literally facilitated the bullying and intimidation of a human being. I'm struggling to have any respect for Ant and Dec any more."
"ITV should be reported to Ofcom,this is bullying how is this entertainment, it's just cruel," a third fumed.
Last night, fans threatened to switch off the show, as fans hit out that Matt is being deliberately picked on by some of his campmates in the Australian jungle.
In the latest instalment of the reality show, England Lioness Jill Scott was seen going for a run around camp with the MP and Seann Walsh.
Jill and Seann then teased Matt by suggesting he signed up to next year's Love Island.
Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver also began plotting a revolution with Mike Tindall as they complained about their new camp leader's productiveness.
Boy George said he was struggling to get on with Matt, while Charlene White said "seeing what Matt will and won't answer" has become a "sport" for her.
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Senior politician Jacob Rees-Mogg has even waded into the criticism of campmates' behaviour and the continual voting of Hancock to do Bushtucker Trials.
He told that Hancock was "ill-advised" to take part, as he slammed the show as "unpleasant".
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