Charlene White accuses Matt Hancock of ruining her I’m A Celebrity experience 

Charlene White has accused Matt Hancock of ruining her I’m A Celebrity experience, claiming she was forced to “walk a tightrope” and could no longer “laugh or joke” once he arrived at camp.

The ITV newsreader, who became the first contestant to be voted off on Friday night, said she had been constantly thinking about the ‘grieving families’ in anticipation of the Covid public inquiry and felt she would have wronged herself as a journalist if she hadn’t questioned the former Health Secretary about his reasons for doing the show.

The Loose Women anchor also admitted she feared being fired if she showed sympathy in any way towards 44-year-old Mr Hancock, fearing it would destroy her ‘impartiality’.

Charlene White (pictured) has accused Matt Hancock of ruining her I’m A Celebrity experience

Ms White said she had been constantly thinking about the ‘grieving families’ awaiting the public inquiry into Covid and felt she would have been doing herself an injustice as a journalist had she not questioned Matt Hancock (pictured) about his reasons for doing the show

On last night’s show, the celebrities were shot at during the Partners In Grime challenge where they were forced to answer questions about each other for treats. Mike Tindall came off worst after being slimed down and then covered in colorful tissue paper. Pictured: Mike Tindall and Boy George in last night’s challenge

The Loose Women presenter also admitted she feared being fired if she appeared in any way sympathetic to Mr Hancock, 44, fearing it would destroy her ‘impartiality’.

In her first interview since leaving camp, Ms White, 42, whose aunt died of Covid, said: ‘I was shocked when he came in but not shocked either.

“Immediately I was doing mental math in my head, and it stopped at that point for me to just be there and laugh and joke — that ended when Matt came along. I’ve interviewed plenty of families who have lost loved ones during the pandemic. I am one of them.

“I have spoken to so many families who have lost fathers, mothers, grandfathers and grandparents. As soon as he came in, I thought, “I’m going to walk a tightrope here.”‘

The mother-of-two also explained one of the show’s big mysteries — why, as Mr. Hancock’s camp warden’s deputy, she’d refused to use their perk to sleep in a luxury RV. Instead, she chose to sleep outside – which meant there was less choice for the others.

Mrs White said: ‘I didn’t want anyone to feel I was too sympathetic to Matt because that would jeopardize the job I love and jeopardize my journalistic integrity. It would have destroyed the impartiality I have consistently had for the last 20 years.

“I felt in my heart that if I didn’t represent the people who still grieve and still hurt, if I don’t think of them and ask the questions I want to know about his reason for going into the jungle… do not my job.

“It went from laughing to constantly worrying if I would still be able to do my job if I came out.”

Mrs White’s decision not to sleep in the motorhome caused tension with the other contestants, with Mike Tindall, 44, furious: ‘Why isn’t she sleeping in the motorhome? It fucking annoys me.”

The mother-of-two also explained one of the show’s big mysteries — why, as Mr. Hancock’s camp warden’s deputy, she’d refused to take advantage of their perk of being able to sleep in a luxury. Pictured: Mrs. White leaves the camp

However, her decision caused tension with the other contestants, with Mike Tindall, 44, furious: ‘Why isn’t she sleeping in the camper? It fucking annoys me.” Mrs White admitted her only regret was not being transparent about why: ‘I was dead wrong not to have been more explicit about it. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.’

Charlene, who is a mother of children Alfie, five, and Florence, three, who she shares with producer husband Andy, said she was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief since leaving the Australian jungle – although she is sad for her campmates like Leaving Soap actress Sue Cleaver, 59, and Culture Club singer Boy George, 61.

She said, “There’s an element of relief now that I’m out, but I loved being in there and I’m really gutted to be out because we got into a rhythm.

“I didn’t expect that instant love, bond and trust that we had from the very beginning. It feels strange to be here without them and I really miss them.’

Unlike the stars of the series before her, Charlene wasn’t hungry for a huge meal after leaving camp, though she showered three times and washed her hair twice to eradicate the foul campfire smell.

She added: “Since I got back to the hotel, I’ve showered three times, washed my hair twice, drank lots and lots of water that doesn’t taste like smoke. I’m not very hungry right now. I’m still overwhelmed.’

On last night’s show, the celebrities were shot at during the Partners In Grime challenge where they were forced to answer questions about each other for treats.

Mike Tindall came off worst after being slimed down and then covered in colorful tissue paper.