Matt Hancock kept his 'mouth shut' after breaking a rib during Celeb SAS filming
Matt Hancock confessed that he 'kept his mouth shut' after breaking a rib while participating in the gruelling reality show, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
The 44-year-old politician admitted that his physical and mental resilience was pushed "to its limits almost every minute of every day" during his stint on the show. The West Suffolk MP revealed that the most challenging moment came when he suffered a broken rib during the jungle phase of SAS selection in Thung Ui, north Vietnam.
Despite the intense pain, he chose to remain silent about his injury to avoid being medically discharged, stating, "I was determined to keep going so I just kept my mouth shut." The former health secretary, who served for nearly three years before resigning in June 2021 following a scandal involving a breach of Covid-19 guidelines, is set to appear alongside 15 other recruits on the Channel 4 show.
He admitted that his physical and mental resilience was pushed 'to its limits' (No credit)He had previously expressed his desire to push his limits after emerging from a "challenging period as health secretary during the pandemic". A self-proclaimed fan of the SAS series "for years", Hancock claimed to be in "pretty good shape" ahead of the show, having completed a 100-mile walk of Mont Blanc and an "intensive fitness programme".
However, he admitted that the experience on SAS was unparalleled, saying, "Being on SAS was like nothing else... it's one of the toughest physical things I've ever done and it really opens your eyes and makes you really look into yourself." The highly anticipated show makes a triumphant return to our telly screens this Tuesday, featuring the formidable chief instructor Mark "Billy" Billingham and his directing staff (DS) which includes Jason "Foxy" Fox, Rudy Reyes, and Chris Oliver.
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Mr Hancock candidly shared his experiences of dealing with UK media throughout his career, but admitted that the SAS directing staff really "pushed my buttons, especially early on". "They push your buttons to get the rise, and then they show you the consequence of that and so you learn not to," he explained, adding that it's an integral part of the training and a valuable life lesson in not reacting impulsively when provoked. "I didn't feel like I struggled with it."
He said being on SAS was like 'nothing else' (No credit)"I don't know if that comes over, but I don't suffer fools gladly. They are definitely not fools and I had respect for what they were doing," he said, expressing his admiration for the DS team. When asked to compare his experience with facing the UK press, he quipped: "I'm used to dealing with some pretty aggressive incoming, but the DS were something else."
Mr Hancock also spoke warmly of the "real rapport" he developed with his fellow recruits, who include pop sensation Gareth Gates, Olympian Perri Shakes-Drayton, and former England footballer Jermaine Pennant whom he was chosen to spar with in the first episode's milling task.
Reflecting on the fight, the MP confessed: "I was relieved that I wasn't being paired with somebody even bigger, or a woman. But I thought, 'this is a bad moment'."
"It didn't hurt nearly as much as I expected actually, being smacked in the face," he added, before praising the courage shown by others, particularly during unequal bouts. In a sensational twist, Mr Hancock, who was stripped of his Tory whip following his stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, has candidly described the reality programmes as "very different" yet both equally challenging to his resilience.
Speaking about his time in the Australian outback, he said: "There wasn't a lot to do in the Australian jungle, so I was always looking forward to the tasks." However, his experience in SAS was a stark contrast. He revealed: "The opposite was true on SAS where your physical and mental resilience was tested to its limits almost every minute of every day. Sitting down was a luxury."
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is airing on Channel 4 this Tuesday at 9.30 pm.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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