Matt Hancock: Celeb who punched MP in SAS Who Dares Wins reveals what he thought about fight

Pennant has now disclosed his true feelings on the opportunity to fight Hancock.

“I had a slight smile when his number was called out! My first thought was ‘you can't lose this’, and my second was ‘the nation is spurring you on’."

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Speaking to Lucky Block, Pennant added: “We're not fighters and we both knew it wasn't going to be a good boxing match, but I just focused on not losing - and that's what happened!”

Speaking about the ordeal, Hancock said: “I’ve had endless death threats over the vaccine, but I haven’t been punched since I was a teenager - it didn't hurt nearly as much as I expected, actually, being smacked in the face.”

Addressing the aftermath of the fight, Pennant said: “We didn’t really talk about the fight. It was just a task we both had to do. We didn't talk about the fight, but it was a little bit awkward standing next to him after.

“Once we got back to the barracks, we spoke about it a little bit, but it's what we signed up for. We both had to defend ourselves!” We didn’t like it, but we were both ready for it.”

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Pennant also commented on Hancock’s scandals during Covid and how the former Health Secretary failed to address them.

“Surprisingly, Matt didn’t talk about breaking lockdown rules on the show. He mostly talked about his mistake of getting caught with another woman and falling in love, but he didn't really talk about the decisions he made during lockdown or him not abiding by rules.

“I thought he could have come out and apologised to the millions of people who couldn't see loved ones during that time. I thought he could have gone into the mirror room and apologised, but instead, he talked just about his affair.”

Pennant admitted that himself and his co-stars on the reality show felt that they didn’t get to know the real Matt Hancock.

“Some of us felt like Hancock wasn't opening up fully, and that he was there as part of a game. There were no heart-to-hearts or anything like that. We were all too focused on the show. I don't think any of us really felt like we knew Matt Hancock.

Speaking on whether Hancock’s TV appearances could turn the tide on public opinion on him, the former footballer was not so certain.

“I think Matt Hancock is trying to do as many good shows as he can to try and improve his persona. However, it does not matter what he does. Him going on SAS or I'm a Celeb is not going to change peoples' opinions of him to the thousands who lost loved ones.

“The only thing that would do that is a sincere apology. He can go on every show, and it'll make no difference.”

Hancock is serving as an independent candidate after having the Tory whip removed in November for taking part in ITV ’s I’m a Celebrity…

He filmed for SAS Who Dares wins almost a year ago, just weeks on before heading for the Australian Jungle.

The jungle warfare show was filmed in in Thung Ui, North Vietnam. Other celebs include Danielle Lloyd, singer Gareth Gates, ex-footballer Jermaine Pennant and former model Melinda Messenger.