MATT Hancock whispered in his lover's ear "I love you so much" when the pair were reunited after his three weeks of exploits in the I'm A Celebrity jungle.
The 44-year-old exclaimed "Oh my God!" as he was unexpectedly met by his new partner and former aide Gina Coladangelo.
The ex-Health Secretary lost his job when leaked CCTV footage showed him kissing and groping the 46-year-old, breaking his own Government's social distancing rules last June.
The west Suffolk MP told Coladangelo she was "amazing" as he passionately kissed her on the jungle bridge, slowly moving his hand down her back towards her bottom - just as he had done in the infamous CCTV footage which cost him his political career.
Matt Hancock appeared to reach for lover Gina's bottom when they were reunited
ITV
Earlier Hancock - who is estranged from his wife of 15 years Martha - told hosts Ant and Dec: "I know it was controversial me coming here. I know some people said that someone in my position shouldn't put themselves in embarrassing situations.
"But we're all human and we've all got lots of sides to our personalities. "I have a serious side, but there's also a lighter side to my personality.
Matt Hancock's jungle clinch with Gina Coladangelo was reminiscent of the infamous Department of Health CCTV 'grope' which cost him his job and his marriage
The Sun
"I just went in clear that I was going to be myself, as if the cameras weren't on...and that is what I did. “And that is what I’m like in private!”
Speaking previously, Hancock had said of his controversial relationship: "We fell in love. And that's something that was completely outside of my control. And of course, I regret the pain that that's caused and the very, very, very public nature.
"Anybody who's been through this knows how difficult it is, how painful it is doing that in public is incredibly painful, but I fell in love with someone."
Hancock's emotional reunion with Coladangelo came as Jill Scott was crowned the winner of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!
The former England footballer, 35, beat Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner, 23, into second place.
After becoming queen of the jungle, Scott said: “I just can’t believe it. Honestly, I think I’m going to owe my grandma a lot of money for the 12 million votes she’s done.
“We were one big team, I don’t think there should be one winner, we couldn’t have got through it without all of us.”
It is possible Mr Hancock could choose to step down as an MP in the wake of his deeply controversial appearance in the ITV series.
There is a process by which constituents can “recall” their elected representative before the end of their term. But this can only be triggered by three circumstances: a criminal conviction, a suspension from the House following a sanction from the Standards Committee, or an offence relating to false or misleading allowance claims.
Matt Hancock's eyes lit up on the jungle bridge when he saw his 'amazing' lover waiting for him
ITV
This means it is up to Mr Hancock whether he continues serving as the MP for West Suffolk until the next election. Should he wish to represent the seat again, he will need to convince the voters in the constituency to support him.
The former Health Secretary is currently sitting as an Independent MP, having had the Conservative whip suspended over his decision to join the show at a time when Parliament was sitting.
If this is not restored by the deadline for Tory candidates to declare their intention to stand again, on December 5, he remains officially unaffiliated.
At this stage, the party will have to begin the process of choosing a new candidate for his seat. If he does get the whip back by December 5, Mr Hancock could still be frozen out of the next general election by his local association.
Should he wish to run again, he will need to make a written application to their executive council, which will hold a secret ballot.
If he does not get their support, he will have the right to request a postal vote of the full membership of the association.
Alternatively, he can have his name automatically added to the final list of candidates to be considered at a general meeting of the local party.
Hancock's prospects were called into doubt by Andy Drummond, deputy chairman of West Suffolk’s Tory association.
“I’m looking forward to him eating a kangaroo’s penis. You can quote me on that,” he said.
