MATT Hancock appealed for "forgiveness" after he broke Covid rules during his secret affair with Gina Coladangelo.
The ex-Health Secretary insisted "I'm only human" as he opened up on the tryst, which forced him to step down from his Cabinet role.
Hancock also told how he and Gina have endured a "shockingly awful" 18 months since what he branded an "affaire de coeur [love affair]".
Speaking to the Mail after his stint on I'm a Celebrity, he said: "It's been absolutely horrific, especially for Gina.
"I've had an absolute bucket of s**t poured over my head."
The Sun published video footage of Hancock and Gina passionately kissing his office as Covid gripped the UK.
He admitted his political judgement was "off" but said he was "deeply in love" with the aide.
They grew close while working on the pandemic together but Hancock said their feelings developed in April last year.
He insists they did not have physical contact until the following month.
Hancock revealed they "wrestled with their consciences" for six weeks before deciding they wanted to "make a life together".
He told how after the learning the affair would be made public, he had to inform Boris Johnson.
The MP then headed home to tell his wife Martha, who he has three children with.
He quashed rumours he woke up his son to tell him the news, insisting he was "awake".
That night, "bereft" Hancock left the family home "for practical reasons" as he wanted to "protect them as much as possible".
He said: "I felt every conflicting emotion because I was in love but, at the same time, I was causing immense pain to the people I loved.
"We realised what was happening was of huge consequence that would last for the rest of our lives but… this was an affaire de coeur and therefore my political judgement was off."
Since then he has been in a relationship with Gina, who waited for him on the bridge when he left the jungle.
He said it was "wonderful" to see her as it has "not been easy" for him or his family.
The MP claimed he entered the reality show as he wanted the public to look at him as a "human" and not the "face of the pandemic".
Speaking about his time in the jungle, he said he "didn't feel bullied" and enjoyed the "grown-up, respectful discussions".
He added: "Each day I was voted in I was really pleased to stay, but I missed my children desperately.
"It’s the longest I’ve gone without seeing them in their lives, and I missed Gina. I felt guilty I was leaving her at the end of the bridge, day after day after day, on her own."
Hancock has now returned to the UK but his whip has not been reinstated.
He was the MP for West Suffolk but was punished for leaving his constituency to do the show.
Hancock said: "I want forgiveness for the mistake I made, the failure of leadership at the end of the pandemic when I fell in love with Gina and I broke the guidance that I'd signed off.
"I want forgiveness for the human error I made… but I'm not asking for forgiveness for how I handled the pandemic.
"I woke up every single morning determined to do the very best I could in the most impossible circumstances until I needed to go to bed at night. I did that for 18 months.
"There is a good, honest explanation for every single decision I made, whether it turned out to be right or not."
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