KATIE HIND: Why charming, self-deprecating Matt Hancock is the crush I under no circumstances considered I’d confess to 

For the duration of the pandemic, every time Matt Hancock would surface on Tv to start off but an additional press meeting, my sister and I would roll our eyes.

He appeared like an primarily tedious politician – one particular who was a little bit way too fond of contacting for ever-harsher lockdowns. By the conclude of the pandemic, even my 10-yr-previous niece could do a great impression of him.

And when he was caught breaking his individual social-distancing regulations in a steamy clinch with his married lover Gina Coladangelo, I confess I howled with laughter.

But that all altered previous December, when I fulfilled the ex-Wellness Secretary at a beverages social gathering.

A chilly winter’s evening, a lodge bar – and there was Matt, so much taller than he’d appeared from guiding his pandemic podium.

Through the pandemic, every time Matt Hancock would seem on Television to begin yet a different press meeting, my sister and I would roll our eyes

The natty pink tie set off his deep blue eyes. Less than his well-lower match, this man was clearly buff.

As a showbusiness reporter, I’m employed to likely up to famed strangers in lookup of a tale. But as I approached the honourable member for West Suffolk, drink in hand, my heart was thumping. He was a dish!

Now I know that I’m not alone. The 44-yr-previous – who experienced the Tory whip withdrawn as punishment for showing up on the truth exhibit – has develop into Britain’s most not likely heart-throb.

Young adults on TikTok are in raptures more than him, in what some are calling a repeat of the equally surprising ‘Milifandom’ that fashioned a couple of years ago over ex-Labour chief Ed Miliband.

Back again in the bar, I launched myself.

‘I know who you are, Katie,’ Matt replied effortlessly. He was grinning – these kinds of pretty white teeth!

I blushed, So charming. Did he genuinely know who I was? Who knows? But he experienced me. I hadn’t been this starstruck considering that I met the footballer Frank Lampard in 2005.

Former Overall health Secretary Matt Hancock and his girlfriend Gina Coladangelo

Matt joked about being viewed at a bash – the No10 lockdown get-togethers ended up then in the news. By then about 6 months crystal clear of superior office environment – right after Boris Johnson experienced reluctantly allow him go when information of that rule-breaking affair with Gina emerged – he advised me he was unwell of listening to about PPE.

He was extremely self-deprecating – and he could notify a fantastic, gossipy story about a senior politician though also making it feel as if he was fascinated in you.

When we mentioned his campaign to enable dyslexic small children – he was identified with the studying disability at the age of 18 – I was struck by the depth of his passion.

The week just before, ITV’s Phillip Schofield experienced thrown a inexpensive and horrible jibe at Matt when he appeared on This Morning’s couch.

‘Was it your dyslexia that intended you misinterpret social distancing regulations?’ demanded Phillip. Hundreds complained to Ofcom as a outcome.

Matt was plainly even now stung by this so, in a bid to impress him, I shared some fruity anecdotes about Schofield that he lapped up.

We talked, just the two of us, for 90 wonderful minutes. When he remaining, it was as if a gentle had out of the blue absent out in the room.

Last but not least, the entire nation has realised that you will find considerably extra to Hancock than we imagined and it is really a treat that we can see him every single evening in our dwelling rooms

For days afterwards, I bored my close friends, loved ones and colleagues about how handsome and charming Matt Hancock was. Some of them could possibly have imagined it was a small strange.

But now I know that I’m one particular of a lot of. A slightly older, incredibly stylish and distinguished colleague of mine was similarly bowled over when she satisfied him lately just in advance of he entered the jungle.

Like me, she assumed she realized who Matt was from looking at about him in the papers and seeing him on the news.

But when she achieved him in the flesh she promptly admired his honesty, thought he was splendidly entertaining organization – and she too believed he was a great deal hunkier in the flesh.

Eventually, the whole country has realised that there is certainly significantly additional to Hancock than we considered and it is a deal with that we can see him each evening in our living rooms.

Matt, if you happen to be looking at this, you know where by to discover me.