Nadine Dorries back in UK

Nadine Dorries has made one of her first public appearances in her constituency since leaving the jungle on ITV's I'm a Celebrity...Get me Out of Here. The MP for Mid-Bedfordshire was treated like a celebrity, but had to pay a rather soggy price for her new-found fame.

Nadine Dorries says she's enjoying being an independent politician after having the Conservative whip suspended.

Ms Dorries spent three weeks in Australia last month after leaving her Mid-Bedfordshire constituency to take part in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Despite her claims, she's insisting she will be allowed back into the Tory Party shortly.

But Westminster is rife with speculation the maverick MP could quit the party and stand for Ukip at the next General Election.

Mid Bedfordshire MP Nadine Dorries has won the support of a Cabinet minister, who says he "admired" her for going on ITV reality show I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!

Ms Dorries was suspended from the Conservative Party for taking time off Parliament to go into the jungle, and returned to the UK from Australia earlier this week after becoming the first contestant to be voted off by viewers.

Now Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says parliamentary characters like Ms Dorries should be "treasured".

Ms Dorries stayed away from Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. On Twitter, she said: "I thought best to keep away this week - press should be focusing on the important issues."

Nadine Dorries is due to meet with the Conservative Chief Whip, Sir George Young, later this morning over her controversial decision to appear on ITV1's I'm a Celebrity.

The MP for Mid Bedfordshire returned to the UK yesterday. She's been summoned for a meeting to explain her actions after becoming the first contestant to be evicted from the Australian jungle.

The Mid-Bedfordshire MP Nadine Dorries has given ITV Anglia her first television interview since returning to her home earlier today after arriving home from Australia, where she had been taking part in I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here !

While she was away her inclusion in the show whipped up a storm of controversy in this country.

Despite that she told Emma Baker and Neil Bradford she still felt confident she had done the right thing

Mid-Bedfordshire MP Nadine Dorries has defended her decision to go on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here after becoming the first contestant voted off.

She's been heavily criticised for going on the ITV show but says she's already back at work, even from her hotel room in Australia. Matthew Hudson reports