In a surprising revelation that sheds new light on one of television's most beloved presenting duos, a former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestant has shared what Ant and Dec are genuinely like behind the scenes.
The Jungle Backlash and Off-Camera Support
Radio host Dean McCullough, who appeared on the ITV reality show last year, faced an unprecedented challenge when he was voted for six gruesome Bushtucker Trials consecutively. During the broadcast, some viewers criticised Ant McPartlin for being overly harsh on Dean when he struggled to complete certain tasks.
However, McCullough has now revealed a completely different side to the story that audiences never witnessed. Speaking on the Not My Bagg podcast, he described how the presenters provided crucial emotional support during one of his most difficult moments.
Recalling a challenge where he was confined in a small box, Dean suffered a 'full-blown panic attack' before filming even began. 'Ant and Dec were like holding my hand saying, 'You have got this, you're going to be alright' and 'You don't have to do this',' he remembered.
No Hard Feelings Despite On-Screen Tension
Despite the perceived on-screen tension, McCullough insists there are absolutely no hard feelings between them. He acknowledged that Ant himself later admitted to being 'quite unprofessional' in his responses during the trials.
'Look, it's banter and I thought it was funny and that's why I was bantering them back,' Dean explained. 'When you see it on TV, the banter that we had down at the trials was real because I don't know what's going on on the outside.'
The broadcaster added that while he might have appreciated 'a bit more compassion' from the duo at times, he ultimately 'enjoyed' their humour and understood the dynamic. He believes the criticism generated online was largely 'clickbait' manufactured to create talking points around the show.
New Rules for 2025 Series
As a new batch of celebrities prepares to enter the jungle for the 2025 series starting tonight at 9pm on ITV and ITVX, producers have introduced a significant rule change inspired by experiences like Dean's.
Show bosses have implemented a new regulation stating that after a celebrity has been voted for two trials back-to-back, they become exempt from selection for the next challenge. A spokesperson explained this ensures 'more campmates will have an opportunity to step up and play their part' and prevents any single contestant from bearing excessive responsibility for winning food.
This year's lineup features notable names including Kelly Brook, Martin Kemp, Alex Scott, Jack Osbourne, Ruby Wax, Lisa Riley, Aitch, Angry Ginge, Shona McCarty and Eddie Kadi, all vying to claim the crown from last year's winner, Danny Jones.
