Jump directly to the content

I'M A Celebrity’s Dean McCullough has officially touched down in Australia, and he made jokes about fending off snakes in camp as he did so.

The BBC Radio 1 DJ, 32, is part of the 2024 programme's full line-up, after being headhunted for the series.

I'm A Celebrity’s Dean McCullough has officially touched down in Australia, and he made jokes about fending off snakes in camp as he did so
5
I'm A Celebrity’s Dean McCullough has officially touched down in Australia, and he made jokes about fending off snakes in camp as he did soCredit: Rex
Dean looked delighted as he landed in Australia
5
Dean looked delighted as he landed in AustraliaCredit: Rex
The star was seen in a lime green tracksuit
5
The star was seen in a lime green tracksuitCredit: Rex

The former Gaydio presenter began featuring more prominently on BBC Radio 1 on 2021.

Now arriving for the show, bosses have told how they are hoping he'll add drama and hilarious banter to the camp.

And the banter has already begun, as Dean stepped off the plane looking in great spirits, with his grey suitcases wearing a lime green tracksuit.

As he landed, the DJ said: ““I’m actually here to pick up two koalas that I have adopted.

Read More on Im A Celeb

“One of them is black and one of them is brown. They’re called Anthony and Declan.

“Apparently they’re quite nervous.”

He was then asked about the snakes and spiders awaiting him in the jungle, and said: “I’ve dealt with enough snakes in my life, I think I’ll be all right.”

At the time of being signed up for I’m A Celeb, a source told us: "Dean isn’t known for being a shrinking violet and is sure to be outspoken.

"Plus he’s one of the youngest men lined up for the show so far.”

Tulisa keeps a very low profile as she lands in Australia ahead of I’m A Celebrity

Dean has been spotted on screens before too, though ITV viewers can be forgiven for not recognising the broadcaster after he showcased an unrecognisable look on Britain's Got Talent.

Northern Irish presenter Dean, from Co. Antrim, starred on the talent show in 2013.

He was accompanied by his dance troupe The Glambassadors and aged just 20 during his time on the series.

The bunch only had 48 hours to rehearse after a mishap before their on-stage performance, but were swiftly voted through to the next round.

I'm A Celebrity 2024

As the hit ITV show enters into its 24th series, a brand new batch of famous faces look set to enter the Aussie jungle once again to face terrifying Bushtucker Trials and living amongst the critters in camp in order to come out on top and be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars heading Down Under this year...

  • Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name heading into the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, will be making a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to head into the camp this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever.
  • Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge looks set to be making a triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal.
  • Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he will be hoping to become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities when he gets into camp.
  • Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. He has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle.
  • GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brand such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers.
  • Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs, Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live.
  • Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She origianlly found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice.
  • Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle, after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice, along with bandmate Tom. A jungle insider said: "As well as bringing some of the star appeal of the group with him, he'll be supplying some serious guy candy for the campmates and viewers at home."
  • Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard. Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year.
  • Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist will be braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband. It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past.
  • Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry will become the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to breast cancer. He told : "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache."
  • Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is set for I’m A Celebrity — and is ready to let rip at his old employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, 62, said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year.An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth."
  • Dean, who had studied at drama school, said at the time: "We formed because we all know each other through working in dance.

    "But a week before the auditions we lost two guys who got jobs in LA.

    "So we found two other friends and we had one rehearsal before we got to the stage.

    "I choreographed the dance so I was under pressure to get it sorted.
    “We were winging it but I think because of the pressure we were under it all came together and now I have made friends for life.

    READ MORE SUN STORIES

    "We have all been on this journey together, none of us have ever done anything like this before."

    In the jungle, Dean is set to join a star studded cast, including Danny Jones, Maura Higgins and Coleen Rooney.

    Dean has also starred on Britain's Got Talent
    5
    Dean has also starred on Britain's Got TalentCredit: Splash
    ITV bosses are hoping Dean will bring banter to the camp
    5
    ITV bosses are hoping Dean will bring banter to the campCredit: Instagram/thedeanlife
    Topics