GMB's Susanna Reid defends Dean McCullough after I'm A Celeb trial exit sparks backlash

During Wednesday's episode of Good Morning Britain, presenters Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley were discussing the latest happenings on I'm A Celebrity.

The conversation with entertainment correspondent Richard Arnold quickly shifted to the most recent Bushtucker Trial that took place on Tuesday evening.

Viewers of ITV saw radio personality Dean McCullough utter the well-known phrase 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here' after failing to complete the trial.

Since then, a number of fans have criticised the contestant, with some accusing Dean of exaggerating his reaction. However, Susanna Reid was quick to come to his defence, reports the Mirror.

She stated: "I have to defend Dean here. I don't know him and have never met him, but he had the helmet on, which then got filled with bugs. Then he managed to do the two stars, you collect the stars using your mouth and then you poke it through the little letter box hole. Then the sand came in, this is sand.

"You know what it's like when you get trapped in sand and the sand is continually rising up his legs. Even as I say that I start feeling a little bit panicky!

"He knows that at some point it's going to rise over his arms and his entire body is going to be trapped in sand. He's not going to be able to move, basically almost had a panic attack didn't he?"

Interrupting, Richard Madeley humorously suggested that Susanna should join the jungle camp as their psychotherapist.

To which she responded: "Well, I'm willing to go out there is anyone wants to employ me to talk them down!"

Despite Dean's inability to complete the trial, he did succeed in securing two stars for the camp, which meant a modest dinner.

Ant and Dec were supportive of Dean when he exited the Sarcophagus during the I'm A Celeb's aftershow, but they expressed disappointment that the trial ended prematurely.

On Unpacked, Dec told presenters Joel Dommett, Sam Thompson and Kemi Rodgers: 'We are genuinely disappointed because you are prepared to do the whole trial and you want to see the whole thing. There's a lot of time gone into the trials so when it's called early you're like, "oh".

Ant concurred, adding: "That's why we continued to ask him some questions after because we were really enjoying it."

However, Dean has another chance to prove himself in the upcoming episode as he's been selected again to undertake the Bushtucker Trial alongside GK Barry.

GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, was the first person to face a challenge in the new series after being chosen by the public on Monday night.

Despite her apprehensions, the Loose Women star managed to secure a total of nine stars for the camp. Since making her jungle debut, she's quickly becoming a fan-favourite with viewers, with some predicting a win for the 25 year old.

I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! continues weeknights on ITV from 9pm,.

Good Morning Britain continues weekdays on ITV from 6am.