Who is Dean McCullough in ITV I'm A Celebrity 2024?

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here has returned - with more celebs set to take on the trials and tribulations of the Australian jungle.

A new cast of ten famous faces was set to enter the camp on Sunday as 2024’s series of the popular ITV show got underway. The hit programme, presented once again by Ant and Dec, sees the celebs take part in a host of gruesome Bushtucker Trials as they try to win food for the camp and ultimately be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle.

And among the cast of celebrities for this year’s show is Radio 1 DJ Dean McCullough. Before entering camp, the Northern Irish radio presenter said he was determined to overcome his phobias of ‘everything’ and enjoy the show - which he likened to a three-week therapy camp.

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Dean added: “I am terrified of everything and the more I think about being put in the ground with 50 snakes or getting those green fly things that bite poured over me – well there's just no point thinking about it, as otherwise I won’t get on the plane!

“When Ant & Dec say things like, ‘We are going to suspend you off the side of that cliff’, you know it is not going to be a fun day out. It’s no Alton Towers – it will be torturous.

“I made the mistake of watching episode one from last year and I nearly passed out watching it. I had to turn it off. And I hate cockroaches. There was a cockroach in a hostel I stayed in once and I checked out during the middle of the night, as the thought of it – urgh, even talking about it now gives me the chills.”

How old is Dean McCullough?

Dean is 33 years old and was born in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, on 9 July, 1992. He went to Glengormley High School and has previously spoken about how he was bullied throughout his childhood for being gay.

What radio stations has Dean McCullough been on?

Dean began his radio career as a volunteer for Wandsworth Radio before becoming a presenter on Gaydio - the Manchester-based, national LGBTQ+ station - on an afternoon show alongside Emma Goswell in May 2018. The pair then moved on to present the Gaydio breakfast show until 2021.

Dean, a previous winner of Attitude Magazine’s "Top LGBTQ+ Broadcaster" award, landed the chance to present on BBC Radio 1 in December 2020 - filling in for Clara Amfo. He was then offered the chance to present the early breakfast show on Fridays for four weeks and eventually ended up replacing Jordan North as host of the station's 10.30am to 1pm slot.

In July 2022, Dean joined the Radio 1 afternoon show, broadcast from MediaCityUK in Salford, alongside co-presenter Vicky Hawkesworth.

Was Dean McCullough on Britain’s Got Talent?

Dean has starred in a number of TV shows too and keen-eyed viewers may even recognise him for an appearance on Britain's Got Talent. He looked unrecognisable from how he appears today as he starred on the ITV talent show in 2013 - aged just 20 - alongside his dance troupe The Glambassadors.

He also appeared on the E4 show Young Free and Single: Live, hosted by Steve Jones and broadcast in 2015, as well as regularly appearing on the panel show Big Brother: Late & Live since 2023.

Before entering the Australian jungle, he talked about his excitement at embarking on a new TV role.

He said: “I’m a massive fan of I’m A Celebrity and I am so intrigued to find out more about it. I do hope to bring lots of good vibes to the camp. Every camp needs someone to bring everyone together when the mood is low and I want to be the person who makes sure everyone is ok or the person who makes up a dance routine in camp. Will I encourage everyone to sing in the camp? Absolutely!”

This year’s cast also includes dancer Oti Mabuse, Corrie star Alan Halsall, N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos, TV presenter and DJ Melvin Odoom, TV personality Coleen Rooney, former boxing champ Barry McGuigan, podcaster GK Barry, Loose Women panellist Jane Moore and McFly star Danny Jones.