Just over a fortnight ago NI DJ Dean McCullough made his way into the Australian jungle as he joined the 2024 cast of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!
Little did the BBC Radio 1 DJ know that, in the next two weeks, he would take part in seven Bushtucker trials, winning 33 stars for the camp.
Despite being the second celeb to exit the jungle, the Newtownabbey man certainly made his mark.
The 32-year-old became the first celebrity to shout ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ during his first Bushtucker trial – ‘The Sinister Sarcophagus’.
The trial was the second of the series and saw Dean locked into a mummy style case, whilst having to answer a series of Egypt-related questions.
The star was joined by rats, snakes and mealworms in the coffin, which was slowly filled with sand.
He shouted the famous words “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!”, just moments into his trial winning just two stars for camp.
Dean McCullough trying to gain a star for camp.
Speaking on I’m A Celebrity Unpacked, Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly told hosts Joel Dommett, Sam Thompson and Kemi Rogers they were disappointed viewers didn’t get to see the full trial.
Donnelly explained: “We are genuinely disappointed because you are prepared to do the whole trial and you want to see the whole thing.”
In his second trial, Dean joined forces with social media influencer, GK Barry to complete the ‘Drown in the Dumps’ trial.
The trial entailed the person in the top section (decided to be Dean) feeling around in the ‘hell holes’ to find keys with gold tags attached before dropping the key into the pipe down to the person in the bottom (GK), who needed to use the keys to unlock the 10 available stars for camp.
Despite heading into the challenge with a positive attitude the pair were unable to win any stars for camp.
Dean’s third trial – ‘Lethal Lab’ didn’t lead to much success as the Newtownabbey man shouted “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!” again.
Dean McCullough takes on ‘Lethal Lab’ trial.
During the trial, Dean was stuck in a containment area and when fish guts were poured into the compartment, this prompted the radio host to immediately shout: “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!” – winning only four stars for camp.
Dean’s fourth trial – ‘High Street of Horrors’ – was more successful as he won eight stars alongside campmate Danny Jones of McFly fame.
Following the trial, Dean was invited to join former Love Island star Maura Higgins and television personality Richard Coles in the Junkyard (a secret luxury camp).
Dean’s time in the Junkyard didn’t last long as Coleen Rooney – footballer Wayne Rooney’s wife – quickly became suspicious.
“I’m not convinced that you are actually in the junkyard,” she said.
Dean McCullough diving his head into a bucket of fish guts during a Bushtucker trial
An amused Dean was then unable to keep a straight face, as he pointed and said: “Wagatha Christie strikes again!”
Back at the main camp, Dean butt heads with Coronation Street star, Alan Halsall.
While the campmates were taking part in chores, Dean was fast asleep, leaving his chore partner, Loose Woman’s Jane Moore to collect firewood alone.
After trying to wake Dean to no avail, Alan then decided to go down with Jane to help her so she wasn’t alone.
As Dean headed to join Alan and Jane, he said to Alan: “You can go back now.”
Alan explained: “I was trying to wake you up as soft as I could.”
But it seems the explanation didn’t go over well with the Radio 1 star, claiming the Coronation Street star “didn’t give him a minute”.
Dean was later seen apologising to Moore before joining her in carrying the wood for the campfire.
Dean McCullough with a mouthful of fish guts.
He was once again subject to fish guts in his fifth trial – ‘Absolute Carnage’ – alongside campmate Coleen.
Coleen was joined by cockroaches, crickets, giant mealworms and rats, whilst Dean was left to search high and low in the surrounding garage area.
Working together, the pair managed to pick up nine stars.
In Dean’s sixth trial ‘Jack and the Scream Stalk’, he officially redeemed himself by winning 10 out of 12 stars.
Dean McCullough takes on the ‘Jack and the Scream Stalk’ trial.
To successfully complete the trial, Dean needed to climb up the beanstalk, collecting stars as he went.
Once Dean collected 10 stars he fell – narrowly missing out on the last two stars.
Despite his success in the Bushtucker trial, Dean got into hot water back at the camp.
Fellow Radio 1 DJ, Melvin Odoom nicknamed him after magician Harry Houdini when Dean attempted to dodge out of his chores.
Melvin joked: “Listen, your new name is Houdini because you like to disappear!”
In Dean’s seventh and final trial – ‘The Rank Bank’ – he got up close and personal with his nemesis – fish guts – by removing three coins out of the fish guts deposit box using only his mouth.
Dean came third in the trial and unfortunately, ended up with fish guts in his veneers.
Dean was voted out of the jungle on Sunday and after leaving he told Ant and Dec how much he enjoyed his time on the show.
“I have really soaked up this whole experience. All the trials.”