NI radio star Dean McCullough’s hopes of being camp leader sank following a collision with Barry McGuigan in an epic opening episode of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!.
The Radio 1 DJ made a dramatic entrance as one of 10 celebrities who began their stint in the Australian bush during the launch of the ITV show presented by Ant & Dec on Sunday night.
After polishing off a welcome cocktail consisting of blended bull’s penis and fish eye, with a vomit fruit garnish, Dean joined four of his new pals in a skydive to meet the remaining contestants — including Barry — who were waiting on the sandy beach below.
Apologising for rejecting his work colleague, fellow presenter Melvin Odoom, Dean chose to team up Coleen Rooney as a heated contest for the coveted position got underway which included a frantic boat race from Misty Mountain.
“Melvin, I’m so so sorry!,” the 32-year-old said.
“Wagatha Christie you’re coming with me!”
Former boxing champ Barry paired up with McFly star Danny Jones and were the first to arrive at the riverbank in their jeep to discover a sign reading “release a boat to continue the race”.
N-Dubz singer Tulisa Constostavlos and Corrie legend Alan Halsall pulled up next followed by Loose Women’s Jane Moore and podcaster GK Barry who noted “it’s like Baywatch!” before contestants were forced to find a key hidden inside “a hell hole” full of nasty critters.
Coleen was the second celeb to get her hands on a key, but as her Dean began rowing to the next stage the craft began to fill with water as they capsized.
“On the sign it said choose your boat wisely, and now we know why!” Dean reflected.
Read more
Barry was next to find a matching key before him and Danny set off in second place.
Trailing close behind, Dean came up with a brainwave for him and Coleen to block the hole in their boat using his jacket and her scarf, allowing them to follow in third place.
However, the pair began sinking again after making contact with the boat in front.
“There is nothing more petrifying than a Barry McGuigan on a mission,” Dean later recalled.
“We were the Titanic, they were the iceberg and we all know how that story ends!”
Dean McCullough
Alan and Tulisa were the first to reach the pontoon with Danny and Barry close behind only to be greeted by another key containing hell hole filled with green ants.
The boxing coach and his teammate were outperformed as Alan and Tulisa were the first to pull the tag and let off a flare to win the race — and the chance to be the first camp leaders.
Dean and Coleen were the third pair to enter the camp and pick their beds, followed by Danny and Barry and eventually the new camp leaders arrived in style via a helicopter to explore their Leaders’ Lodge and choose a team to complete the first bush tucker trial ‘Mausoleum of Misery.’
dfghj
Chosen ones Barry and Danny were greeted by Ant & Dec who broke the news that they were about to be locked in individual chambers with five stars each up for grabs.
However, they were secured with padlocks with suggested combination codes on the tiles of the chamber floors.
The pair were all strapped in and ready to go when it emerged they were not alone, but sharing the confined space with 15 snakes.
Barry appeared to struggle to the read the numbers in the dark as Danny stormed ahead with the task before one of the serpents slid into his shorts.
“That is what’s known here as a trouser snake,” Dec jokingly observed.
It didn’t stop Danny collecting all five stars — but Barry ended up with none.
Shortly after, the campmates tucked into their first dinner after Tulisa stepped into the role of head chef and despite too many cooks threatening to spoil the broth, she impressed all with her Kangaroo hind.
Especially Dean who said “the female boss, bossed dinner!” in a reference to the star’s tattoo on her arm.
She later told the Bush Telegraph: “Dean loves the female boss sign, if it makes him happy I will always give him a flash if he wants one!”
The new series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! continues tomorrow night at 9pm on ITV