I’m A Celeb’s Jake Quickenden defends Dean McCullough after ‘game player’ claims – as he reveals who will be first out
I’M A Celebrity star Jake Quickenden has defended Dean McCullough after fans accused him of “playing a game”.
The Radio 1 star, 32, has divided viewers with some saying he’s playing up to the camera for airtime.
But Jake, who appeared on the ITV show back in 2014, said Dean is entitled to go into camp with a strategy.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Jake said: “It’s early days, I think Tulisa and Coleen are coming across well, I love Danny Jones, he is a legend.
“I’ve worked with Melvin before, he’s such a nice bloke.
“Everyone in there is coming across really well. I’ve also worked with Dean and I love Dean. I think he’s brilliant.
“I think he is playing a game and he knows what he’s doing, but good on him.
“He might never get a chance to get to do a show like that again. He’s working it and getting his airtime, enjoy it.
“I think GK Barry is genuine, I met her the first time not too long back and I thought she was a lovely girl.”
While Jake also praised newcomer Maura Higgins as the perfect addition to camp – saying she’s one to watch and could bag the crown.
“I think it’s a very genuine, quite a nice season, I think any one of them could win it,” he told us at the Beauty Awards 2024.
“The reverend is hilarious, I’ve seen Maura at quite a lot of things, I think she’s a lovely girl.
“I think she’s a big character and got a big personality, but that’s good for the jungle.
“I think she’ll get stuck in, we saw her with the eating challenge, she was really good.
“She’s another one, with a great chance of winning the show. She’s so liked and everyone likes her.”
Jake revealed his predictions for the final three and also shared who he thinks will face the chop first.
“I think Danny Jones will win, if he doesn’t it could be Coleen and Tulisa. I think they’ll be the top three,” the TV personality shared.
“I think Dean will be first out, but that’s only because he’s grating on some people in camp. If it was my choice, I wouldn’t choose him but he’s had a couple fallouts with people in camp with Alan and Danny wanted his bed.
“I think unfortunately he’ll be first out, which is a shame because he is a lovely kid.”
It comes after Dean’s mum Ann hit back at Ant’s criticism of her son and exclusively told us: “I think Ant’s been a wee bit hard on him.
“I’m gonna have to have a wee word with Ant about that, maybe later.”
Ann said: “He has been game for anything.
“He’s just been himself, and we’re all so, so proud.”
HEART OF THE ACTION
Ann will no doubt be a welcome sight for Dean after he was voted by the public to tackle numerous challenges.
Yet his sheer amount of airtime bagged by the broadcaster is said to have caused unrest in camp.
Fans also suggested Dean had a game plan to secure the screen time.
Dean’s antics in the trials – which have seen him scream I’m A Celebrity – have also sparked speculation of a feud with Ant.
Ant, 49, addressed speculation of a “feud” after fans spotted he was giggling at Dean’s screaming in a recent foodie task.
He was previously forced to break his silence after fans called out bad blood between him and Dean.
I'm A Celebrity 2024
i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year..
Coleen Rooney – Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, has made 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 be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever.
Tulisa – The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her 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 has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities.
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. Melvin 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 brands 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 originally 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 Fletcher.
Jane Moore – The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is 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 is 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 bowel cancer. He told The Late Late Show in 2021: “She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache.”
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.
Rev. Richard Coles – Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity, and he’s ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, 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.”