I’m A Celebrity star calls in police after receiving shocking death threats

Editorial Use Only Mandatory Credit: Photo by James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock (14981013do) Danny Jones is crowned King of the Jungle and poses on his throne with runner-up Coleen Rooney, third place Richard Coles and campmates Oti Mabuse, Melvin Odoom, Maura Higgins, Jane Moore, Barry McGuigan, GK Barry, Alan Halsall, Dean McCullough and Ant and Dec 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' TV show, Series 24, Australia - 08 Dec 2024
A star from last year’s I’m A Celebrity is facing a terrifying ordeal (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star Dean McCullough has been forced to call in police after receiving terrifying death threats.

The TV star, 33, was the second campmate to be voted out of the jungle last series, which was ultimately won by McFly’s Danny Jones.

Following his stint Down Under, Dean has opened up about the online abuse he’s endured, which has significantly impacted his mental health and led him to struggle getting out of bed some days.

An investigation into the matter is now ongoing, with cops working to get to the bottom of who is sending the vile messages.

In a new interview with the Daily Star Sunday, the broadcaster, who presents on BBC Radio 1, shared: ‘When I came out of the jungle, I started getting so many death threats. People tell me they wish I’d got AIDS and died, or that if they see me in the street, they’re going to batter me. 

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‘People were saying they were to come to my work at the BBC and my house. It hurt. It was really heavy stuff.’

STRICT EMBARGO - NOT FOR USE BEFORE 22:05 GMT, 24 Nov 2024 - EDITORIAL USE ONLY Mandatory Credit: Photo by James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock (14938516f) Bushtucker Trial, Absolute Carnage - Dean McCullough 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' TV show, Series 24, Australia - 24 Nov 2024
Dean McCullough has had to call in police after receiving death threats online (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)

Dean added that Greater Manchester Police took a statement from him, with the details passed on to forces across the UK.

Thankfully, officers have already managed to identify some of the people who sent the threats.

On the shocking scale of the ordeal, Dean further revealed: ‘There are 35 different accounts that were classed as having malicious contact, and 12 of them were aggravated malicious contact, which is basically a death threat. They’re being identified.’

Along with eventual King of the Jungle Danny, Dean lived in the Australian camp with the likes of Coleen Rooney, GK Barry, Oti Mabuse, Alan Halsall, Maura Higgins, Tulisa, and Melvin Odoom.

His time in camp was certainly turbulent, with one particular moment involving the chore of collecting water sparking fierce debate online.

The incident caused a run-in with Dean and fellow radio presenter Melvin, who jokingly nicknamed him ‘Houdeani’ for seemingly vanishing when it was time to do jobs.

STRICT EMBARGO - NOT FOR USE BEFORE 22:05 GMT, 24 Nov 2024 - EDITORIAL USE ONLY Mandatory Credit: Photo by James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock (14938516b) Bushtucker Trial, Absolute Carnage - Dean McCullough and Coleen Rooney 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' TV show, Series 24, Australia - 24 Nov 2024
Dean became close pals with the likes of Coleen Rooney in camp (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)

This didn’t go down well with Dean, who even reignited their feud upon leaving camp as they reunited in the Coming Out show.

Thankfully, we think it’s all water under the bridge now, with Dean remaining close friends with several other former campmates, such as Love Islander Maura.

Dean also told The Sun in April that the I’m A Celeb group chat was still popping off, even after Maura and married man Danny’s drunken kiss scandal at the Brits.

‘No, no one’s left,’ Dean said of the WhatsApp group. ‘Everyone’s in it. Everyone’s chatting away.’

Dean spilled: ‘I just love it because you’ll just wake up one morning, and they’ll just be a picture of Coleen [Rooney] on the school run with the kids, or Richard [Coles] the other day sent us a picture of him at 10 o’clock in the morning in full fancy dress.

‘He was dressed as a nun.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 26: Dean McCullough attends the Metro Pride Awards 2025 at the Grand Connaught Rooms on February 26, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
The radio broadcaster’s reports are being investigated by Greater Manchester Police and other cooperating forces (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

‘Everyone’s in it, of course, and excited to meet up again.’

I’m A Celebrity will return to our screens later this year, with rumours swirling already around who will be taking part.

So far, one allegedly confirmed participant is actress Lisa Riley, who is best known for playing Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale.

Meanwhile, a second All Stars series of I’m A Celeb will air in 2026, with ITV bosses lining up former iconic campmates for a second stint.

Currently, the likes of Gemma Collins, Harry Redknapp, and Ashley Roberts are believed to be in talks.

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