Who is I’m a Celeb contestant and Radio 1 host Dean McCullough?

DEAN McCullough is a BBC Radio 1 presenter who is one of the only openly gay personalities on the station.

The star will be appearing on the 2024 series of I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here alongside some of the biggest names on TV.

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Radio pioneer

Dean was born on July 9, 1992, and grew up in Newtonabbey in Northern Ireland.

He has opened up in the past about how he realised that he was gay at the age of 11 or 12, while attending Glengormley High School.

He began presenting an afternoon show on Gaydio, alongside Emma Goswell, in May 2018.

The pair started presenting the Gaydio breakfast show but decided to pass on the torch to new presenters in 2021.

Attitude Magazine has since awarded Dean with a prestigious "Top LGBTQ+ Broadcaster" award.

BBC career

He filled in for Clara Amfo on BBC Radio 1 in December 2020, before being offered the chance to present the early breakfast show on Fridays for four weeks.

Eventually, he replaced Jordan North in hosting the station's 10:30 to 13:00 slot.

In July 2022, Dean joined the Radio 1 afternoon show, which is broadcast from MediaCityUK in Salford.

Viewers are very familiar with Dean's voice, but eagle-eyed viewers might recognise him from Britain's Got Talent.

He reached the semi-final on the show, alongside his dance troupe known as The Glambassadors.

Dean's sobriety

Dean is open about his decision to live as a sober man, because of a difficult relationship with alcohol.

He told Attitude Magazine about how drinking led to "crazy wild nights" which led him to "many a hotel room with many a man".

He said that, in those situations, he would ask "how the f**k has this happened?"

I'm a Celebrity

Dean plans to use his time on I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here to promote sobriety.

The movement has become extremely popular amongst Gen Z, who are shrugging off alcohol for sober nights out.

The radio host said: "I haven’t drunk for four years and I am very happy to fly the flag for young people who don’t drink.

"I am happy to show how I do still go raving."

The star will be heading to the jungle alongside some of the biggest names on TV.

He will be joined by Colleen Rooney, Tulisa, GK Barry and Danny Jones.