One of the latest I’m a Celebrity contestants once turned heads with a now near unrecognisable performance on an ITV talent show, delivering a ‘cheeky routine’ that wowed the judges.
BBC Radio 1’s Dean McCullough is currently gearing up for his daunting new adventure – the ‘waking nightmare’ of three weeks in the Australian bush. However, what some viewers might not recall is his stint on yet another major programme.
Back in 2013, before his role on the radio, Dean was part of an all-male dance ensemble named The Glambassadors.
Their performance managed to impress the panel, particularly leaving judge David Walliams remarking on their overtly festive verve, dubbed ‘camper than Christmas’.
Vintage footage from the era presents Dean along with his troupe dancing along to a string of beloved tracks, including Christina Aguilera’s Candyman, reports OK!.
The Glambassadors faced a brisk prep window for their BGT audition, where Dean disclosed at the time that the group had undergone a last-minute line-up change after two members exited to seek opportunities overseas.
In his words during that period: “We formed because we all know each other through working in dance. But a week before the auditions we lost two guys who got jobs in LA. So we found two other friends and we had one rehearsal before we got to the stage.”
He elaborated on his role adding: “I choreographed the dance so I was under pressure to get it sorted. We were winging it but I think because of the pressure we were under it all came together and now I have made friends for life. We have all been on this journey together, none of us have ever done anything like this before.”
“We did a routine for Alesha Dixon’s song The Boy Does Nothing and David Walliams loved us because we were camper than Christmas.”
Their dazzling performances earned The Glambassadors a spot in the semi-final of their series, though they fell short of reaching the final, despite their cheekily choreographed routine winning many fans.
They were ultimately outshone by Attraction, the shadow theatre troupe from Hungary who clinched the title. Dean, however, is keen to channel that Glambassador spirit into his next adventure.
Speaking about his aspirations for good energy, he expressed: “I do hope to bring lots of good vibes. Every Camp needs someone to bring everyone together when the mood is low.”
He also revealed his nurturing ambitions within the group, stating: “I want to be the person who makes sure everyone is ok, or the person who makes up a dance routine.”
I’m A Celebrity begins Sunday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.