A body language expert has given their insights into Ant McPartlin’s feelings towards Dean McCullough on I’m A Celebrity.
Fans of the ITV jungle show reckon they’ve noticed signs that Ant isn’t too keen on Dean. The pair have crossed paths numerous times this series, with Dean being the popular choice for almost every Bushtucker trial.
A notably tense moment occurred last night when Ant admitted he wouldn’t be following Dean on social media. The radio DJ appeared taken aback, but Ant maintained it was all in jest.
Body language specialist Inbaal Honigman has scrutinised the scenes and identified clear indications of Ant’s ‘distaste’ for Dean that he can’t conceal.
Speaking on behalf of Slingo, she elaborated: “As Dean disembarks from his successful bushtucker trial, at first glance it seems that Ant’s distaste towards him has become more pronounced. Both Ant and Dec applaud the DJ as he approaches, but Ant’s claps are slower and continue longer, creating the insulting effect of a ‘slow clap’, which expresses displeasure.”
She continued: “Just in case Dean didn’t pick up on that, Ant performs another little ‘slow clap’, and then folds his arms. The arm folding is a defensive gesture, effectively ‘closing off’ the presenter, indicating that he doesn’t want to engage with Dean at all.”
However, according to the expert, Ant manages to set his annoyance aside.
She remarked: “However, that animosity is momentary, and immediately after, Ant is his jovial self again with Dean, lowering his arms and even lacing them behind his back to create a more approachable body language.”
“It would appear that Ant is playful in his ribbing of the Radio 1 star, and he views Dean as entertaining, not annoying.”
*I’m A Celebrity airs every day at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.