I'm A Celeb fans accuse show of 'fix' as they spot Dean McCullough trial change

Fans of I’m A Celeb have taken to social media to express frustration, as they feel one contestant is being given an unfair advantage this season.

Many have accused show bosses of making their Bushtucker Trials easier to benefit Dean McCullough, who has repeatedly been sent to take on challenges by the public.

Dean has been selected for six trials because of his dramatic reactions to facing his fears in the jungle.

He initially struggled to collect stars, and earlier in the season went back to camp with only two.

However, in last night’s Jack and the Scream Stalk trial, the Radio One DJ managed to bring back an impressive 10 out of 12 stars.

While this would typically be celebrated, fans have criticised the simplicity of the game, branding the show a “fix”.

During the challenge Dean had to climb up a ‘beanstalk’, collecting points as he went along.

The catch is that the ladder he was climbing was kitted out with various ‘hell holes’, which is the I’m A Celeb term for little boxes with insects inside of them guarding the stars.

Dean had to touch ants, cockroaches, mealworms and spiders to collect his treasure – but fans were not satisfied with this.

One fan wrote: "This trial seems way too easy for Dean. They've done that on purpose."

Another fumed: “OMG How easy have they made that trial for Dean!!!! Absolutely sick of him!!!”

Others were even harsher in their critiques, with one tweeting: “If the trials are now this easy I think ITV should give it up. Far too easy these non-trials.”

Fans also pointed out that this easier trial contradicts a promise that was made to viewers at the start of this season.

“They said at the start of the series that there would be completely new and even more difficult tasks,” a viewer complained. “Yet, the tasks are easier than previous, just Dean making them look difficult.”

One angry fan accused the show of manipulating the trials to ensure Dean wouldn’t be voted for future challenges saying: “#ImACeleb How easy have the producers made this trial for Dean, all so he doesn't freak out and so someone else gets voted to do the next trial...”

This backlash comes despite Dean showing marked improvement in his performance during trials.

His BBC Radio One colleague Danni Diston recently defended him, insisting that he hasn’t been playing up his fear of creepy crawlies for the cameras.

“Maybe that’s giving him more adrenaline to get it done,” she said. “I think when you’ve done one trial, it’s hard, then when you do two you get used to it and three and four and so on.

“I think it helps when he’s got someone there to really cheer him on. He’s done so well when he’s been with Coleen and when he was with Danny.”