I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! camper Dean McCullough has opened up about his struggles with homelessness, admitting that he didn't recognize how severe it was at the time.
The 32-year-old joined the panel on Good Morning Britain this Wednesday (December 18) to shed light on the often unseen issue of homeless living situations and discuss what he endured during his younger years. Chatting with hosts Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway through a video call, Dean got candid about not having a permanent place to live as a youngster.
He shared: "From my own personal experience, we were homeless whenever I was younger. My mum was forced out of the home and I went with her, and we shared a bedroom and we shared a sofa."
Adding that life seemed normal despite the adversity, Dean said: "At the time, I was going to school, I was getting dressed up every day, I was fed well, and we were surprisingly quite happy and made the most of that situation and at the time, I wouldn't have called that homeless," reports the Mirror.
After joining forces with Centre Point, an organisation dedicated to eradicating youth homelessness, Dean realised the gravity of his past experiences.
Giving insight into his working relationship with the charity, he explained: "It wasn't until I started working with them - they didn't know about my homelessness story - and to be honest with you, I didn't understand the experience I had until we started working together."
Discussing his time living uncertainly in London, the radio presenter remarked: "I shared with them as well that whenever I was living in London, between performing contracts and other bits and bobs, I didn't have a fixed address. For quite a lot of my time living in London, I was moving from house to house."
He explained: "Some of those houses that I lived in were quite volatile, you know housemates of mine were using drugs and alcohol and I got caught up in that world as well. Sometimes I would go on Thursday and stay out all weekend going from party to party, friend's house to friend's house - just so I wouldn't be in that volatile environment."
Dean's compelling account resonated with viewers who took to the social media platform X to share their thoughts. A distressed viewer commented: "Homelessness was suspended during coronavirus we know all governments can end it if they wanted to."
Another chimed in: "So glad that guy Dean spoke about the 'hidden' homelessness of sofa surfing and temporary work contracts, there's not enough known about it. Well done to him also for preferring to stick to discussing causes and preventions of homelessness and not be led by TV hosts' agenda."
Good Morning Britain airs Mondays-Fridays from 6am on ITV1.
English (United States) ·