AFTER almost 30 years in television, I’m a Celebrity hosts Ant and Dec are rarely lost for words, but now for the first time, the duo have found themselves on the wrong end of the joke.
The pair appeared together on ITV’s I’m a Celeb spin off show, Unpacked, where host Joel Dommett introduced a pre-recorded phoner from a viewer called Julia, who mocked their diminutive status.
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Ant and Dec look somewhat bewildered as the call is played out in the studioCredit: ITV
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But then the caller made a derogatory comment about their height on live TVCredit: ITV
The recorded call was played out in the studio for Ant who stands at 5.8 and Dec who is 5’6, respectively. “It’s Julia from Pocklington, I am loving the show it’s the best series ever.
“If Ant and Dec ever fancy a night off, I’d like to nominate my husband Mark and his cousin Brian, as stand ins, because they are both Geordies with a great sense of humour and their quick witted conversations are amazing.
“The only thing is, they are both over 6 ft tall and only one of them supports Newcastle united.”
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Cutting in quickly with their signature banter, Ant, 49, quipped: “Well they couldn’t wear any of our clothes because they’re too tall.” And Dec, 49, added: “I’ll leave my boots just in case they fit.”
But it seems that the caller’s comments have angered certain viewers, who feel that the feature was humiliating for Ant and Dec and generally un necessary.
A slew of TV fans vented their frustration on social media site Reddit, with one person describing the callers comments as, ‘bodyshaming.’
One viewer said: “You can tell Ant and Dec didn’t like the bodyshaming they received on the ITV2 aftershow phone call, mentioning their heights for no real reason. Sure, they both poke fun at themselves, but that’s very different from someone coming at you and trying to patronise you for something you can’t change about yourself.
You could see the flash on their faces of cringe and hurt before they realised they had to laugh it off because they were on national TV.”
Then another person questioned the caller’s motivation, they said: “A viewer rang in and started saying lots of compliments then ended with ‘but my husband is 6ft and taller than you both!’ which is just completely bizarre. It’s like she was negging Ant and Dec.”
Meanwhile another viewer questioned the point behind giving the clip airtime in the first place.
They said: “It’s not about having thick skins. If someone came up to you and started laughing saying Jesus Christ your nose is f****** huge. Would you not go ‘well that was a bit rude, mean and strange?’
The issue is not you having thin skin, it’s why they felt the need to be mean in the first place.”
And another person agreed that it was a futile exercise.
“Agree on this. Take the p*** out of anything but not something you can’t change.”
The family friendly TV hosts have been under a bit of pressure this week, after the show was hit by furious Ofcom complaints over a joke they made involving Reverend Richard Coles, 62, and the Church of England.
Host Dec had a laugh when he described Richard and Maura Higgin’s eating challenge as ‘unholy’ after which Ant quipped: “Bum-holey.”
Then the mischievous pair were seen making prayer poses to a background of choral music, while they talked about the Reverend during the live shows.
The Reverend who is openly gay, spent 10 years as a Roman Catholic, but converted to Anlicanism in 2001.
He was appointed vicar at St Mary the Virgin in Northamptonshire in 2011, but retired in 2022.
Indeed Dec, whose late brother, Father Dermott Donnelly, was a Roman Catholic priest, made a joke about the Reverend saying: “It’s the start of a new day, not and the first to wake up was Reverend Richard.”
Ant then jumped in: “And though the night before there had been darkness and a plague of insects had been visited upon him.
But he had receiveth a small bounty that did taste of cheese. And now, praise be, he did rise again.”
The exchange took place as choral music played in the background.
Dec then said: “So basically you are saying Richard had a fright, got some crisps, then had a sleep and got out of bed?”
To which Ant replied: “Yes my child.”
But, after receiving widespread criticism, it seems that the Geordie duo may have to source other jokes to lift the nations spirits.
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The pair seemed a little taken aback by the viewers suggestionCredit: ITV
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Neither were thrilled at the viewer drawing attention to their heightCredit: ITV
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The cheeky chappy’s came under fire from ofcom this week due to comments they made about the ReverendCredit: Eroteme
