When the celebrities first found out that they were to be joined by a newcomer their first concern was that they would end up with a tetchy grumpy sod who would spoil the mood of the camp.

How pleased they were to see Dean Gaffney!

“I don’t know where to go or what to do,� he told them all.

Lauren told the Bush Telegraph: “He was so shocked. He didn’t know what day it was when he arrived.�

Dean was quick to point out that he’d won nine stars and as soon as he’d uttered those words, the other campers stepped forward to help out, Lauren offering him shampoo and a shower, while Phina and Jan asked the others who the hell their new campmate was.

“Nine stars!� a delighted Myleene shouted in the Bush Telegraph. “Did I not say to you that whoever comes in, if they want to win David’s favour, come in with a few stars? David has given Dean his towel!! That speaks volumes.�

Scott reflected that Dean was “nervous and cute� and that all the celebrities were pleased to welcome someone so nice and genuine into their camp.

“It’s got nothing to do with the stars that’s made us accept him,â€? he explained. “It’s just purely the fact that he seems a really genuine guy and that’s what the group likes.â€?

No doubt thrilled that she was going to get a good portion of food that night, Phina helped Dean to wash maggots from his hair, shampooed him down and then later washed his filthy pants clean in the river!

“Everyone genuinely has been really, really nice and looking after me. Phina bathed me and actually shampooed my hair – the last person who did that was my mum.�

A hungry Phina didn’t just stop at just washing his hair.

“I wouldn’t know who he is from a hole in the wall,� Phina explained. “But he is a human being and he earned me my dinner so that least thing that I could do is wash his knickers. It was my pleasure.�

Courtesy Of ITV

Anyone watching the live Bushtucker trial on I’m A Celebrity last night will have seen newcomer Dean Gaffney scoop an amazing 9 stars!

Dean braved baby alligators, rats and cockroaches to secure nine stars. He later admitted to Ant and Dec that he had vomited in a bowl of the appropriately titled ‘vomit fruit’ whilst trying to pick up a star with his face.

Name: Dean Gaffney

Age: 28

Celebrity Supporters: Calum Best, Richard Blackwood, Gary Lucy

Fears and Phobias: Creepy-crawlies

Special Skills: Holding conversation

It’s been three years since Dean Gaffney left his role as Robbie Jackson in EastEnders, but he is fondly remembered by many as the genial street-cleaner with a soft spot for his dog, Alsatian ‘Wellard’.

For 28-year-old Dean, journeying into the Australian rainforest will be taking him outside of his comfort zone.

“If I go outside the M25 I get a nosebleed,� jokes Dean. “The only type of camp I did when I was younger was a ‘father and son’ camp and it didn’t go too well. I’m just trying to prove to myself and my peers that I can last in the Australian rainforest.�

Dean, who has been a big fan of the show and is a good mate of last-year’s third-place celebrity Sid Owen, reveals that he hopes to surprise viewers with what he’s really like.

“The fact is I’m not saying I’m Brad Pitt. I’m not saying I’m Robert De Niro in the acting stakes. But people do automatically think, when my name gets mentioned, ‘Isn’t he the one who used to hang around with Jordan? Isn’t he the one who was so different to the character he played in EastEnders.’

“I think it would be nice to show people that actually that’s not me. The white van man out there thinks Dean Gaffney is a cokehead who parties every night with Page 3 models and generally doesn’t have a job and wants to be famous.

“It couldn’t be farther from the truth. I’ve never taken a drug in my life. I don’t want to be famous. I want to be successful in the career that I’ve taken, which is acting.

“Being in a show like EastEnders for 10 years, I’m not craving the admiration. I’ve had it and it will never go because I’ll always be recognised for EastEnders.�

Despite living near to nature himself, Dean admits he’s not a huge fan of creepy-crawlies: “Where we live in Surrey, we back onto a huge lake and we get loads of creepy-crawlies coming from the lake into the house.

“Even something as silly as a daddy long-legs, it should be easy especially as I’m a father, but I have to call a neighbour from a few doors away to come and get rid of it.

“When people who know me find out I’m going into the jungle, they’ll go ‘What the hell are you doing? You can’t do this’.â€?

However, Dean is prepared to give his best shot to every task presented to him: “I don’t want to let them down. I don’t want people to starve.�

Talking about the celebrities already resident in the jungle, Dean says that as a big Neighbours fan he’s looking forward to meeting Jason Donovan.

“When I was growing up I bought my first ever girlfriend a vinyl Jason Donovan record, so he’s a good reason behind me getting my first ever girlfriend.�

Courtesy Of ITV