Ant McPartlin joked about I’m A Celebrity female producers losing their virginity in a string of ‘inappropriate’ sexist comments during an online after-show programme, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
McPartlin, 49, who presents the Instagram show with his sidekick Declan Donnelly, repeatedly references the women’s looks, asks if they ‘had found a boyfriend yet’, and calls one of them ‘fit’. He also made suggestive remarks to them about sausages and cake toppings.
Women’s campaigners and MP Rosie Duffield last night criticised him for targeting women, saying he should be setting an example.
On Jungle Club, a private broadcast channel on Instagram, the Geordie duo chat without a script about that day’s I’m A Celebrity. In the 12 episodes, McPartlin has singled out the producers, aged 40 and 24, mentioning their looks or relationship status.
Two weeks ago, McPartlin tried to pull one on screen, saying: ‘She’s very pretty you know, but she refuses to be on camera.’
On Wednesday night, the former Britain’s Got Talent host said of the same producer, called Kat: ‘You can’t tell, but she’s fit. She’s fit and looking all right. She’s fit.’
Earlier, he joked that the other woman, Lola, could both ‘give it and take it’. Addressing the double meaning, he raised his eyebrows and said: ‘Oops, cheeky.’
The women’s sex lives have become a running joke after McPartlin noticed they were both wearing thumb rings.
McPartlin, 49, who presents the Instagram show with his sidekick Declan Donnelly , repeatedly references the women’s looks, asks if they ‘had found a boyfriend yet’, and calls one of them ‘fit’
The women’s sex lives have become a running joke after McPartlin noticed they were both wearing thumb rings
ANT McPartlin joked about I’m A Celebrity female producers losing their virginity in a string of ‘inappropriate’ sexist comments during an online after-show programme (Pictured alongside his co-host Declan Donnelley)
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He said: ‘Is that a thing that you wear a ring on your thumb when you’re single? And then when you get with a boy, you pop it off? Anyone who wants to date Lola, send some pictures of yourself.’
The host went on to refer to them as ‘virginity rings’ and last Wednesday, he said: ‘Lola…The thumb rings are gone – the virginity ring is gone. What’s going on there then? Are you having a nice time, yeah?’
His long-time co-host Donnelly, 49, cut in and said: ‘Let’s leave that. We’re getting into murky waters.’
On Thursday night’s episode, all the female producers put their thumbs out and McPartlin said: ‘Look at all those thumbs and thumb rings. They’re all single and they’re all virgins.’
On another episode of the show, which is produced by Mitre Studios and does not sit on an ITV platform, the presenters fed each other sausages but McPartlin addressed one of the women off camera and said: ‘Lola, would you like…’ He quickly turned to his TV partner and said: ‘No? Inappropriate?’ Dec agreed and warned: ‘HR is going to be here in a minute.’ To which McPartlin quipped: ‘Again!’
On an occasion when McPartlin had cupcake icing on his hand, he said: ‘Lola, would you like to lick that? She likes toppings. Do you like toppings: thumbs up or thumbs down?’ After Ms Brown reached in shot and put her thumb up, the father-of-one said: ‘See, I told you, she likes toppings, I’ll save it for you for later.’
Ms Duffield, who sits on the women and equalities committee, said: ‘Sexual harassment is sexual harassment. The power dynamic involves rich, powerful celebrities punching down on the younger people who cannot fight back.
It may have been ‘banter’ decades ago, but you do not have to intimidate or target a person, or make it sexualised.’
On Wednesday night, the former Britain’s Got Talent host said of the same producer, called Kat: ‘You can’t tell, but she’s fit. She’s fit and looking all right. She’s fit.’
On an occasion when McPartlin had cupcake icing on his hand, he said: ‘Lola, would you like to lick that? She likes toppings. Do you like toppings: thumbs up or thumbs down?’
A spokesman for McPartlin said that ‘much of the comedy programme’s content deliberately leans into Ant and Dec’s comedic friendship and working relationship with the crew.’
Women’s campaigners and MP Rosie Duffield last night criticised him for targeting women, saying he should be setting an example
Patsy Stevenson, a women’s rights campaigner, said: ‘These remarks reflect a culture of casual sexism that undermines women in the workplace. The comments about ‘licking toppings’ and asking for photos of potential suitors are particularly degrading and verge on harassment. For someone in Ant’s position, there is a responsibility to lead by example.’
A spokesman for McPartlin said: ‘The production team on Jungle Club have worked together for many years.
‘Much of the comedy programme’s content deliberately leans into Ant and Dec’s comedic friendship and working relationship with the crew.’
Additional reporting: Anna Mikhailova and Daisy Graham-Brown