The backlash against The One Show appearance by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly has spiralled into full-blown drama — with viewers not just mocking, but tearing into the duo over what many are calling a “painfully obvious” and “distracting” transformation.
What should have been a routine promotional stop for I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! quickly turned into a social media pile-on, as fans zeroed in on one glaring detail: their hair.
“HORRIFIC” AND “IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE”
Almost instantly after the episode aired, viewers flooded X with brutal reactions. The criticism wasn’t subtle — it was savage.
One viewer fumed:
“This is unbearable. I can’t even focus on what they’re saying — the hair is THAT bad.”
Another mocked:
“Who signed off on this? It looks like they’ve both dipped their heads in the same pot of shoe polish.”
And perhaps the harshest jab came from a self-proclaimed hair professional:
“As a hairdresser, I’m telling you — this is horrific. Flat, artificial, and completely the wrong tone. It’s ageing them, not helping them.”
The pair gave some I’m A Celebrity spoilers (Credit: BBC)
BACKSTAGE WHISPERS AND “IMAGE PANIC”
Behind the scenes, insiders suggest this isn’t just a harmless style choice — but part of a bigger anxiety about image.
A TV insider claimed:
“There’s always pressure with shows like I’m A Celebrity. It’s high-profile, global, and very visual. There’s a real obsession with looking ‘camera ready’ — sometimes it goes too far.”
Another source added fuel to the fire:
“People backstage noticed it immediately. There were definitely raised eyebrows — but no one said anything on set.”
FANS SAY IT’S “DISTRACTING FROM THE SHOW”
Ironically, while Ant accidentally teased explosive drama — even hinting at fights in the upcoming series — viewers barely cared.
Instead, timelines were dominated by comments like:
“There’s supposed to be drama in the jungle, but the real drama is on their heads.”
And:
“They’re legends, but this is a rare miss. Just go natural — this isn’t fooling anyone.”
Fans noticed a change in Ant and Dec’s hair (Credit: BBC)
“THEY LOOK LIKE CARICATURES OF THEMSELVES”
Some fans went even further, suggesting the makeover risked damaging their image:
“They don’t look like Ant and Dec anymore — they look like wax figures of themselves.”
“It’s giving midlife crisis, not prime-time TV icons.”
STILL TV ROYALTY — BUT UNDER FIRE
Despite the backlash, Ant and Dec remain two of Britain’s most beloved presenters. But this moment proves even TV royalty isn’t immune to scrutiny — especially in the age of instant online reactions.
Whether they address the criticism or quietly ditch the dye remains to be seen. One thing’s certain though:
what was meant to be a simple TV appearance has turned into an unexpectedly explosive talking point.
