HOSTS IN HOT WATER I’m A Celebrity presenters Ant and Dec spark outrage after labelling Australians ‘uncouth layabouts who rarely wash’

JUNGLE hosts Ant and Dec were embroiled in a bizarre row after labelling Australians “a group of uncouth layabouts who rarely wash.”

The popular hosting duo made the comments when comparing the role of jungle president to Aussie prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s job.

High-profile Australians have criticised Ant and Dec for comments

Talking about Larry Lamb, 69, being replaced by Scarlett Moffatt, 26, show host Declan Donnelly, 41, said: “As you know this job is about ruling over a group of uncouth layabouts who rarely wash and can barely light a fire.”

His co-host Ant McPartlin, also 41, then said: “Basically it’s like being the Australian prime minister!”

High-profile Australian figures were queuing up to criticise the pair.

Senator James McGrath, 42, assistant minister to PM Turnbull and a former advisor to Boris Johnson, said: “Maybe they’re looking in the mirror. That’s a bit rich coming from a pair of TV presenters. I wonder what was the last book they read that didn’t need crayons was.”

REUTERS

PM Malcolm Turnbull was target of pair’s remarks

Liberal MP George Christensen, 38, said the pair were “daft” to make the comments.

He said: “A joke is a joke, but it’s a bit daft to be in our country and be making remarks like that.

“There’s a long-standing joke in Australia about the Brits not washing. The story goes that you don’t need to shower over there because it’s so cold. Here in Australia we shower twice a day because it’s that bloody hot.”

Veteran broadcaster and entertainer Roland Rocchiccioli, 69, called on the pair to apologise.

He said: “It was such a silly comment to make. I think it is disrespectful, and I thought it’s ill-bred. I would never go to England and make a comment like that.

TWITTER

Senator James McGrath, former adviser to BoJo, hit back at the Geordie duo

I’m A Celebrity duo Ant and Dec with some of their best jungle banter

“It’s a silly, silly vapid comment — them being a smart a**e. He should say sorry and admit it was a stupid comment to make.”

But Queensland MP Warren Entsch, 66, said it was said “in jest”.

REUTERS

Number of politicians have come to the aid of Australian PM Turnbull

He said: “Australia can be quite ruthless when it comes to the Poms. I suspect this was done in jest. I think the world is getting far too serious. You have to expect that from time to time others will reciprocate. There’s good to see there’s a bit of humour left in the world.”

An ITV spokesman declined to comment but a show source said: “The comment was made in jest to the Australian crew in a lighthearted tone that viewers would recognise as being a long established part of the past 15 years of IAC and was delivered in that spirit.”