Professor Stephen Hawking contacted Ant and Dec after they caused controversy with a joke about the eminent scientist on I’m A Celebrity.

The presenting duo pretended to call the Professor on the ITV show, with Ant picking up the phone and being greeted by an electronic voice mimicking the 74-year-old.

They made the joke after Scarlett Moffatt – who went on to win the series – revealed that she tried to get in touch with the renowned physicist after coming up with her own time travel theory.

Professor Stephen Hawking
Professor Stephen Hawking (Joel Ryan/AP)

The quip sparked a backlash among some viewers.

But now Dec has told the Mirror: “We got an email from Stephen Hawking after that.

“He said he enjoyed her thoughts on the pyramids and enjoyed the sketch that we did in the studio. So that was a highlight.”

Ant added: “He didn’t believe (Scarlett’s theory) but he loved it!”