I FELT physically sick as I watched Maura Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles devour course after course of unholy items on I’m A Celebrity.
Pig’s eyes, cockroaches, vomit fruit and sheep’s brain, among other things that should never enter a human’s mouth, were on the menu in their first Bushtucker Trial.
At one point, I questioned whether this was good telly or just torture. But I couldn’t stop watching, so I suppose you have your answer.
Anyway, after managing to keep the sick down, I felt sympathy for these reality stars – having attempted (and failed) a trial in the jungle myself a couple of weeks ago.
Trying to eat a two-inch piece of bull’s penis is something I never want to do again, and I would rather like to steer clear of a pool of fish guts like the one I was dropped into as punishment for flunking, too.
But I do understand why the other campmates currently in the jungle are keen to get stuck into a Bushtucker Trial, whichever one it may be.
Because there is no better way to ramp up support from the public than to show your mettle when faced with frightening tasks, such as being trapped in a coffin surrounded by snakes.
Take Coleen Rooney, for example, who I reckon will come into her own now millions have seen her covered in cockroaches and rats just to win a meal for camp, when she could be lounging around her £20million mansion instead.
Worse than anything the ITV critters team can offer is the relentless screaming of Dean McCullough, which calm Coleen also dealt with comfortably during their Absolute Carnage challenge.
I want to see more of that rather than hear a radio DJ wailing, which is what we’re going to keep getting as long as the public keeps voting for Dean to do a trial (six and counting).
The other celebs will be desperate to get their chance to impress like Coleen, aka Wagatha Christie, did.
The Sun’s Jane Moore is keen to do one. Oti Mabuse or Melvin Odoom would give anything their best shot, and all three could do with borrowing some of Dean’s airtime.
And I don’t think we’d see any of them quit a trial like we have with Dean – who I actually have a soft spot for.
As entertaining as he is, there are a load of other celebs in camp who desperately need a chance to shine before the vote-offs begin.
Otherwise they’ll be leaving camp quicker than Dean can say, “I’m a celebrity, get me out of here”.
MAURA Higgins is a late entry to I'm A Celeb 2024. Yet who is joining her?
2019 Love Island star Maura, 33, will be a late entry to the jungle line-up.
She will head into the I’m A Celeb camp, along with the Reverend Richard Coles, 62.
The duo will join the likes of Coleen Rooney, Barry McGuigan and Danny Jones in Ant and Dec’s jungle camp a week into this year’s star-spangled series.
Yet initially the duo will have their own private base – and a secret mission – before heading into the main compound Down Under.
Maura has already described the jungle as “hell.”
Meanwhile Richard, who has starred on Strictly, has confessed his biggest “fear.”
