WHEN ITV bosses said they were not going to hold back with the trials this year, I was more than happy to take their word for it.
But they insisted on providing me with cold, wet proof, literally.
So I find myself balanced gingerly over a murky pool of putrid water, trying to catch a falling star as it plummets down a tube above my head amid a mix of slime and fish guts.
I can hear the gloopy brew sloshing down the tube and immediately begin to gag.
A big mistake as when the first load splatters down over my head, some of the mix goes into my mouth.
A second wave of gloop swiftly follows and I utterly fail to catch the star.
The trial team then trigger the mechanic that sends me plunging into the pool full of stewing guts.
The shock of a cold plunge pool is bad enough, never mind then having to fight your way through a layer of fleshy fish meat and sludge to break out to the surface of the water.
Safety officer Jeremy tells me they prepare the vile mix from freshly defrosted fish, but right now this is more cordon bleurgh than fine dining.
At least a warm, hot shower and clean clothes await for me, but campmates only have the jungle pond and a bar of soap to clean off the stench.
It will be a while before I can stomach any kind of sushi, I’d say.
