Maura Higgins has confessed to what she termed an honest ‘accident’, further stoking the I’m A Celebrity’s camp tensions amidst a significant revamp.
The celebrities are set to experience a new jungle lifestyle, which was almost made more challenging due to Maura’s blunder.
All the campmates gathered at the trial area with hosts Ant and Dec in Thursday’s episode (November 28), as the outcome of the latest challenge would affect everyone. Radio 1 host Dean McCullough, McFly’s Danny Jones, and Coronation Street star Alan Halsall were selected by public vote for the most recent Bushtucker Trial, the Rank Bank.
Prior to this, the campmates were divided into teams. Ant and Dec clarified that Alan, Danny, and Dean would participate in four races to earn money for their team’s bank accounts, which would be used to buy essentials like showers, meals, and dunny usage.
The first-place winner would receive $300, second place $200, and third place $100. Each race had a three-minute time limit; failing to finish within this timeframe meant they would not add anything to their account, reports OK!.
The camp underwent a significant transformation following the trial that awarded credit rather than stars. New features included turnstiles for the dunny, shower, pool and bath, each costing $10 per use, and a vending wall that dispensed fresh filtered water and logs for the fire at the same price per item. Additionally, a treat machine was installed where campmates could purchase extra goodies for everyone.
Post-trial, Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse and Reverend Richard Coles returned to an unsettling discovery – the absence of the camp’s rice and beans supply, which they deduced had been mistakenly disposed of by Maura. Upon investigating the bins, Oti and Richard were able to recover the vital food items.
Maura later admitted in the Bush Telegraph, “I didn’t throw the rice and beans in the rubbish on purpose or anything, although that’s the place for them if I’m being honest! It was a complete accident.”
The incident comes in the wake of existing tension in camp, exacerbated by Dean’s attitude towards his duties. Radio DJ Melvin Odoom took to calling Dean ‘Houdini’ for his knack of disappearing when needed most.
As Melvin lugged yet another bucket of water around in Wednesday night’s episode (November 27), Danny inquired “Is Houdini with him?”, to which Jane Moore responded Dean was showering, prompting Melvin to quip, “Houdini does another trick again!”.
As Melvin persevered with the arduous task of carrying the hefty water containers, Jane spurred him on, remarking: “Come on Melvin, you’ve got to leave some for Dean to do!”. Meanwhile, ex-boxer Barry McGuigan couldn’t resist chiming in with a jest: “Don’t hold your breath!”.
I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX