Helen Flanagan lasted just seconds as she freaked out in the first Bush Tucker Trial on I’m A Celebrity.
The public voted the 22-year-old former Corrie actress to go head-to-head with MP Nadine Dorries in “Bug Burial” and she proved a real drama queen right from the off.
Her camp mates tried to give her encouragement before her encounter, but Helen spent her time trying to choose a closely fitting bra to prevent the bugs crawling on her. “I think I should put a really massive bra on so they’re never going to go anywhere near me,” she said.
She claimed: “I’m actually really excited. I really expected for me to get the challenge today anyway but I think it’s a really good chance for me to redeem myself because obviously I looked like such a pathetic wimp doing the whole height thing because I’ve got a real phobia of heights about them but I’m raring to go. I really want to prove myself and be strong on the is Trial and bring back the food.”
She continued: “I’d be so proud of myself if I can win this Trial because I don’t think I’ve won anything before and it would be a nice feeling. And I’m going to be a champion jungle warrior princess.”
Both celebrities then met hosts Ant and Dec in the Trials area for Bug Burial and asked the two why they thought that the public had voted for them. Nadine said that she thought that being chosen was a badge of honour. She said “I fully expected this because I’m an MP and MPs are a conduit for public anger so I kind of expected it.”
Helen said: “Obviously because I’m terrified of heights and because I acted like a pathetic wimp it was embarrassing . I kind of want to be a bit better in this.”
Ant and Dec explained the rules of the Trial to them. Nadine and Helen each had to lie for ten minutes in two underground crates that had lids bolted down on them. After ten minutes, an allen key would drop into the crate. Then it was a race to undo all three bolts before escaping from the crate and raising a flag. The first celebrity to do so would win dinner for their camp.
It was an all or nothing challenge – if one celebrity said ‘I’m A Celebrity . . .Get Me Out Of Here’, the other still had to carry on and complete the Trial to win the food. And of course, this being a Bush Tucker Trial, meant that they wouldn’t be alone in the crates as they would be joined by all sorts of jungle critters.
Helen said: “I even struggle with keys. Are you joking me? I’m absolutely petrified. Oh My God, do we have to do it now. Seriously? Can’t we just pretend?”
The two celebrities gingerly stepped into their respective crates, wearing goggles, shirts and shorts. The lids were bolted down, which immediately prompted Helen to say “I don’t like this. What’s that noise?”
Maggots were dumped into the crate through a hole in the wall and after seconds, Helen shouted I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here! and she was helped out of the crate.
After two minutes, 3000 cockroaches joined the maggots in Nadine’s crate. She complained that something was nipping her knee but she told Ant and Dec that she didn’t want to know what was in there with her. More maggots were dropped in and as she covered her face with her hand, she said “You’re going to bury me if you put any more in.”
Next, 5000 crickets joined Nadine and again she said that something was biting her as the insect crawled over her body. “I’m A Celebrity . . .Get Me Out Of Here” she shouted after four minutes.
She emerged from the crate as Helen starred at her incredulously and whilst Nadine stood in front of her covered in critters, said “I’ve got a twig in my hair.”
“Something was biting me and I thought it was a rat biting me and my fear is rats explained Nadine.
She said that she thought her camp would be fine” with her not winning dinner. Helen said that she thought her camp might be annoyed but said that she had tried.
And as the two celebrities left the area empty handed, Helen turned to Nadine and whispered “I want to go home.”
On returning to the camp the 22-year-old blurted out that neither she nor Nadine had won. Her camp mates hugged and supported her. “You’ve been crying” said Linda Robson, hugging the young actress.
Helen said: “Honestly guys, I swear I really did try. I did get inside it. She lasted about 2 minutes. I lasted about two seconds.”
“They drilled me in and they put something down and I thought it was a snake and I just couldn’t deal with it. In my imagination . . . It was a load of maggots that I could have dealt with but you don’t know what it is because it’s dark but it is upsetting me and I’m feeling humiliated.”
Charlie Brooks told her “You did your best” and predicted that Helen might be chosen again. “If you come back with no stars tomorrow, we’ll kick your arse.”
“But crying is making you look weak and I’m finding it hard to put a lid on that” said the actress.
Later David said “It’s not so disappointing. It’s like a kid who goes to sports day and they’re doing an event and they come third or something.”
And Charlie said “When she said she lasted 10 seconds, I was a bit like that is a bit pathetic.”
Later, Helen sobbed in the Bush Telegraph. “I think I’ll be the person who’ll cry the most in the show ever.” And she confessed “I’m really struggling. I’ve even been thinking of going because I just don’t know if I can hack it.”
