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'I'm A Celebrity' viewers declare Cyclone challenge the 'highlight of the series'

Screengrab of Vernon Kay (ITV)
Screengrab of Vernon Kay (ITV)

I’m A Celebrity viewers were gripped as the campers slipped and skidded their way down a water slide while being pelted with obstacles in the long-awaited Cyclone challenge.

Shane Richie and co went into their final stretch on the show on a high as they took on the Cyclone trial in Thursday night’s instalment.

The challenge is a much-loved part of the ITV programme when it is Down Under and fans were desperately hoping it would still take place at Wales’ Gwrych Castle.

They were in luck, as show bosses pulled out all the stops to make sure the final four contestants – Richie, Giovanna Fletcher, Vernon Kay and Jordan North – could give it a bash.

Watch: Shane Richie leaves I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

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The challenge sees the contestants trying to make their way along a huge slip ‘n’ slide in a bid to get their giant yellow stars to set markers. While they are doing so, they are bombarded with obstacles such as paint and balls and buffeted back by a wind machine and torrents of water.

The campers cheered when they heard they would be taking part in Celebrity Cyclone – which presenters Ant and Dec revealed was the 400th trial in the history of the show - and came up with “cyclone names” as they got into their superhero-style costumes.

Lady Hugger – aka Fletcher – went first and really struggled to get to her marker, repeatedly falling over and slipping back.

Her fellow campers could barely control their giggles as the squealing star slid backwards along the plastic sheet, before hunkering down on the ground clutching her stars protectively.

EastEnders actor Richie, who called himself I’m Sir Twice A Knight, fared a little better and made it to his marker without too much trouble despite being hit hard by balls and wind. However, radio DJ North – who dubbed himself Lord of the North - had an absolute nightmare and for a while struggled to go forwards at all.

When he finally made it, presenter Vernon Kay (aka Sir Lanky Lot) launched straight into a fast run to his marker as the others cheered.

But then a fresh dump of water and balls cascaded down and all the other celebrities slipped back to the start as Ant and Dec roared with laughter.

With the clock ticking the contestants knew they had just seconds to get back to their spots and, shrieking with the effort, they just scraped it.

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Richie said afterwards that the chaotic challenge had been “a right laugh”, although he joked that he could no longer feel his testicles.

Kay said it was an “awesome” experience. “It was absolutely brilliant, everything we expected it to be and more,” he gushed.

Fans thoroughly enjoyed watching the hilarious trial, with many saying it was the high point of the series.

“Laughed, howled, laughed and howled again! Superb Cyclone!” said one fan on Twitter.

“The Cyclone is always the highlight of every #ImACeleb and this one hasn't disappointed me at all this year, just brilliant!” another person posted.

“The Celebrity Cyclone is the highlight of whole series,” said another.

The finale of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! airs on ITV on Friday.

Watch: Two more stars eliminated from I’m A Celebrity