Ant and Dec Finally Reveal What Really Happens After I’m A Celebrity’s Eating Trials

Ant and Dec have finally spilled the truth about what goes on once the cameras stop rolling during I’m A Celebrity’s notoriously stomach-churning Bushtucker eating trials — and the reality is just as revolting as fans have long suspected. Since the show debuted in 2002, viewers have watched celebrities force down everything from crocodile penis to kangaroo anus, plus the infamous Witchetty grubs. As the 25th season launches, contestants Angry Ginge and Ruby Wax were immediately thrown into the deep end, retching their way through dishes featuring crocodile anus and a bull’s penis in an effort to win something even remotely edible for their hungry campmates.

Ant and Dec Respond to Fans’ Questions About the Aftermath

As the latest scenes aired, viewers took to social media to express their shock over how severe this year’s first eating challenge appeared. One fan, reacting to Ruby and Angry Ginge’s ordeal, asked on X whether contestants are ever sick once the trials end. Much to everyone’s surprise, Ant McPartlin himself jumped in to give a brutally honest answer.

Using the duo’s shared X account, he replied: “They are sick on the way back to camp most of the time.” According to former contestants interviewed over the years (BBC News), nausea during and after the trials is not only common but expected, especially when the food includes raw offal, fermented animal parts, or insects served alive.

And the audience definitely isn’t exaggerating when they say these scenes look worse than usual. Some viewers argued the reactions may be dramatic, while others said the eating challenge is “the one trial I’d hate the most.” Even The Guardian once described the Bushtucker eating trial as “a strange blend of horror, comedy, and sheer human endurance” (The Guardian).

When a Past Contestant Was Rushed to Hospital

While most contestants survive the ordeal with little more than nausea, one viewer reminded the internet of a year when things got significantly more serious. They mentioned comedian Freddie Starr, who famously took part in one of the show’s most intense eating trials.

The fan asked: “Does anyone remember Freddie Starr doing the eating challenge? Didn’t he end up in hospital?!”

Their memory was correct. Freddie Starr was rushed to hospital with suspected food poisoning shortly after completing the trial (Daily Mail). The incident occurred roughly two hours after he ate a selection of extreme dishes that included fermented eggs, mice tails, pig anus, bugs, and even cooked camel toe. Although doctors were unable to determine the precise cause of his sudden illness, medics believed it was linked to the combination of unusual foods consumed during the challenge. His dramatic exit from camp became one of the most talked-about moments in the show’s history.

Reports at the time also noted that ITV tightened certain hygiene and monitoring procedures afterward, although the network maintained that the food served in trials meets health and safety standards (BBC News).

Angry Ginge and Ruby Wax Tackle the Trial With Shockingly Strong Performances

Ant’s behind-the-scenes revelation surfaced just as Angry Ginge and Ruby Wax powered through their first Bushtucker Trial of the season. Together, they were presented with a menu of dishes comically named after celebrities — a tradition the show has embraced for years.

One of the standout horrors was “Benedict Bum-berbatch,” a dish consisting of crocodile anus. Ruby then faced the even more daunting “Knob Beckett,” a bull’s penis adorned with a sparkler. Despite gagging and visibly trembling at points, both contestants delivered a surprisingly strong performance.

“I can’t believe what we’ve just done,” Ginge said afterward, still looking pale and shaken. But their determination paid off. The duo successfully secured 10 stars for their camp, meaning their fellow celebrities would finally enjoy a proper meal after days of rationing. Ruby, who previously completed major challenges in episodes one and two, is already being praised by fans as one of the surprise standouts of the season (The Independent).

This early triumph has boosted their standing with viewers, who seem increasingly impressed by their grit. If the first week is any indication, the Bushtucker trials may only get more intense — and thanks to Ant and Dec’s candid insight, fans now know the chaos doesn’t stop when the cameras do.