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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

ITV I'm A Celebrity South Africa slammed for Helen Flanagan treatment as they make same 'gutted' trial complaint

I'm A Celebrity... South Africa viewers were left unimpressed as Helen Flanagan made her return. The former Coronation Street actress faced a challenging time in the Australian jungle during her first stint on I'm A Celebrity back in 2012.

She entered the camp on day 1 as part of the Croc Creek team but it wasn't a fun couple of weeks for Helen as she was voted by the British public to take part in SEVEN bushtucker trials in a row. More than 10 years on, the now 32-year-old has made the decision to give the reality show another go.

This time, the famous faces have headed to the brand new setting of Kruger National Park – one of the largest game reserves in Africa located in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. And with no public vote, they will be competing against each other in a battle to become the first ever 'I'm A Celebrity Legend'.

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Helen, from Bury, is on the pre-recorded show to undergo more tough bushtucker trials alongside a number of fellow campmates including Bolton boxer Amir Khan, TV presenter Carol Vorderman and former royal butler Paul Burrell.

And the actress, who is famed for playing Rosie Webster in ITV's Corrie, left viewers seriously impressed with her first challenge in the opening episode on Monday night (April 24). It saw Helen leap across giant balls suspended in the air as part of the Newton's Cradle challenge to grab a star.

After letting campmates Phil Tufnell and Fatima Whitbread go first, she took a breath and gave the trial her best shot, despite not reaching the star at the end.

But I'm A Celebrity viewers were left unimpressed as they felt the show had been particularly harsh on Helen, Phil and Fatima. @GemKerrigan tweeted: "Hmm a bit unfair that trial - it was super hard in comparison to the others #ImACeleb." @CFCJaack wrote: "That last challenge was basically impossible #ImACeleb."

Helen during the trial (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

@jo_leeeee said: "Was the last challenge actually possible to complete lol #ImACele." @DylanQuinn_ commented: "That last challenge was too difficult compared to the others #ImACeleb." @HELEN315 added: "Helen, Phil and Fatama were so robbed that was impossible, so not fair #ImACeleb."

And a lot of viewers were making the same remark when it came to mum-of-three Helen, who was heard telling cricket star Phil and ex-javelin thrower Fatima that she was having a 'mind chat' as she reassured herself while suspended in the air: "You are safe. You are calm, you can do this. Wait for the wind to calm down and jump."

@HaskinsLii tweeted: "Well fair play to you Helen!!! #ImACeleb." @PeaksLfc said: "Fair play to Helen for doing that didn’t expect her too #ImACeleb." @dathundo commented: "Fair play to Helen and good calming technique counting , she may be showing a nice bit of personal growth there. #ImACele." @amybywaterr added: "Fair play Helen Flanagan for giving that ago. All these people slagging her off, I’d love to see them do it #ImACeleb."

But I'm A Celebrity fans also have another complaint about the trials - that they can't vote for who does them. @KatieWeasel tweeted: "What's the point of a 6 month old pre-recorded #ImACeleb, when viewers can't vote for Gillian McKeith to do all the trials?"

@chrisjlatimer said: "Gutted we don’t get to vote for trials I have a feeling who would win that vote #ImACeleb." @BrightonBren added: "Well with no public vote, hopefully we won't be bored by the same camp mate doing all the trials night after night, with nobody else getting a look in #ImACeleb."

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