Following the day’s trial, which yielded no stars and left the camp without provisions for dinner, the group deliberated over their next steps for the evening. However, the recent implementation of camp costs appeared to have deeply affected Oti Mabuse, 34, as she confided in her fellow campmates about feeling emotionally low and experiencing homesickness.
Mabuse candidly shared her emotional state, acknowledging the absence of her familial support. She remarked, “You know they say you have a dip, and I don’t think I’ve had one until now.” She elaborated on the challenges of lacking her usual support systems, adding, “You don’t have your normal support, you don’t have your spiritual support, you don’t have your emotional support, you don’t have your physical… It’s the mental and physical support for me, which for me I was just like, ‘Wow, ok, none of my family’s around.’”
In response, her campmates rallied to offer comfort. Tulisa provided reassurance, remarking, “Your jungle family’s here though.”
In a candid moment shared in the Bush Telegraph, an emotional Oti Mabuse reflected on her challenges in the camp, stating, “I just have to remind myself why I’m here, I just have to push and dig deep. I’m here for my daughter, and I have to be strong. It’s just exhausting sometimes to be strong.”
Meanwhile, the competition intensified as Dean McCullough, Alan Halsall, and Danny Jones were revealed to have received the most public votes, earning them a place in the upcoming Bushtucker Trial, The Rank Bank. Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly informed the trio that their fellow campmates would also be attending as spectators.
The announcement sparked speculation within the camp, with Coleen Rooney hypothesizing, “I think we might be put into teams, so team Alan, team Danny, and team Dean.” Her prediction proved accurate when the celebrities arrived at the Bushtucker Trial area, where Ant and Dec unveiled a new twist: “Jungle life is about to get very expensive.”
The hosts elaborated, “Everyday essentials in camp are going to cost you money, and to pay for them you’ll have to use your jungle cash card. You’re going to be split into three teams.” They further explained that Dean, Alan, and Danny would serve as the initial members of their respective teams, each represented by a different colored cash card.
The remaining campmates were seated on the bleachers and instructed to select cash cards randomly from a bag, with the color of the card determining their team assignments. The pink team consisted of Dean, Jane, Coleen, and Melvin, while Alan, Tulisa, Richard, and Barry formed the blue team. Danny, Maura, Oti, and GK Barry made up the orange team.
Once divided into their respective teams, the campmates were informed of their roles as custodians of their team’s finances. Each team was assigned a bank account and a cash card, which would be required to purchase daily essentials and food for their dinners. However, spending could only commence after money had been earned, and the responsibility for securing initial funds fell to Dean, Alan, and Danny, who competed in the first trial, The Rank Bank.
Ant and Dec explained the rules: the trial would consist of four races, each offering monetary rewards for their team’s bank account—$300 for first place, $200 for second, and $100 for third. Each race had a three-minute time limit, with failure to complete the task within the timeframe resulting in no earnings.
The first race required the contestants to empty a deposit box containing raw pig testicles using only their mouths. In a closely contested race, Danny narrowly edged out Alan to secure first place and $300 for Team Orange, with Alan earning $200 for Team Blue. Dean was unable to complete the task within the time limit, leaving Team Pink with $0.
The second race presented Dean with a challenge involving his nemesis—fish guts. The contestants were tasked with retrieving three coins from a deposit box filled with fish guts, again using only their mouths. Alan triumphed, securing first place, while Danny and Dean competed for second place.
