I’m A Celebrity returns with tears, puking stars and Ant and Dec’s hilarious banter as fans call it the best ever

I’M A Celebrity’s return was hailed the best ever tonight after an action packed opener with Jessica Plummer in tears, Jordan North puking and Ant and Dec leaving viewers in stitches with hilarious gags.

Filmed amid the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, Ant and Dec opened the 20th series, declaring: “It feels so good saying these magic words …

Ant and Dec returned to host I’m A Celeb from Wales tonight

“I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!”

The ten celebrities said goodbye to their plush pads and left their luxuries behind to spend up to three weeks taking on trials and sleeping in creepy Gwrych Castle.

And AJ Pritchard was the first campmate to strip off for a shower in a disgusting stained bath.

But perhaps the most emotional moment came when Jessica Plummer broke down in tears admitting she missed her daughter Noa after two weeks isolating alone before entering the castle.

And I’m A Celeb fans were left horrified as campmates tucked into rabbit after winning dinner in their first trial, The Gates Of Hell.

The stars were flown over Snowdonia in their own helicopters

AJ Pritchard holds on for dear life as the helicopter swoops over Snowdonia

Mo Farah, Shane Richie, Beverley Callard, AJ and Hollie Arnold meet for the first timeCredit: Rex Features

Shane Richie, Beverley Callard, AJ Pritchard, Hollie Arnold and Sir Mo Farah were the first stars to be seen on screen as they were flown over Snowdonia in helicopters before landing in North Wales.

Back on dry land, Beverley read out their first task, revealing the stars would need to collect their camp rucksacks which were hanging above them on a huge cliff.

Vernon Kay, Jessica Plummer, Jordan North, Giovanna Fletcher and Victoria Derbyshire arrived at the top of the cliff in jeeps where they met for the first time.

The two teams had to work together to retrieve their rucksacks

The stars were tasked with abseiling down the cliff

Any celebrity that failed to collect their ruck sack wouldn’t have it for the first night in camp, and Jordan was so nervous about the cliff drop that he was sick.

Giovanna was the first star to attempt the abseil with her partner Shane at the bottom of the crater and started to lower herself over the cliff but slipped.

The last to go was a terrified Jordan who was sick before he got over the edge.

Jordan was seen hunched over a bush as waves of vomit poured from his mouth.

The stars on the ground suit upCredit: Rex Features

AJ and Shane discuss tacticsCredit: Rex Features

Cliff hanger! Vernon Kay and Jessica Plummer help the stars belowCredit: Rex Features

The rucksacks were hanging on the cliff face

Jordan threw up just minutes into the show’s launch

Having secured their rucksacks the stars arrived at the castle for the first time and explored their new home before their first trial.

But as night fell Jessica was seen crying as she said she missed daughter Noa, and was comforted by her co-stars Beverley and Victoria, who hugged her and reassured it would be OK.

Soon Ant and Dec pulled up outside in a huge Rolls Royce and walked in to introduce themselves to the celebs – but Shane joked

Ant and Dec arrived in a Rolls Royce

I’m A Celebrity’s castle lit up at night

Dec said: “I can’t tell you how excited we are to see you all here together finally.  Welcome to the castle.”

Ant added: “Welcome to the show.  Things are going to be a bit different this year.  There’s no jungle obviously, there’s no dunny, there’s a privy and I can guarantee you there’s absolutely no chance of sunbathing.”

Dec continued: “Some things will stay exactly the same. Some things will be reassuringly familiar. So you will live on a diet of rice and beans and the fact that you’ll win trials to win food for the camp and that first trial will take place tonight.”

The ten celebrities were summoned to their first Trial – an epic and abrupt introduction to Castle life – The Gates To Hell. 

Fans said Vernon looked like Rambo as he entered the castleCredit: Rex Features

Beverley screamed with delight at her new homeCredit: Rex Features

The celebs explored the castle groundsCredit: Rex Features

Jessica Plummer was in tears as she missed her daughter NoaCredit: Rex Features

Behind the Gates were ten linked cages and each celebrity stood in a separate one.

The stars started in the first chamber and celebrities had to transport the stars along through the chambers either through mesh with their hands or with a magnet to the final gate. 

Any stars won would mean a meal for camp but if any celebrity shouted I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! one meal would be deducted from the total.  

Ant and Dec introduced the stars to their first trial The Gates Of Hell Credit: Rex Features

Beverley is checked for creepy crawliesCredit: Rex Features

Giovanna screamed ‘I’ve got bugs in my knickers’Credit: Rex Features

Shane was in the first cage and passed stars to Jessica who passed to Giovanna, then Vernon, AJ, Hollie, Beverley, Jordan, Victoria and finally Mo.

The celebrities worked hard to manoeuvre the stars across their respective gates, whilst cockroaches, crickets, mealworms and maggots rained down on them.

When they’d got back to camp, Beverly suggested that they went to one area to debug so they didn’t have critters in their living quarters.

AJ was the first star to try out the castle shower

Beverley got her go-stars to check her breasts for bugs

Shane and Jordan have been picked by the public to face the Viper Vault tomorrow night

Beverley said she could feel something crawling around her bra, with Victoria praising her “Magnificent breasts”.

Beverley replied: “Oh my God, they’re pushed up beyond belief”.

Camping down for the night, Vernon read out the celebrities menu, revealing their first dinner consisted of “rabbit” but Beverley cried: “I can’t eat bunny!

“When they said rabbit for dinner, I was like no, no not for me.”

The launch show ended with Ant and Dec revealing who was picked by the public to do the first trial.

They revealed Shane and Jordan will face the terrifying Viper Vault featuring a coffin filled with snakes tomorrow night.

New episodes of I’m A Celebrity…The Daily Drop hosted by Vick Hope will be on the ITV Hub from 6am daily.