I’m A Celebrity campmates are thought to have been doing their first challenge in the Welsh mountains, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.
Stars Mo Farah, Shane Richie and Beverley Callard were seen being whisked away by helicopter into Snowdonia for their first trial of the series before they were driven into Gwrych Castle by Land Rover on Friday night.
This year’s I’m A Celebrity has been relocated to Wales with ten celebrities set to face some of the show’s toughest challenge yet as they spend 20 days living in gruelling conditions.
EXCLUSIVE: I’m A Celebrity campmates are thought to have been doing their first challenge in the Welsh mountains, MailOnline can exclusively reveal (Mo Farah pictured)
Five of the show’s helicopters were seen circling over different spots as the stars took on separate challenges in two groups.
Celebrities including Radio 1 DJ Jordan North, 30, and Jessica Plumber, 28, looked terrified as they abseiled from a cliff in Anglesey.
It is thought Coronation Street legend Beverley Callard, 63. Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah, 37, Strictly star AJ Pritchard, 26, Paralympian Hollie Arnold, 26, and actor Shane Ritchie. 56, had to take on a different challenge in the mountains.
Scary: Stars including Shane Richie (left) and AJ Pritchard were seen being whisked away by helicopter into Snowdonia for their first trial of the series
Scary: Locals said stars including Beverley Callard (pictured) were taken up to the mountains before the trial before being driven to Gwrych Castle
One local said: ‘The helicopters were also seen flying above bleak mountains and hills but then they disappeared.
‘They were definitely doing something in the mountains and it is quite bleak up there.
‘However there are also several zip wire centres including on in a cave and another over an old slate mine which goes very fast and is terrifying.’
Terrified! Meanwhile the other five celebrities took on a wholly different task, as they abseiled down a cliffside in Anglesey
The celebrities then took ten minutes to drive in to haunted 200-year-old Gwrych Castle in Abergele just after 8.30pm on Friday night.
There is tight security around the castle with dozens of guards keeping watch.
Cerys Watson, 51, said: ‘Anyone approaching the castle or walking their dog near the gold course is challenged by people in high-vis jackets.
‘There are also security guards patrolling at night. There are rumours some have night-vision goggles and are ex-military. It is all very cloak and dagger.’
It is thought celebrities including Vernon had been staying at different cottages on Anglesey before they entered the camp.
Worries: Jessica Plummer, Giovanna Fletcher, Victoria Derbyshire, Vernon Kay and Jordan North faced the scary task of abseiling down the perilously perched cliff
Other celebrities including Beverley and Shane have been staying in houses at the Coed Coch Estate near Rhyl.
Abergele’s mayor Alan Hunter told MailOnline: ‘The seem to have very tight security at the castle which you would expect.
‘There’s lot of rumours where Ant and Dec are staying but no-one knows for sure.
‘The golf course by the castle has been closed to non-members but Ant and Dec have been given life membership so they can have a round there if they want.
‘This will be great for the town. We’ve had lots of fans turning up to take pictures of the castle and we’ll have lots of tourism in the future off the back of it.
No entry! Security is tight around the castle while it is being used as the base for the new series
Several huge marquees have been setup in the castle’s grounds for ITV’s show’s filming needs, and on Saturday there was a steady stream of vans dropping off equipment and bringing in supplies.
Excited locals in Abergele have been gearing up for the show, with pubs decorating their windows in I’m a Celebrity posters.
The Pen-y-Bont Inn have cardboard cut-outs of Ant and Dec and its own version of the Bushtucker Trials with a locust burger and buffalo warm rice.
Many believe Gwrych Castle is haunted by the so-called White Lady who is thought to be previous owner, Winifred, the Countess of Dundonald, who died in 1924.
Some claim to have seen her at the castle windows and it is thought she is angry with her husband, who she cut off in her will, before he bought back the castle and stripped it of her possessions and sell its contents.
Locals believe she also fell out with the castle’s caretaker Bill Price, who would lock up the library at night only to find it opened the next morning.
I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! begins on Sunday at 9pm on ITV.
Back soon: I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! begins on Sunday at 9pm on ITV