I’m A Celebrity 2020: Shane Richie is booted from the castle

Shane Richie has been booted from Gwrych Castle – leaving Vernon Kay, Giovanna Fletcher, and Jordan North as this year’s three I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! finalists.

The trio are now in the running to be the first ever King or Queen of the castle, after the series moved to Wales amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Shane was voted off by the public on Thursday night, 24 hours before the grand finale on Friday. 

He’s out! Shane Richie has been booted from Gwrych Castle, narrowly missing out on a place in the I’m A Celeb 2020 final

But the ex-EastEnders actor felt happy with how far he’d come, pleased to make it to the iconic Celebrity Cyclone.

He was seen taking part in it with the other three in the episode, ahead of his eviction. 

Shane said: ‘It’s mixed emotions. You know, getting so far… We were all really glad to do the Celebrity Cyclone last night, being in the fantastic four.

‘We felt we’d achieved… I think whenever anyone comes on this show, they feel the final is the Cyclone, and anything after that is a bonus.’

Who will win? The show will reach its conclusion on Friday night, with the final episode airing on ITV at 9PM

Who will win? The show will reach its conclusion on Friday night, with the final episode airing on ITV at 9PM

Shane said: 'It’s mixed emotions. You know, getting so far… We were all really glad to do the Celebrity Cyclone last night, being in the fantastic four'

Shane said: ‘It’s mixed emotions. You know, getting so far… We were all really glad to do the Celebrity Cyclone last night, being in the fantastic four’

Time to say goodbye: Shane was voted off by the public, bidding farewell to the castle and his pals

Time to say goodbye: Shane was voted off by the public, bidding farewell to the castle and his pals

And sharing his tips for any celebrities that might want to take on the challenge of the series next year, Shane said the most important thing is making sure you ’embrace’ camp life.

He said: ‘Anyone who comes on this show next year, you’ve got to embrace it. You can’t be… it’s no good trying to be on your own somewhere. You’ve got to be an open book.

‘You can’t fake it here, maybe for a couple of days, but after that you can’t.’

He also named author and podcast host Giovanna as the campmate he’d most like to see win the series.

He gawn! Sharing his tips for any celebrities that might want to take on the challenge of the series next year, Shane said the most important thing is making sure you 'embrace' camp life

He gawn! Sharing his tips for any celebrities that might want to take on the challenge of the series next year, Shane said the most important thing is making sure you 'embrace' camp life

He gawn! Sharing his tips for any celebrities that might want to take on the challenge of the series next year, Shane said the most important thing is making sure you ’embrace’ camp life

Success! Vernon expertly conquered the Celebrity Cyclone trial on Thursday's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Success! Vernon expertly conquered the Celebrity Cyclone trial on Thursday’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

He admitted: ‘I’d love to see Mamma Gi win. She’s been so strong all the way through. I think Jordan’s a strong contender… listen, it could be anyone, couldn’t it? But Mamma Gi has been there from the beginning and I adore her.’

During the Celebrity Cyclone – usually taken on in the Australian heat, but this year relocated to the Welsh wilds, the celebs were hit by wind, water, balls and paint all while trying to hold onto their huge stars and reach a marker across the course which would ensure their evening meal.

Although going last, it was Vernon who appeared to get the hang of the trial the quickest with him gliding along the unpredictable terrain.

Winners! All four of the campmates managed to make it to the end of the assault course and win their dinner

Winners! All four of the campmates managed to make it to the end of the assault course and win their dinner

Like a pro! The TV presenter, 46, sprinted up the course with a yellow star tucked under his arm

Like a pro! The TV presenter, 46, sprinted up the course with a yellow star tucked under his arm

The TV presenter, 46, sprinted through the set and even managed to hold steady when a dump of water, paint and balls lavished down on the four celebs.

However he was pushed back to the start alongside his campmates after a shock second dumping, leaving just seconds on the clock to make it back to the markers. 

The exciting trial started on a high after Giovanna read a scroll out to announcing that they would all be taking part in Celebrity Cyclone.

All four of the remaining contestants started to cheer, with Jordan saying: ‘The Cyclone, this is the one that we all want to do.’

Working all levels: In a more flooded section of the course Vernon glided along on his belly

Working all levels: In a more flooded section of the course Vernon glided along on his belly

They all then got into their costumes and announced what their ‘cyclone names’ would be.

Shane stood up and said I’m Sir Twice A Knight and Giovanna decided to call herself Lady Hugger. Jordan revealed his name would be Lord of the North and Vernon went with Sir Lanky Lot.    

The celebrities then arrived at the task, all dressed up in their medieval knight tunics, and were greeted by hosts Ant & Dec.  

Skills: Vernon manages to hang on at the end but the unexpected dumping of water sees his three campmates washed to the foot of the slope

Skills: Vernon manages to hang on at the end but the unexpected dumping of water sees his three campmates washed to the foot of the slope 

Dec revealed this was the 400th Trial in the history of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, making the occasion even more momentous.

Ant & Dec explained that the celebrities all had to get their yellow stars onto the markers and keep them there for the end of the trial.  

Giovanna went first but struggled to get to her marker as water, balls, wind and paint hit her. She kept falling over and slipping back but eventually she managed to do it.

Next up was actor Shane who almost immediately was hit by balls and wind but after some perseverance he also managed to get to his marker.

Last lady: Giovanna went first on the Celebrity Cyclone and managed to reach her marker

Last lady: Giovanna went first on the Celebrity Cyclone and managed to reach her marker

Watch out! She managed to hold two stars while avoiding a huge red ball

Watch out! She managed to hold two stars while avoiding a huge red ball

Nailed it: The author kept the foam stars close as she tried to avoid the wind, paint and water

Nailed it: The author kept the foam stars close as she tried to avoid the wind, paint and water

Jordan then took to the assault course but he kept slipping back to the start and struggled to move forwards.

Trying to encourage him along, Shane and Giovanna shouted praise to him but the wind, paint and balls were proving too much for him.

Eventually he had a final burst of energy and made it to his marker which prompted Vernon to sprint up Celebrity Cyclone to the final marker.

However just as he got there a dump of water, paint and balls lavished down on them. Surprisingly Vernon managed to keep his spot but all the others slipped back to the beginning.

Difficult: Shane also worked hard to battle wind, rain and flying balls to get his star across the course

Difficult: Shane also worked hard to battle wind, rain and flying balls to get his star across the course

Disgusting: Paint was also thrown upon the celebs as they attempted to move

Disgusting: Paint was also thrown upon the celebs as they attempted to move

Come on boys! Jordan and Vernon shared a laugh as they took on the Celebrity Cyclone trial

Come on boys! Jordan and Vernon shared a laugh as they took on the Celebrity Cyclone trial

Not giving up: Jordan went third but kept slipping back to the start and struggled to move forwards before getting into the swing of things

Not giving up: Jordan went third but kept slipping back to the start and struggled to move forwards before getting into the swing of things

Vernon’s luck didn’t last too long as an unexpected second dump of water and balls hit the campmates just when they thought they were safe.

All four of them then slipped back to the start, with just seconds left on the clock to make it back to their markers.

The added drama seemed to spur them on and all four of the final quartet managed to reach their markers just in time, meaning they all won stars for the camp.  

After escaping the Cyclone, Shane joked that he couldn’t feel his testicles and Jordan joked he thought he’d lost his.

On the move: Jordan eventually managed to reach his marker and complete the trial

On the move: Jordan eventually managed to reach his marker and complete the trial

Hard work: The Celebrity Cyclone is notoriously tough to win (pictured Jordan and Vernon)

Hard work: The Celebrity Cyclone is notoriously tough to win (pictured Jordan and Vernon)

Tough: Every year the four finalists take part in the aqua challenge, with contestants having to fight their way up a slippery slope with stars, while being soaked by hoses and wind machine

Tough: Every year the four finalists take part in the aqua challenge, with contestants having to fight their way up a slippery slope with stars, while being soaked by hoses and wind machine

Team: The celebs  got to adopt a nickname for the event - with Jordan going with Lord of the North, Shane declaring himself as Sir Twice A Knight, Giovanna opting for Lady Hugger, and Vernon calling himself Sir Lanky Lot

Team: The celebs  got to adopt a nickname for the event – with Jordan going with Lord of the North, Shane declaring himself as Sir Twice A Knight, Giovanna opting for Lady Hugger, and Vernon calling himself Sir Lanky Lot

Vernon added: ‘It was awesome, it was absolutely brilliant, everything we expected it to be and more.’  

As a reward for their toils the camp was given had partridge for dinner.

Vernon said: ‘We’re in December. What joy to get a partridge in a pear tree.’

Giovanna in the Telegraph said: ‘Cooking for four people feels like being at home. It’s more intimate.’

While Vernon added to his campmates: ‘If I leave tomorrow there’s no way I’ll be disappointed.’ 

Misbehaving elves: Vernon and Jordan sought revenge on Kiosk Cledwyn by stealing his bell after failing the Castle Coin challenge earlier in the episode

Misbehaving elves: Vernon and Jordan sought revenge on Kiosk Cledwyn by stealing his bell after failing the Castle Coin challenge earlier in the episode

Vernon and Jordan sought revenge on Kiosk Cledwyn by stealing his bell after failing the Castle Coin challenge earlier in the episode.

The pair, who were dressed as elves, had to translate phone orders to source the right phones on the shelves and then wrap the toys up to gain gold which could be exchanged for sweet treats.  

If it was wrong, it would get returned.

Racing through the challenge, Jordan said to a delighted Vernon: ‘I don’t think I’m scared of Christmas, one thing I’m not scared of.’

In trouble! They sought revenge on Kiosk Cledwyn by stealing his bell after failing the Castle Coin challenge

In trouble! They sought revenge on Kiosk Cledwyn by stealing his bell after failing the Castle Coin challenge

Task: The pair, who were dressed as elves, had to translate phone orders to source the right phones on the shelves and then wrap the toys up to gain the gold

Task: The pair, who were dressed as elves, had to translate phone orders to source the right phones on the shelves and then wrap the toys up to gain the gold

In his element: Racing through the challenge, Jordan said to a delighted Vernon: 'I don't think I'm scared of Christmas, one thing I'm not scared of'

In his element: Racing through the challenge, Jordan said to a delighted Vernon: ‘I don’t think I’m scared of Christmas, one thing I’m not scared of’

‘We were absolutely nailing it.’ 

Vernon replied: ‘We’re the best wrappers since… Eminem and Dr Dre got together.’

Once completed, the duo sang Jingle Bells as they made their way to see Kiosk Cledwyn for the final with a sack full of gold in their hands.

They were offered either chocolate orange or mince pies as a treat if the camp got the correct answer to Cledwyn’s question.

Confident: Vernon replied: 'We're the best wrappers since... Eminem and Dr Dre got together'

Confident: Vernon replied: ‘We’re the best wrappers since… Eminem and Dr Dre got together’

Mince pies please! Once completed, the duo sang Jingle Bells as they made their way to see Kiosk Cledwyn for the final with a sack full of gold in their hands

Mince pies please! Once completed, the duo sang Jingle Bells as they made their way to see Kiosk Cledwyn for the final with a sack full of gold in their hands

Sweet treat: Vernon and Jordan said they wanted to go for mince pies, but the camp got the answer to the question wrong and so Cledwyn ate them himself

Sweet treat: Vernon and Jordan said they wanted to go for mince pies, but the camp got the answer to the question wrong and so Cledwyn ate them himself

Naughty! Seeking revenge, Vernon stole Cledwyn's bell and ran back to camp with Jordan

Naughty! Seeking revenge, Vernon stole Cledwyn’s bell and ran back to camp with Jordan

Feeling in the Christmas spirit, Vernon and Jordan said they wanted to go for mince pies. 

Back at camp, the celebrities were asked what percentage of Brits have said they would try and sneak a peek at their Christmas presents. 

They were given the options 14% or 22% and chose the latter, prompting Cledwyn to shut up shop.  

Seeking revenge, Vernon stole Cledwyn’s bell and ran back to camp with Jordan, while the unimpressed shop owner ate the camp’s mince pies following the theft. 

I’m A Celebrity continues on Friday on ITV at 9pm for the grand finale.