I'm A Celebrity's Skye Wheatley praised for surprise reaction to 'insane' challenge

The influencer took part in what's often described as the hardest trial of the season.

I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! fans have applauded Skye Wheatley for the surprising way she handled herself in the dreaded ‘Viper Room’ challenge during Sunday night’s episode.

The influencer and former Big Brother star, who was bitten by a snake during the first episode, was voted by viewers to participate in the infamous trial where she had to lie in an underground chamber filled with “hundreds of snakes”.

I'm A Celebrity hosts Robert Irwin and Julia Morris / Skye Wheatley covered by snakes.
I'm A Celebrity’s Skye Wheatley took part in the ‘Viper Room’ challenge during Sunday night’s episode. Photos: Channel 10

Skye immediately teared up when she arrived at the site of what host Robert Irwin described as “the most infamous and feared trial on I’m A Celebrity”.

“This trial is claustrophobic, it’s confronting, and it is very frightening,” he said.

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The challenge required Skye to stay inside the chamber for 12 minutes to win 12 stars for the camp while she also answered a series of questions about her co-stars to keep the lights on inside the box.

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The mother-of-two continued to cry as she stepped inside the chamber and the rangers closed the door, however, she closed her eyes and managed to stay calm as the snakes were dropped inside.

At the halfway mark, Robert encouraged her to open her eyes and admire the “incredible spectacle”, admitting that he was “so jealous” of her situation.

“It is pretty cool actually,” she remarked.

I’m A Celebrity's Skye Wheatley covered by snakes.
Skye later admitted she ‘loved’ the experience. Photo: Channel 10

Upon leaving the chamber, Skye confessed that she “loved” the experience and felt much better when she opened her eyes.

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“I felt like at that point we were comfortable in there together and I was one with the snakes and I was feeling really good energy,” she remarked. “It was really scary when I could hear them hiss for the first time, but I kind of got used to that.”

Her performance in the challenge was vastly different to previous contestants who have taken on The Viper Room, including Laurina Fleure, Ash Pollard, Tziporah Malkah, Yvie Jones, Perez Hilton, Grant Denyer, Dylan Lewis, Domenica Calarco and Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson.

Anthony Mundine also took part in the terrifying trial alongside Danny Green in 2018 and famously quit the show just a few hours later.

'Skye deserves to win'

Following the episode, fans took to social media to praise Skye’s bravery and her growth throughout the series.

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“Crazy how calm she seemed the whole time, Skye handed it really well, so proud of her,” one person wrote. “Hats off to Robert also for explaining things in her earpiece and calming her through it. He was good at talking through it with her but still so impressive on her part, she did amazing!”

“OMG Skye was an outstanding competitor in this harrowing challenge,” another added, while a third said, “I feel like Skye deserves to win, she’s done majority of the hardest trials”.

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“Well done Skye, that was bloody amazing. Full respect,” someone else shared. “You were so calm and brave. I'm guessing that you have gained a lot of admiration from this and so well deserved. Bravo.”

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“That was insane… Skye what a champion!” a different user replied, followed by one fan who commented, “Huge admiration for you Skye, you’re a shining light, your character is really showing through, kind, loving, strong, funny, keep going, you deserve to win”.

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