At the end I see many stars! They are the nastiest exams on German television: they have had to for around 20 years Celebrities in the jungle camp in Australia put water spiders in their mouths, kangaroo testicles or shimmy underwater through prickly and slippery animals. But how bad are these exams really?
Model Tessa Bergmeier had to pass the “Hor-Rohr” test on Saturday, an underground canal system with underwater chambers and fearsome animals. She found three stars, unscrewed them and brought them outside. What she didn’t know: I, the BILD reporter, did exactly this test in front of her – and got nine stars!
Of all people Jungle test that I never wanted to do … I found it to tremble on TV in previous years. I cling to my hat all the tighter when the production employee tells me: Your test today will be the “Hor-Rohr”! This can only be a nightmare.
Tessa Bergmeier reached her limits during the test, she “didn’t want to hurt the animals”
★★★
I climb down the shaft. Suddenly I’m up to my chin in water. Around me in the broth: giant crabs, toads, snakes, cockroaches, maggots! A voice from the director says: “You need tools to be able to unscrew the stars underwater. But they are in holes opposite you that are covered with membranes. Reach in!”
Brave: Here BILD reporter John Puthenpurackal climbs down into the shaft
I do that and the first thing I feel is the head of an animal – there is a snake in it! I pull out my hand in a flash. Suddenly someone pours maggots and worms over my head. Everything itches, the adrenaline is pumping, but it doesn’t help. helmet on and through!
The shafts are narrow, there are only short breather breaks
The shafts are narrow. My heart is beating. My glasses fog up, I can hardly see anything. The light is glaring. I push my body through the next membrane and suddenly find myself in a chamber full of giant crabs. There is hardly any space between the water and the ceiling, I have to breathe heavily. It’s a good thing that I intuitively skipped my breakfast beforehand and went to the gym…
Snake in sight! BILD reporter John has to dive through shafts, the water is up to his chin
I dive down, try to loosen the screws on the stars, but the first key doesn’t fit. That’s impossible! I have to show up My breathing is heavy, but I stay focused. “Continue,” says a voice from the director.
I’m standing in the next chamber, it’s full of little crocodiles. A snake’s tongue comes towards me, like in the “Jungle Book”. What happens if she bites me? Another snake hides the star I need. I gently push her aside. Rarely have I been so close to the wilderness.
How broke do you have to be to do this to yourself!
Collect stars before the crocodile comes
In the narrow shafts, you sometimes only get on all fours
Then comes the boss – the big alligator. From the water’s surface, he looks me straight in the eyes. What a moment! I dive but see nothing. Where are the stars, dammit? Panic! Luckily my time is up then. I’m climbing up! light, fresh air. Tessa got three stars. I nine
An alligator is waiting for the BILD reporter in a chamber
The stars must be solved underwater with tools without being bitten
Later, a production worker tells me: “We didn’t think you’d stay in there that long, so we thought we’d put the big alligator in the water too!” He laughs. I think: very funny! But that’s the jungle camp – biting!
BILD reporter John unscrews nine stars
On Sunday evening, the celebrities have to fight for food at “I’m a star – get me out of here!”. My reward was bratwurst, chicken and vegetables. Rarely have I looked forward to food so much.
