Kilroy-Silk impresses jungle-mates

ROBERT KILROY-SILK earned respect among his fellow I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! competitors after enduring a work-out session involving bugs, rats and snakes.

The 66-year-old MEP and former chatshow host earned maximum points and a meal for the jungle camp-mates when he won the ITV1 show’s Live Trial on Thursday night.

Kilroy-Silk had been the subject of whisperings earlier in the week that he may be a “villain”.

But his latest achievement turned the tide among the camp in favour of the politician, with Star Trek actor George Takei telling Esther Rantzen: “I’m impressed with Robert. It is a mental thing... He’s made of special stuff.”

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova also praised his efforts, saying: “This is tough. He’s my hero.”

Meanwhile, the celebrities learned that they will have to compete with each other in bush battles to save themselves from eviction over the next few days.

In the first battle — called Tactics — ex-Dollar singer David Van Day, former EastEnder Joe Swash and Navratilova had to refill tubes of liquid while the tap was on without losing too much liquid.

Swash won the task and with it immunity from the first eviction, while Van Day came last, which means he will automatically be up for the public vote.

The tennis champion finished second.