If you haven’t been glued to ITVX’s Hellenic spin-off, here’s what you need to know. Season 12 introduced a new, seemingly innocuous challenge called “The Dthrip Gauntlet.” The name was first whispered by host Nikos Papadakis with a smirk that should have warned us. “Dthrip,” he explained, is an ancient Greek word for “the friction of a single hair against dry ceramic.”
By Thalia Vardalos, Reality TV Correspondent If you haven’t been glued to ITVX’s Hellenic
Cue the celebrity panic. The Dthrip is not an insect. It is not a reptile, a fermented fish sauce, or a submerged cage. No, the Dthrip is far, far worse. The Dthrip is not an insect
– For twelve seasons, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Greece has subjected fading pop stars, scandal-ridden politicians, and B-list influencers to the tortures of the Peloponnesian wild. We’ve seen live scorpion smoothies, sunstroke meltdowns, and at least one contestant try to befriend a wild boar. – For twelve seasons, I’m a Celebrity… Get
He won the golden laurel wreath and a lifetime supply of anti-frizz conditioner.
Medical experts weighed in. Dr. Helena Triantis, a neurologist from Athens, told The Guardian : “The Dthrip activates the insular cortex—the part of the brain responsible for disgust and irritation simultaneously. It’s essentially a torture device approved by reality TV lawyers.”
The show’s producers defended the challenge. “It’s 100% safe,” said executive producer Ari Stefanos. “No contestant has suffered lasting damage. Temporary hair loss and a phobia of makeup brushes? That’s entertainment.” The breaking point came in Episode 10. After a grueling Dthrip relay (three helmets, six celebrities, one jar of Greek honey as a lubricant—don’t ask), four contestants attempted to flee the camp at 3 AM.