ITV SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters viewers left tearful over mention of late celeb

ITV audiences were touched during the premiere of SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters when a beloved late celebrity was mentioned.

The new reality series kicked off on Monday (14th July), with a group of seven celebrities, including Lenny Henry and Helen George, jetting off to The Bahamas for a daring shark diving adventure.

In the opening episode, the stars were informed they would be swimming with wild stingrays, which immediately sparked fear among some participants.

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Helen, known from Call the Midwife, turned to Lenny with concern, asking: "Are rays dangerous? Are you scared of rays? Are they a thing to be scared of? Can they kill you?"

Lenny Henry whispered to fellow contestant Ross Noble: "I'm just not going to talk about Steve Irwin at all," which caused Helen to suddenly worry and question: "Wait, hang on. Didn't Steve Irwin die of a ray sting?"

Danni Washington, the show's expert, stepped in to calm the celebrities, explaining that Steve Irwin's passing was a "freak accident" and aimed to alleviate their concerns about the upcoming swim.

Steve Irwin, affectionately known as The Crocodile Hunter, was an Australian wildlife expert and TV personality who rose to fame in the 1990s through his wildlife documentaries.

He tragically passed away in September 2006 at age 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef for a television segment, reports the Express.

An unexpected mention of the late TV legend in Monday's episode of SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters struck an emotional chord with many viewers as they reminisced about him.

One emotional ITV fan stated on social media: "I will never get over Steve Irwin's death. I still tear up when I watch him. #shark #celebrityinfestedwaters."

"'We're not going to talk about Steve Irwin' #Shark," quipped another, while a third expressed outrage, commenting: "I've turned it off how dare they mention Sir Steve Irwin like that."

The debut episode of SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters sparked mixed reactions, with some critics describing it as "unwatchable" and others hailing it as "amazing".

The programme, released during the 50th anniversary year of Jaws, intends to shift celebrities' perspectives on sharks and promote conservation by observing them in the wild.

The line-up boasts names such as Dougie Poynter, Ross Noble, Lucy Punch, Helen George, Lenny Henry, Rachel Riley and Ade Adepitan.

Celebrity Infested Waters on Mondays at 9pm on ITV1 or stream the full series on ITVX.