Richard has become the first person to be voted off the new series of Survivor UK in the Dominican Republic.
After a 21-year absence from UK screens, the iconic reality show returned with new host Joel Dommett, who split the 18 contestants into two tribes of nine - the blue 'La Nena' tribe and the orange 'Caleton' tribe.
© BBC
The tone was set from the off as La Nena won the very first challenge, earning themselves a host of basic supplies and essential items to build themselves a beach dwelling, as well as a flint to light an all-important fire.
Caleton, meanwhile, were left with nothing and failed to start a fire, or prepare themselves any food, as they put together some makeshift bedding on their beach.
The differing starts fed into the first immunity challenge of the competition, as the two tribes were each required to hold up nine barrels weighing more than 20kg each in 35-degree heat.
© BBC
Leilani of Caleton was the first person to drop out but managed to hand over the reins of her barrel to her teammates as the competition carried on towards the hour mark.
Eventually it was Richard who lost the competition for Caleton, losing his grip as he tried to keep up two barrels and ensuring that his tribe would be making their way to the tribal council.
Returning to their camp, the members of Caleton started breaking off into smaller groups as they strategised on how they would vote that night - with Leilani and Richard being the obvious candidates.
At tribal council, Leilani admitted to Joel that she was feeling vulnerable, saying: "I think it affected morale. It's everything you don't want in a team member and I couldn't believe that actually happened, because I'm normally a strong girl and mentally focused."
Richard also conceded that he was at fault, saying: "I'm not going to lie, I was fatigued and.. I just felt the barrel slip through the tips of my fingers. I feel crap about it."
When the vote came, it was almost unanimously for Richard as he took the fall for Caleton's loss. "Play a good game and make sure you beat the other tribe," he told his former tribemates before his torch was extinguished and he left the game.
"I think that someone in my tribe should have gone home, other than myself - absolutely it should have been Leilani or Shai," he said afterwards. "I'm absolutely gutted. Some people don't want to play the game against the strongest."
Survivor continues Sunday at 8pm on BBC One, when another contestant will be voted off.
Neil Wilkes
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