CHANNEL 4's Rise and Fall set the bar for shock TV high early in the series when contestants had to eat dog food for cash.

But last night participants were again put through the grinder - leaving many viewers furious.

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The cast of Grafters - who endure lives of misery in the basement - were made to handle hundreds of live cockroaches.

Meanwhile, the Rulers in the Rise and Fall penthouse, who stand to benefit from the money they raised, watched on.

Contestants were left screaming as the insects surged into the room - with their challenge to get a certain number of them back into a see-through box.

Many Channel 4 viewers felt the same way, with one tweeting: "Omg my worst nightmare!"

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Others were more worried for the animals, who were scooped up with kitchen utensils, carried, or even thrown, while many others scuttled across the floor while the contestants ran about.

One viewer wrote: "So many roaches being crushed & killed for the sake of entertainment."

Another said: "Cruelty to animals in the name of entertainment. Shame on you."

A third said: "why are reality shows still using animals for entertainment I don’t care if it’s a snail or a cockroach it’s still a living being that doesn’t deserve being chucked into a room of people for entertainment."

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Several pointed out the similarities between the challenge and the Bushtucker Trials of the jungle with one branding it "I'm a Celeb indoors".

Rise and Fall's 'grafters' were also challenged to tackle snails, with locusts and maggots also available to be unleashed.

However, while they found the snails easy to return to their box, they didn't get enough cockroaches to pass that 'work shift', meaning less money in the jackpot.

Last month, the cast of the show, which is fronted by Greg James, were challenged to clear plates of dog food.

Builder Jack and care home worker Connor both struggled to keep the doggy dinners down.

One viewer said: "This pet food challenge may just be the singular grimmest thing I’ve ever seen on TV."

Rise And Fall returns to Channel 4 tonight at 10pm

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