Richie has forced The Bachelor contestants to get down and dirty (and potentially unhygienic) in some unusual food-related date activities during Thursday’s episode.

First, Richie and one of his favourites, Alex, had a sultry chocolate bath together, while later in the episode things degenerated during an all-in haggis-eating contest.

This tomfoolery transpired before intruder Sarah was sent home by Richie, after she couldn’t find the words to answer Richie’s questions during ‘alone time’.

But first, to Richie’s Augustus Gloop moment.

Richie granted Alex her second solo date. She was the first contestant to have two solo dates.

The pair took a Ferrari to an undisclosed location where they were met by a chocolatier.

What followed was perhaps one of the most indulgent moments of television some could ever hope to see.

First they made each other a chocolate block. During this, the pair rubbed chocolate all over each other, leaving the room with chocolate handprints on their bodies.

Then things escalated. Richie and Alex stepped into a bath filled with liquid chocolate. They laughed, they hugged, they kissed and they played, all the while sitting in and being covered by the chocolate.

Watch it:

Richie gave Alex a rose, in what was arguably the most comfortable he has ever been with a contestant.

“We just fit together so well,” Richie said. “When I’m around her, it’s like tunnel vision. All I see is this incredible, beautiful woman.”

Alex said: “Things are extremely electric when Richie and I are together. I have never felt chemistry like this with someone before.”

When she returned to the mansion and told the ladies of her date, they became understandably worried.

“Wow,” Nikki said. “I’m getting all sorts of pictures in my head right now. I think it’s really kind of hit home for some of us, you know, how romantic that date would have been and it’s quite raw for some of the girls.” 

Sarah really struggled when she got rare solo time with Richie.

Two episodes ago, Nikki moved into favouritism for some when she was whisked away for a solo kiss with Richie.

Some of the contestants thought this was telling, given it happened during the cocktail party.

However Alex’s chocolate date and her “touchy feely” showing on a previous group date has seen her shoot back into favouritism.

Richie shirks haggis test, despite ‘being Scottish’

Richie (allegedly) has Scottish roots. Maybe he does, but he didn’t show it. He lost a Scottish-themed challenge against the ladies (who were split into two teams).

Most spectacularly, he absolutely collapsed when it came to the haggis-eating portion of the competition (haggis is a traditional Scottish food, usually offal, spices and oats stuffed into an animal stomach and cooked).

He barely took a bite of it. It was pretty cowardly. Meantime, the team, led by the eating efforts of mostly Rachel and a little bit of Alex, demolished the haggis comfortably.

Rachael probably wishes she'd gone on the chocolate date instead. #TheBachelorAU pic.twitter.com/48HgguNyc3

— The Bachelor Australia 🌹 (@TheBachelorAU) August 25, 2016