BLOOD SUCKERS; Tara gets to grips with snake ...but can't handle leeches.

Byline: FRANCES TRAYNOR

YOU'D think Tara Palmer Tomkinson would be used to fending off slimy creatures - after all, she does attend a lot of showbiz parties.

The It girl managed to conquer her fear of snakes, thanks to a pre-show hypnosis session with Paul McKenna.

But perhaps she should have invested in another visit because toff tottie Tara lost the plot when she was confronted with a tiny leech.

She ran off squealing like a stuck pig when boxer Nigel Benn - co- survivor on I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here - gave chase with one on his finger.

In less than an hour with McKenna, Tara went from a squirming, squealing wreck in front of a tiny grass snake to calmly draping an enormous Burmese python around her neck.

But that didn't prepare her for a bucket-full of wriggling leeches as she and her fellow celebs trained for the charity version of Survivor.

She'd better get used to the company of creepy-crawly freaks - she's sharing a camp with the likes of Tony Blackburn and Christine Hamilton.

And come this morning, she may be a lot more familiar with those leeches, along with maggots, worms, beetles and assorted other beasties.

Last night, Tara was hot favourite to "win" the first viewers' phone vote and be forced to take a maggot shower so the rest of the group can eat.

With fellow contestants Christine, Tony, Uri Geller, Rhona Cameron, Nell McAndrew and Darren Day, Tara has been abandoned in the rainforest of Queensland, Australia.

Cut off from civilisation - sadly not for good - with only basic rations of rice and water, the cosseted celebs are at the mercy of the jungle - and viewers.

The audience at home decide on their fate - whether or not they eat, how long they stay on the show, which one should be ritually sacrificed to feed the others. Actually, we made that last bit up but we live in hope.

For the next two weeks, viewers will choose a celeb to carry out a task live on each night's show - probably involving insects or snakes - to determine whether the group eats or goes hungry.

Last night's shower of insects was only the first of the tasks.

Next week, viewers will be asked to evict the weakest person each night until a king or queen of the celebrity jungle emerges.

Sunday night's opening show saw hosts Ant and Dec unveiling the open- air camp in one of the world's most inhospitable environments, where temperatures can reach a 37C.

It is home to deadly spiders the size of dinner plates and more than 35 types of snake, most of them poisonous.

Then there's the open-air toilet - which has no screen to spare the blushes of the image-conscious celebs.

Having enjoyed a relaxing few days in a luxury Queensland hotel, the group were kitted out for their jungle ordeal before the training started.

It was here the men were sorted from the boys - or was it the women who were sorted from the big babies?

While the four women completed their orienteering task without any fuss, the men bungled it.

After going in completely the wrong direction, the other lads lost psychic Uri - didn't see that coming, did he?

Later, big girls' blouses Uri and Tony refused to gut and cook fish because they're vegetarian - Uri ate grass instead.

Perhaps someone should remind Uri of the laws of the jungle - it's kill or be killed. LIFE OF A LEECH DESCRIPTION: Blood-sucking parasite

HABITAT: Rural. Usually seen crawling around near sources of water

ACTIVITY: Attaches itself to another creature and clings on, feeding on its victim's blood or other bodily fluids

WEAKNESS: Sensitive to sunlight. Tends to live in dark places

USES: Still used occasionally in medicine to remove excess blood and aid circulation

LIFE OF A TARA DESCRIPTION: Money-grabbing parasite

HABITAT: City-dweller, mainly London. Once a common site crawling in the gutter outside trendy clubs. Now less visible

ACTIVITY: Attaches herself to media victim and clings on - to fading fame. Feeds on publicity until she has outstayed her welcome

WEAKNESS: Sensitive to sunlight. Tends to wear designer shades

USES: Er...none CAST-OFF CASTAWAYS Uri Geller Got lost during training. Says he won't use his "powers" as it "wouldn't be fair".

Rhona Cameron Less than happy with her ill-fitting outfit:"They think I'm enormous. I'm not - I'm small." Nigel Benn Already losing patience with wimp Tony Blackburn and know-it- all Uri Geller. Nell McAndrew Good humoured but terrified at the idea of a night-time trip to the open-air loo. Darren Day Made little impact on his jungle mates or the audience. Is afraid of looking like a wimp. Christine Hamilton Relentlessly cheery but said she'll have a "hysterical what-not" if things get too tough. Tony Blackburn Composure, and his rug, slipping. Took a mirror: "Can't face not seeing myself!"