CELEBS THROWN TO THE SHARKS; JUNGLE STARS TOLD TO SWIM IN TREACHEROUS WATERS.

Byline: Mark McGivern

TWO terrified stars were forced to take a dip in sharkinfested waters last night - as the first challenge of I'm A celebrity was sprung a day early.

The 11 contestants were duped into boarding a yacht for a photo-shoot - oblivious to their real fate.

Hosts Ant and Dec revealed the cruel twist then ordered them to nominate one woman and one man to swim to a desert island for a Bushtucker Trial.

The chosen pair were then forced to spend the night together on the isle in a challenge to be screened tomorrow during the series' first show on ITV.

Their fellow celebs relaxed in a hotel for their last night of freedom before being sent into the jungle.

Executive producer Chris Bogden said: "We've had to increase the safety equipment in order for this challenge to go ahead. We upped the sonar surveillance on the boat and made sure there are shark nets surrounding the island - but the celebrities don't know that. Great white sharks have been spotted in the area recently and even the locals have steered clear of the ocean."

Before boarding the boat, TV design guru Justin Ryan revealed his nerves. He said: "I've been calm all morning - but all of a sudden I'm in a state of terrification."

Conditions in the celebrity camp are as squalid as ever with record levels of rats, snakes and creepy crawlies slithering through the celebrities' new jungle home.

Medic Bob McCarron said: "There are more snakes than ever this year. There are 13 species of snake found living in the jungle camp, of which seven are classified as venomous - and five are deadly.

"Why a celebrity hasn't been bitten yet by a snake, I have no idea. The rough-scaled snake has enough venom to kill 100 people and we've had many recent sightings.

"Deadly brown snakes are our biggest threat - and they're getting closer to camp. But we're fully prepared for any snake encounters. We have a stock of anti-venom on site and there are hospital facilities nearby."

He added: "We also have more funnel web spiders than ever before. They're the world's most dangerous spiders and we find them in camp all the time. Then there are the bull ants, scorpions, millipedes and giant centipedes, which can give a nasty bite."

Gruesome

Producers also revealed the Bushtucker Trials will be as gruesome as ever.

Chris said: "We've got loads of shocks in store for the celebrities. The trials are bigger and better than ever - and there are some great new twists to old favourites."

The celebrity contestants are petrified about what lies ahead.

Bob said: "Three of the girls in particular are terrified. One had to get medication.

"She was shaking and having an anxiety attack, so I gave her medication to help her sleep. There were more than a few tears during our chats."

This year's celebrity contestants are Scots pair Colin and Justin, ex-EastEnder Lucy Benjamin, former page 3 girl Sam Fox, Strictly Come Dancing's Camilla Dallerup, Hollywood actor George Hamilton, TV chef Gino D'Acampo, Hollyoaks actor Stuart Manning, former Mis-teeq singer Sabrina Washington, snooker legend JimmyWhite and How Clean IsYour House's Kim Woodburn.

TV hosts Ant and Dec met them all for the first time yesterday - and they gave them all the thumbs up.

Dec said: "We think it's a really good line-up this year. And there are more than a few surprises in store for the celebrities this series.

"We've been in Australia since last weekend and we've been getting ourselves familiar with how the series is going to run this year.

"The camp has been inhabited over the last few days by a group of stand-in contestants and it's been pretty eventful.

"We're raring to go now - and we just can't wait for the show to start. It's going to be a lot of fun."

The Geordie stars may be huge names at home but they admitted their fame has yet to spread Down Under.

They revealed they took a beating at golf from two middle-aged Australians who had no idea who they were.

Ant said: "They threw down a golfing challenge to us.What did we have to fear from a portly 55-yearold called Phil and a 66-yearold retired businessman called Gary?"

Dec added: "We thought it was going to be a walk in the park but they kicked our asses and showed us a thing or two."

CAMP'S PERFECT PLACE FOR SWINGERS

THE jungle camp has a "love swing" on the spot where Jordan and Peter declared their devotion to each other in 2004.

Show chiefs hope it'll be the perfect place for romance to blossom among the celebrities.

Jordan herself is expected to arrive in the jungle next week.

Producer Marty Benson revealed: "It's an extra area away from camp - and we're hoping for lots of gossiping and canoodling."

The bench has already seen some action after sparks started to fly between two stand-ins during the show's runthroughs earlier this week. Benson said: "Two guinea pigs flirted with each other during the dry run and they were always wandering down to the love swing to have private chats.

"It's a special spot because it's the exact place where Jordan and Peter first revealed their true feelings for each other.

"It's also where Peter sang Insania for the first time."

The wooden two-seater will provide the perfect place for the show's singletons - former Hollyoaks star Stuart Manning and ex-Misteeq singer Sabrina Washington. But it's not the only new addition to the camp. A battered caravan has been added next to the jungle hammocks.

It has two comfy beds and, for the first time in the history of I'm A Celebrity, a mirror for the celebs to check themselves out.

The jungle jail, alias "the cage", is also returning.

Benson added: "If someone is naughty, we'll put them in the jail or we might use it as an incentive for the campers to win a breakfast treat by sending someone in there for the night.

"There is a pipe connected to the cage where rats can enter and scare any celebrity who dares to sleep inside."

CAPTION(S):

LOVE BLOOMS: Jordan and Peter HOLIDAY SNAP: Ant and Dec with baby croc in camp BUSH BUDDIES: George, Camilla, Colin, Lucy, Justin, Sam, Stuart, Sabrina, Gino, Kim and Jimmy