Guirado set to face croc pit

Model Catalina Guirado was left distraught after being picked to face a crocodile infested pit in the new series of ITV1’s I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!.

The glamorous beauty appeared to wipe away tears after coming top in last night’s public phone poll – ahead of the nine other stars – forcing her to endure a reptilian encounter.

Fellow contestants gathered round Guirado to comfort her after presenters Ant and Dec broke the news that she would soon be entering the dangerous “Croc Pit”.

Catalina will visit the murky waters – home to the hungry creatures – in an effort to win more food for the group by completing one of the show’s dreaded Bushtucker Trials.

Former footballer John Fashanu was chosen for the first trial yesterday by his fellow stars – which involved pouring 10 boxes of creepy crawlies down his pants.

After donning a pair of special transparent trousers dubbed the “Critter Pants”, the former Gladiators presenter grimaced as he emptied a writhing mass of worms, crayfish, stink beetles, cockroaches, stick insects and crickets into them.

But after seven boxes and attempts to use martial arts poses to calm himself, he drew the line at a container full of rats.

Afterwards he said: “It was horrible and I feel now that animals are crawling over my body.”

Fashanu, elected the first leader by the group, was also forced to overcome his fear of heights as he walked cautiously over steel swinging bridges to reach the trial.

Guirado and Fashanu have been joined by fellow contestants Danniella Westbrook, Wayne Sleep, Phil Tufnell, Anthony Worrall Thompson, Toyah Willcox, Sian Lloyd, Linda Barker and Chris Bisson in the bid to be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle in the series.

They will spend two weeks at the remote rainforest camp on the side of a volcano in southern Queensland, Australia.

Yesterday, the group busied themselves exploring their new jungle camp, chanting “Home Sweet Home”.

The group appeared harmonious, although Barker found her much needed walking boots had melted after being left too close to the fire – despite asking Worrall Thompson to move them.

While Fashanu underwent his Bushtucker Trial, the rest of the camp paraded around in the rain in their see-through plastic ponchos, with dancer Sleep declaring: “I feel like a used condom.”

The series almost claimed its first casualty on the first night when actor Bisson was injured falling from a tree.

The former Coronation Street star suffered a blow to the head and was left with cuts to his shoulder and ear after the fall.

The group was crowding round a scary looking spider and attempting to kill it when he fell from a branch.

For a few seconds he lay motionless on the ground and had to be helped to his feet by his shocked fellow celebrities.

Worried crew members called in a doctor but Bisson was given the all-clear after a thorough check-up.

Chef Worrall Thompson also had a narrow escape after he was nearly hit by a large chunk of vegetation falling from the trees.

Former cocaine addict and ex- EastEnders star Westbrook shed a few tears an hour or so after arriving, saying she missed her family.

The celebrities were allowed to take in two luxury items each into their camp.

Bisson opted for a pump action water pistol and an inflatable sofa decorated with the Union Jack.

Fashanu, Willcox and Guirado each took a pair tweezers, while Sleep opted for his tap shoes.

Some of the celebrities managed to sneak in some little luxuries including make up, a razor and two pairs of black ladies knickers but were later forced to hand them over.

As the show was aired in Ireland last night, the celebrities were shown waking up after their first night in the rainforest.

Programme bosses promised conditions would be even harsher than last year, with venomous snakes and poisonous spiders just some of the perils they will have to face.

Tufnell is the favourite to be crowned King of the Jungle at odds of 3-1 from Ladbrokes, 11-4 from William Hill and 5-2 from Coral.

He is closely followed by former punk Willcox at 4-1 at Ladbrokes and Williams Hill.

Ladbrokes has given both Bisson and Fashanu odds of 7-1, while Guirado, Westbrook and Barker are ranked 8-1 and weathergirl Lloyd at 9-1.

Sleep is the outsider at 14-1 from Coral, 12-1 from Ladbrokes and 16-1 from William Hill.

He is the 9-4 favourite with Coral to be the first celebrity voted off the show.

Ladbrokes is offering odds of 10-1 on Westbrook walking out of the show or a contestant being poisoned by Worrall Thompson’s cooking.

Punters can get odds of 25-1 on Willcox appearing stark naked during her stay in the jungle.