Actress Toyah Willcox confessed she is likely to strip off in a bid to win I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!

The former punk singer, 44, says she looks better nude - and vowed to flash some flesh to get the edge on fellow contestants Daniella Westbrook, the ex-Eastenders actress, and underwear model Catalina Guirado during their days in the Australian jungle.

"I've been talking about my body with my friends and we decided that if I'm naked I look all right," said Toyah. "I look far better out of clothes than in a bikini. Put one of them on me and I look disgusting."

She added: "I've seen Daniella Westbrook and she looks absolutely fantastic. So I might be flashing a lot."

Toyah, who flew to Brisbane last night, will be dropped into the jungle with the other celebrities on Monday. And there are likely to be some catfights ahead - almost all the contestants admit they have short tempers!

Toyah revealed: "I'm very used to being a leader, so I hope that doesn't cause problems. In the theatre I'm usually star-billing, so I'm used to having to hold the team together. Also I'm blindingly pig-headed."

But Toyah, who says she is extremely fit, confessed she will buckle if she faces a spider.

"I have been telling the producers to please let me climb big trees and swing on ropes, anything like that," she said. "Then they quizzed me if I would eat a bug or have a spider on me. And I wimped out, definitely not. I don't like them. Anything but spiders. if they make me eat a bug, I won't be eating for the rest of the week - I'll be heaving."

She declined to say what her two luxuries are, but hinted they might be tweezers to quell her bushy eyebrows. She said: "I'm trying to keep that a secret, but warmth and keeping eyebrows trim are very important to me."

Other contestants on the ITV1 show, hosted by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, include former cricketer Phil Tufnell, Linda Barker of TV's Changing Rooms, Daily Express columnist and TV chef Antony Worrall Thompson and ex-Coronation Street star Chris Bisson.

Meanwhile, Toyah's appearance on the show has caused something of a headache for the producers of Calamity Jane, the musical in which she is currently starring.

It was due to continue the next leg of its tour in London's Wimbledon Theatre next month, but the run from May 13 to 17 has had to be cancelled. 

A spokeswoman said: "Toyah will be back on May 20 in Sheffield and the London run will go ahead later in the year."

Toyah: I'll give 'em a bush flash
Eighties pop star Toyah Willcox jetted off to Australia last night vowing to strip off in the bush to compete with young babes Daniella Westbrook and Catalina Guirado. The punk singer, 44, reckons she's much sexier starkers than when she's dressed. "I've been talking about my body with my friends and we decided that if I'm naked I look alright," she revealed yesterday. "I look far better out of clothes than in a bikini. But put one on me, and I look disgusting. I've seen Daniella Westbrook and she looks absolutely fantastic, so I might be flashing a lot."

Jokes

Toyah jetted out clutching a book of Tony Blackburn's bad jokes - ironically titled The Very Best Of Tony Blackburn. She wants to make sure that King Of The Jungle Tony - last year's winner - is not forgotten. Or perhaps it's her secret weapon to drive her opponents screaming out of the jungle. She said: "A neighbour put the book through my door so I thought I'd bring it for some light entertainment. I'm sure everyone will love me for it." But she warned her fellow contestants that she can get quite pushy if she's angry.

Trio head out
I'm A Celebrity contestants Toyah Willcox, Catalina Guirado, Chris Bisson and Wayne Sleep jetted off to Australia last night for the jungle telly show. They'll join actress Daniella Westbrook in Queensland for intensive training before the show starts. John Fashanu, Antony Worrall Thompson, Phil Tufnell, Sian Lloyd and Linda Barker fly out tomorrow.

Final story - SURVIVOR CELEBS IN FEAR OF JUNGLE FEVER - sensationally claims that the makers of the show are worried it could be cancelled because of a local bug. They also report that travel plans were altered to ensure the contestants avoided Hong Kong, where the deadly Sars virus is causing many deaths at the moment. 

Best Survivors - (caption reads) Perhaps the producer should have told Toyah that it's only a television show.

It's been a long and sticky week in the jungle as the mixed bag of wannabes strive to endear themselves to the voting public. Late signing Toyah (why wasn't she on Reborn In The USA instead?) could try a quick chorus of It's A Mystery while glamour model Catalina should have the lads' vote - if not much else - well covered!

Thanks to Stephen Bennett for pointing this out.

Celebrities fly out for TV survival show
The remaining five contestants of reality show I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here are flying out to Australia to join their future jungle-mates.

Bookies' favourite Phil Tufnell is leaving for Queensland alongside John Fashanu. Anthony Worrall Thompson, Sian Lloyd and Linda Barker are joining them.

On Wednesday Toyah Wilcox predicted that Worrall Thompson's culinary skills would win him the competition. She was talking as she flew out from Heathrow with fellow contestants Chris Bisson, the former Coronation Street actor, Wayne Sleep and model Catalina Guirado.

They are meeting Danniella Westbrook, the first contestant to travel to Brisbane in Queensland, where all contestants will be undergoing intensive training before the show starts on Monday.

Speaking at Heathrow, a spokeswoman for the ITV show, which will be hosted by Ant and Dec, said this year's contestants would be in for a far more difficult time than their predecessors.

"It's going to be a much tougher location in remote Brisbane," she said. "They're all going to need their survival skills."

But the contestants might gain some inspiration and light relief from an unlikely source - last year's winner Tony Blackburn. Willcox is taking a book called The Very Best of Tony Blackburn, containing jokes and anecdotes compiled by the veteran DJ.

Toyah Willcox will make sure the King of the Jungle’s legacy lives on by making fellow contestants endure the DJ’s bad jokes. The former punk rocker disclosed tonight that she had brought a book, The Very Best of Tony Blackburn, containing anecdotes and jokes compiled by the reigning champion of the ITV show.

"A neighbour put the book through my door so I thought I would bring it out for some light entertainment," said Miss Willcox. "I don’t think it will affect my chances. I’m sure everyone else will love me for it."

The 44-year-old TV personality was flying out from Heathrow tonight with fellow contestants Chris Bisson, the former Coronation St actor, dancer Wayne Sleep and model Catalina Guirado. The quartet will be joining actress Danniella Westbrook in Queensland, Australia, where they will be undergoing intensive training before the show, hosted by Ant and Dec, starts on Monday April 28. Fellow contestants John Fashanu, the former footballing hard man, celebrity chef Anthony Worrall Thompson, former cricketer Phil Tufnell, weather forecaster Sian Lloyd and TV decorator Linda Barker will be flying out to join them tomorrow.

The bookies have marked down Tufnell as the favourite to win the show but Toyah reckons Worrall Thompson’s culinary skills will give him the title.

"I know Anthony, he’s a nice man, and being able to cook something decent will win him a lot of friends. I’m not going to say who’s going to lose as that would be bad tactics."

TV babe Catalina Guirado said she felt even more nervous than when she made her debut television appearance on Chris Evans’s TFI Friday.

"There’s going to be even more snakes on this show," she said.

As for who might be first out of the jungle, the model belied her confident image by firmly answering: "me."

A spokeswoman for the show said this year’s contestants would be in for a far tougher time than their predecessors.

"It’s going to be a much tougher location in remote Brisbane,” she said. “They’re all going to need their survival skills."

• From this week's 'TV Times' (26th April): TOYAH WILLCOX - Singer, actress, presenter: Why are you going? "I think it was the best programme on last year. It was fascinating and it went off in directions I would never have guessed."

• Linda Barker, from today's 'The Sun', on Toyah: Linda thinks she will get on best with Danniella Westbrook, Toyah Willcox and Sian Lloyd. Linda says: “Danniella Westbrook is a lovely woman.

"She seems quite vulnerable and the fact that she’s leaving her two young children behind gives us an immediate bond. I hope that I’ll be able to nurture her a bit. I do like Toyah Willcox and Sian Lloyd, I think we’ll all be mates. Wayne Sleep has a lot of energy and he’ll be a motivator. He’s a scream and it’s hysterical he’s taking his tap shoes as a luxury item."

• From 'The Age', an Australian news/gossip website: The presence of Tony Blackburn will haunt the "jungles" of Australia for the second series of reality show I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here, it emerged tonight. Toyah Willcox will make sure the King of the Jungle's legacy lives on by making fellow contestants endure the DJ's bad jokes. The former punk rocker disclosed tonight that she had brought a book, The Very Best of Tony Blackburn, containing anecdotes and jokes compiled by the reigning champion of the ITV show. "A neighbour put the book through my door so I thought I would bring it out for some light entertainment," said Willcox. "I don't think it will affect my chances. I'm sure everyone else will love me for it." The 44-year-old TV personality was flying out from Heathrow tonight with fellow contestants Chris Bisson, the former Coronation St actor, dancer Wayne Sleep and model Catalina Guirado. 

• From 'CMU Online': TOYAH PLANS COMEBACK AFTER JUNGLE VISIT
Toyah Willcox, currently one of the favourites to win the upcoming second series of 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here', is already planning to cash in on her appearance on the reality TV show. She will re-release her albums 'Prostitute' and 'Ophelia's Shadow' on 19 and 26 May respectively, and will then follow them up with a brand new mini-album on 7 Jul. Commenting on the new six track album, which she says has been inspired by the likes of Mogwai, Elbow, Nick Cave and Marilyn Manson, she told reporters: "I know that people will appreciate the darker direction I am taking. Hopefully it will appeal to those who still like their music to have little teeth."

ITV1 will be praying for another ratings-winning rumble in the jungle, as a second series of surprise hit I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here is about to get under way. A fresh rogues' gallery of not-so famous stars, hoping for renewed fame, has been mustered to take their chances amid the snakes, creepy crawlies and draining humidity.

Who? Toyah Willcox, 44.
Claim to fame? First found fame as a pop star, but now works as a TV presenter and actress.
Strengths? Claims to have slept in jungles for BBC's Holiday and not bothered about "looking rubbish".
Weaknesses? Is terrified of every insect apart from butterflies. 
Chances? A strong contender but "It's A Mystery" if she will win.

TOYAH WILLCOX - Favourite to win 'I'm A Celebrity...'
Boomaker William Hill has declared singer and actress Toyah Willcox the favourite to win I'm A Celebrity - Get me Out Of Here!. Toyah and model Catalina Guirado are among the stars participating in the show, based in the Aussie outback. The bookmakers' full odds are 11-4 Toyah Willcox, 9-2 Phil Tufnell, 11-2 Chris Bisson, 13-2 Daniella Westbrook, 7-1 Linda barker, 8-1 John Fashanu, 9-1 Sian Lloyd, 10-1 Catalina Guirado, Wayne Sleep, and Antony Worrall Thompson.

I'm A Celebrity ... also gets a fair bit of coverage in the 'OK!' supplement 'Hot Stars'.

Look out for more Toyah magazine appearances over the coming weeks, there's bound to be plenty of snippets and articles.

TOYAH WILLCOX
It'll be interesting to see how the Eighties popstar-turned-Songs Of Praise presenter gets on in the jungle. It seems her wild days are behind her, and rather than wanting to turn suburbia upside down, she's made a lot of money from her property deals and has said the way to success is to 'look after your own money and be a control freak'. Should be fascinating!

TOYAH WILLCOX

WHO? Post-punk popster, broadcaster, and alternative medicine advocate.
CHANCES? Fairly good. The outspoken and strong-willed Toyah has calmed down since her days as a rebellious pop star, but conservative audiences may still find her a bit weird. 7-1
 

TOYAH WILLCOX, 44, singer and actress
Willcox had not yet signed on the dotted line when we went to press, but is expected to be the 10th participant.
Staying power: In terrific shape thanks to daily keep fit and eight shows a week in the musical Calamity Jane
Ticket to ride: Her need to hide. 'I suffer from extreme anxiety and vulnerability.' She says she also has a temper.
Survival rating: 7/10 May soon sing 'I Want To Be Free!'

• Toyah flies out to Australia this evening.

• From today's 'The Sun': Although she lusts after the company of men, Catalina describes herself as a woman’s woman. She says: “Toyah Willcox and Danniella Westbrook are the people I think I’ll have most in common with because they’re strong and outspoken.

Meanwhile, Toyah Willcox is worried she might end up exposing too much of herself on the show.

Toyah says: "I'm an incurable flasher. I never wear clothes - only to socialise. They will have to put a padlock on my bra for two weeks!"

Bookies are giving odds of 11-4 on the star, who lives near Evershot, being the winner of the second run of the hit show, which picked up the Bafta for Best Reality TV Show after its first run.

Toyah, who was the last star to be announced as taking part in the two-week challenge in the Australian jungle, is arguably the best-loved celebrity of the eight people chosen.

Other stars going to endure the challenges of eating bugs, dodging snakes and primitive living include chef Antony Worrall Thompson, former EastEnders star Daniella Westbrook, ballet dancer Wayne Sleep, ex-footballer John Fashanu, Changing Rooms' Linda Barker and weather girl Sian Lloyd.

Worrell Thompson is the rank outsider, according to bookies at William Hill, who are offering odds of 12-1 on the garrulous gourmet.

But tipsters are reckoning on Toyah to scoop the main prize - thousands of pounds raised through telephone voting going to a charity of the winner's choice.

Last year veteran DJ Tony Blackburn proved the nation's favourite after remaining unruffled throughout two weeks of fighting, starving and terrifying challenges with his jungle campmates.

The pressure will be on for vegetarian Toyah after spoon bender Uri Geller went against his principles to win everyone a meal when he ate bugs for a challenge in the last series. 

The second series starts on ITV1 at the end of this month, which should not do any harm to the sales of Toyah's new mini album to be released on July 7, Velvet Lined Shell. 

These are from (in descending order): 'What's On TV' - "ex-Punk star Toyah Willcox completes the line-up.", 'TV Choice' - "For two weeks, ex-Eastender Daniella Westbrook, singer and presenter Toyah Willcox, chef Antony Worrall Thompson... will be roughing it at the foot of a dormant volcano in Australia, 'The Sun' (22nd April), and 'Closer': "THE LATE ARRIVALS - The newest addition to the jungle is '80s singer Toyah Willcox."

Toyah is also pictured in today's 'The Sun', 'new!' magazine, and 'OK!'.

Daily Post columnist and weather presenter Siân Lloyd and her nine co-stars in the new series, which starts on April 28, will have to watch out for the stinging tree, gympie gympie, as they negotiate the horrors of nature in southern Queensland, Australia.

As well as unpleasant vegetation, the celebs, who include former Coro-nation Street star Chris Bisson, agai n have to face the wrath of the insect kingdom, as well as snakes. The new location, at the foot of a dormant volcano, poses a number of serious health risks. A spokeswoman for the ITV1 show said: "There are a lot of nasties out there."

On top of being fatal in the worst-case scenario, the sting from the gympie gympie itself is enough to give horrendous pain.

There are dangerous barbs and thorns on several vines near the camp, together with poisonous berries and fruits. Deadly funnel web spiders could be lurking and there are more than 20 species of snake -eight of those, the most dangerous Australia has to offer. Mosquitoes in the area could be carrying dengue fever, there are paralysis ticks which could cause serious illness if nips go unchecked and there are three types of scorpion. The spokeswoman added: "The location is potentially more dangerous than that used for the first series in north Queensland.

"The region holds smaller pockets of rain forest, meaning the chances of encounters with the vast array of native wildlife are much higher."

Contestant Toyah Willcox, 44, said: "I'm terrified of virtually every insect except for butterflies.

"There have been times that I've woken up with a spider on me and I've burst into tears."

Siân said in Friday's Daily Post column her brief brush with wildlife during a promotional shoot for the series did not bode well for her time in the jungle, as she was disgusted when a toad left a trial of poisonous venom on her hands.

After being disinfected, she added: "Wish me luck, I need it."