Cockroach hell for I'm A Celeb stars

(Bang Showbiz)

Stars of this year's 'I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!' will be greeted by 10,000 cockroaches at the start of the show.

Producers want this series to be the toughest yet so the celebrities - including Mark Wright, Dougie Poynter, Lorraine Chase and Willie Carson - will come face-to-face with the creepy crawlies when they meet each other for the first time.

However, the stars won't win anything as the experience won't count as a trial.

Executive producer Chris Brogden said: "We always like to do something big and new for our launch show. This year we are surprising our celebrities with a challenge that isn't a trial. It will see all of them come into contact with 10,000 cockroaches.

"That will be a big shock for them on day one."

However, one celebrity that may miss out is Freddie Starr after the comedian failed to enter the Australian jungle with the other contestants.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "It is unclear why Freddie never made it. Bosses hope he will still be able to go in but for now only nine contestants will be on show."

If Freddie - who had a triple heart bypass last year - fails to make it, he could be replaced by Pat Sharp.

The ITV1 show - hosted by Ant Dec - will air this Sunday at 9pm on ITV1.