Jungle-based reality television programme I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! will throw its contestants into the deep end as they face a daunting challenge right at the start of the series launch tonight.

There will be no gentle easing-in period for the celebrities as they arrive in Australia – rather than spend time bonding with their camp mates, they will be split into two teams and made to take on tasks to try to avoid one of the show’s infamous Bushtucker Trials.

ITV begins series 16 of the competition, hosted by Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, tonight at 9pm and the first show will open on TV mathematician Carol Vorderman, dancer Jordan Banjo, comedian Joel Dommett, actor Adam Thomas and former Strictly Come Dancing performer Ola Jordan arriving at a luxury villa on the Gold Coast.

But as they are expecting more famous faces to arrive, they are instead joined by Ant and Dec who explain to them that they will be shown video introductions to the other contestants, and will have to press a buzzer before any of their team mates to choose which one they want to be paired with in the hope of avoiding a Bushtucker Trial.

After making their choices, the remaining five – Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt, model Lisa Snowdon, actor Larry Lamb, ex-footballer Wayne Bridge and Olympic-gold-medal-winning hockey player Sam Quek – arrive at the villa to be told that they are the “Jungle Celebs”, while the first five are the “City Celebs”.

The City Celebs will be seen taking on their challenge of walking a plank 334 feet in the air on the roof of a nearby hotel, while Scarlett and Larry are tasked with canoeing into camp, and Wayne, Sam and Lisa are faced with a skydive into the jungle.

If the contestants complete the task successfully they will save their partner on the other team from having to take part in the Bushtucker Trial, but will their nerves get the better of them?

Viewers will see Larry complete his canoe but then have to dive back in and swim to save a sinking Scarlett from her craft, while Lisa does an exhilarating skydive with a terrified Wayne and Sam looking on.

And as the Jungle Celebs start to arrive at the camp the skies turn black, a thunder and lightning storm erupts and a torrential downpour begins.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! starts on ITV at 9pm tonight, followed by ITV2 spin-off show I’m A Celebrity… Extra Camp at 10.45pm hosted by Stacey Solomon, Chris Ramsey, Vicky Pattison and Joe Swash, with celebrity guests Andi Peters and Brooke Vincent.