I'm A Celebrity... is One Down Already

Former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren has pulled out of the new series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! before the contest has even started.

The 61-year-old, who lists his fears as poisonous snakes and uncontrollable wild beasts, made the decision in the last 24 hours.

The series will continue with nine contestants instead of 10 and the spokeswoman said it was too early to say if another hopeful will be added.

Malcolm had never seen the ITV1 show, hosted by Ant and Dec, which will start tonight... but he was aware that Sex Pistol John Lydon previously had taken part.

The I'm A Celebrity... spokeswoman said of the departure: "He flew 5,000 miles to take part, but on the day they were due to go into the jungle he changed his mind."

The other contestants include former Catatonia singer Cerys Matthews and ex-EastEnders actor Marc Bannerman.

Also taking part are Anna Ryder Richardson - who made her name on Changing Rooms, PR guru Lynne Franks - on whom Edina in Absolutely Fabulous is said to be modelled, former Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson and 1970s supermodel Janice Dickinson.

The male jungle campers are Jason Brown - known as J in the boyband 5ive, chef John Burton Race and football pundit Rodney Marsh.