Stacey Solomon and Sheryl Gascoigne’s swimwear face-off as they get ready to head into camp

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! traditionally sees its female contestants battle it out in a series of bikini wars when they get into the Australian jungle. But for Stacey Solomon and Sheryl Gascoigne, the swimwear face-off started early, as the pair showed off their svelte figures in an impromptu photoshoot on the beach.

And while it's the second day of Stacey showing she has what it takes to be crowned the next Myleene Klass, it's the first time we have seen 45-year-old Sheryl display her beach-ready body.

Wearing a classy black and white halterneck swimsuit, Sheryl looked impressively toned and taut as she strolled along the beach, making the most of her last few moments of her freedom before the show starts on Sunday night.

Stacey Solomon and Sheryl Gascoigne start the swimwear battle early as they prepare for the start of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Careful! Stacey lent back slightly too far as she showed off her body in a tartan string two-piece

But Stacey, 20, opted for a slightly more revealing swimwear option, baring her body in a tartan string two-piece which highlighted her curves.

The pair will be joined by fellow female celebrities actress Britt Ekland, Playboy Playmate Kayla Collins and Gillian McKeith as they set up their temporary home in 'Camp Sheila' in the Aussie jungle.

Discussing the prospect of going into the jungle, mother-of-three Sheryl admitted she was feeling 'nervous' about how she would cope in such an extreme situation.

Sheryl looks in great shape for her 45 years, and splashed about in the sea for her photos

She said: 'I hope I don’t break down - but I can’t guarantee it. You are in a very different environment. I have been a mum for 24 years and I really do not know how I will be.

'The hardest thing for me is definitely being away from the children, particularly my youngest son Regan.

'Regan and I are very close and being away is going to be really tough.' And Sheryl also revealed she came close to turning down the chance to appear on the show for a third time this year, after having been asked to take part for the past two series.

While Stacey went for a revealing bikini, Sheryl covered up more in a black one-piece

She said:'I am a very mad person! They approached me last year, and again earlier this year. I said no on both occasions. I swore I wouldn’t do it.

'But my friends really want me to do it as they think people will get a chance to see the real me – and so I decided to say yes. My kids are very excited and they have always said I should do it. I guess I will give them some street cred now!

I do really love the programme. I think Ant and Dec are geniuses and weirdly as it now approaches, I am getting excited. I have never done anything like this before and it’s going to be an experience - that's for sure.'

Mother-of-three Sheryl said she is nervous about going into the jungle, and doesn't know how she will cope being away from her children

Stacey reclines on the beach as she shows off her best glamorous poses on the beach

It was revealed this morning that the contestants will be divided into male and female camps - Camp Bruce and Camp Sheila - before they are flown into a luxury villa for champagne and canapes.

But what the celebrities don't know is that they won't be able to enjoy the relaxing start to the show for very long, as they will be faced with their first Bushtucker Trial.

The contestants will be split into two groups to take part in what has been billed as one of the muckiest tasks to date. And while the winners will be treated to a last night of luxury in the villa, the losers will be taken straight to a 'mystery jungle camping spot' for their debut evening in the jungle.

Stacey and Sheryl popped on their glad rags as they arrived to meet their fellow contestants

While Stacey Solomon is currently favourite to win the show with odds of 3/1, she also has the same odds for following in Katie Price's footsteps by walking out.

Despite becoming something of a national treasure when she appeared on X Factor, sources believe the singer's slightly flaky attitude could lead to her getting fed up of slumming it in the jungle. But Stacey insists she is prepared for the programme.

Here come the girls: Gillian McKeith, Kayla Collins and Britt Ekland all gear up for their jungle entrance

She said recently: 'Everything about it appeals to me. I watched it for years and years and years. And finally I've got the opportunity to go on. How could I say no?? 'I'm very very very excited about going in the jungle. Oh my god!!!　 I'd love to be Queen of the Jungle - I'll try really really hard to make it happen!'

However, Stacey has some competition from Playboy Playmate Kayla Collins, who will no doubt be competing with the mother-of-one in the bikini wars. Asked recently if she would be showing off her figure in swimwear in the jungle, Kayla said: 'Of course I will be wearing bikinis. I have a new swimwear line coming out in 2011 and I will be taking lots of my own outfits.'

Nigel Havers and Lembit Opik are among the men on the show... and Lembit is determined to win

And among the male contestants, former MP Lembit Opik is one of the most competitive, admitting he is desperate to be crowned King of the Jungle.

He said: 'I am competitive. There is no point going into a competition if you don’t aim to win. This isn’t an election, but it would be nice given what happened to me in the last General Election, to at long last win a vote.

'That would mean a lot to me. I am playing to win, and all I can do is my best. I will accept the public’s verdict.' I'm A Celebrity starts on ITV on Sunday night at 9pm.

Athlete Linford Christie, rapper Aggro Santos and Happy Mondays star Shaun Ryder