The Brady Bunch star joins Aussie celebs in African jungle
MAUREEN McCormick is the big international celebrity roughing it in the South African jungle with nine Aussie celebrities.
The actress is best known for playing Marcia Brady on the American sitcom The Brady Bunch.
In tonight's premiere, the 10 celebrities competing on the reality TV show were introduced and stripped of their creature comforts before entering the basic base camp they will call home for up to the next six weeks.
Olympic swimmer Leisel Jones was the first celebrity shown on screen as the stars were flown in by helicopter.
They first met at a luxurious hotel, where Maureen managed to get her heel stuck in the decking several times - not a good sign for her outdoor skills.
Viewers were quick to point out the lack of diversity in the group on Twitter, as well as the liberal use of the term celebrity in the show's casting.
All of the Australians were clearly star-struck at meeting Maureen, with TV personality Andrew Daddo chastising himself for blurting out "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" when he arrived.
Before going into the jungle the group was briefed by a critter specialist, who told them the "big five" predators are the least of their problems. The biggest danger, he said, are the things that "creep up on you" like scorpions and venomous snakes, such as the spitting cobra.
Chrissie, Barry and Joel volunteered to compete in the first "tucker trial", where the celebrities get the chance to win meals for the group to add to their subsistence diet.
The stars always have the option to say "I'm a celebrity get me out of here" to opt out of a challenge, but it means they must leave the show.
The voting public will decide who competes in tomorrow night's challenge.
The celebrities:
Leisel Jones - Olympian
Chrissie Swan - TV and radio host
Merv Hughes - cricket legend
Maureen McCormick - International TV star
Joel Creasey - comedian
Laura Dundovic - fashion icon and former Miss Universe Australia
Barry Hall - AFL star
Lauren Brant - former Hi-5 star
Tyson Mayr - model and charity worker
Andrew Daddo - TV personality
