Daily Telegraph - Dicko to host Celebrity Survivor

THE last time Australia saw Ian "Dicko'' Dickson on the small screen he was sashaying across a dance floor in frills and tight pants.

Television's resident larrikin's latest venture is to host the Seven Network's new reality program Celebrity Survivor.

On the back of the recently launched variety show It Takes Two and the top-rating Dancing With the Stars, Seven has pulled more celebrities out of the bag.

Personalities including Gabrielle ``The Pleasure Machine'' Richens, former ironman Guy Leech, NSW politician David Oldfield and model Imogen Bailey were shipped off to Vanuatu late last week to battle the elements.

Stepping out of their comfort zones and into the wildness, each star will work against the other with no tents, sleeping bags, tools or food in a battle for the best star survivor.

Seven hopes the program will be a ratings winner and will announce more contestants soon.

``With Celebrity Survivor, we've been able to convince some pretty surprising candidates into doing this show,'' said Tim Worner, Seven's director of programming and production.

``The celebrities are barred from communicating with anyone outside the island while they are there but Dicko has been in touch to let us know he's been giving them a few surprises of his own.''

With just the clothes on their backs and one favourite item, the stars will be voted off one by one with only one winner.

It is believed the winning celebrity will spend a total of three weeks on the island.

``These celebrities are used to red carpets and star treatment - they have no idea how tough this shoot is going to be,'' said David Mason, Celebrity Survivor's series producer.

``They are in for the shock of their lives.''

While Nine has the rights to screen the US version of Survivor, Seven have the rights to a local version.

Celebrity Survivor joins Seven's mid-year programs that includes new Aussie series The Real Seachange and True Blue and the returning local series True Stories, hosted by Anna Coren.

American smash hits Greys Anatomy and 24 return next month.