THE Aussie outback might be home to TV's current crop of I'm A Celebrity contestants but showbiz couple Denise Welch and Tim Healy were king and queen of their very own star-packed jungle in Manchester.

The actors who live in Wilmslow threw an eye-poppingly flamboyant jungle-themed bash transforming the Palace Hotel's grand ballroom with palm trees, bongo drums and even an eight-foot burmese python for a galaxy of celebrity and VIP guests.

And the couple made a spectacular entrance to their party with Denise being carried in by a troupe of hunky men, with Tim wafting her with a huge palm leaf.

Stars enjoying the revels included Denise’s co-stars from BBC drama Waterloo Road, pals from her days on Coronation Street past and present and her co-panellists on chat show Loose Women including Coleen Nolan, Jane McDonald, Carol McGiffin, Sherrie Hewson and Zoe Tyler. All got into the jungle theme with exotic printed dresses.

The jungle theme was certainly a comfort to ex-Blue singer and past I’m A Celebrity contestant Antony Costa.

VIPs were enthralled by the 8ft Burmese python, called George, brought along by owner Beth Lee.

Former Coronation Street favourite Nikki Sanderson happily cuddled up to George for pictures

She said: "I'm fine with snakes, I'm not scared of them at all. But if there was a huge spider here, then I wouldn't even come close."

Denise’s bash, organised by event specialists Entertainment Today, has become one of the most high-profile on the social calendar with 700 guests cramming in this weekend and 300 more on a waiting list.

And despite the credit crunch, this year’s event was the biggest yet raising £100,000 for the chosen charities: Rochdale-based The Gem Appeal, which funds research into genetic disorders, and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

It included £24,000 raised on an auction lot when the Loose Women girls agreed to take lucky bidders on a backstage tour of the show and then out on the town to party with them all afterwards.