Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls contestants share their top tips for surviving the gruelling show – and their tongue-in-cheek advice is NOT to apply

FIVE celebs have shared their top tips for surviving life on The Island, as one of Britain's most gruelling TV shows returns to our screens this week, and the tongue-in-cheek message is NOT to apply.

Ten celebs, including Towie's Lucy Mecklenburgh and Corrie's Ryan Thomas, have been toughing life stranded on an island in Panama for a new series of Bear Grylls' show.

Welsh sprinter Iwan Thomas, TV doctor Sara Kayat, comedian Mark Watson, former Team GB swimmer Sharron Davies and actress Shazia Mirza are all taking part in the new series of Celebrity Island, which returns on Tuesday.

And they have some top tips for any ordinary Brits, who may be thinking about applying to future series of the show.

"Ideally don’t go to the island in the first place, because it’s not very nice there," funny man Mark joked.

"My one tip for the island is to take things at a slow, methodical pace.

"Don’t go charging off and doing missions and stuff like that, because your burn out too quickly. It’s all about just keep on grinding on. It’s about the sheer grind."

While Sara said her top tip was "to remember the three second rule.

"It’s really easy when you’re tired, hungry, thirsty to lose your rag and get upset for no reason so just remember three seconds of deep breathing.

"Turn away, come back to the situation and I’m sure you’ll be a lot calmer."

Shazia Mirza also advised switching off from the situation. She joked: "Pretend you’re not there.

"Just pretend you’re in your living room at home, with your feet up, having a cup of tea, watching EastEnders. If that fails, just jump into the sea."

And athlete Sharron's tip won't come as much of a surprise.

She said: "First and foremost make sure you can swim before you arrive on the island.

"Because that’s a really useful skill and it’s fantastic to be able to get into the water and have some peace and quiet.

"My other tip to learn is... to learn to fish before you come, that’s a really good skill too. Swim and fish."

Speaking of the psychological struggles the celebs will face, Iwan said: "Adapt, be strong in the mind. Physically it’s tough.

"You’re going to need to hunt, to source water. You’re going to have to go to some dark places, but it’s all in your mind.

"Tell yourself you’ll get through it. It’s survival of the mind."

Celebrity Island returns to Channel 4 on Tuesday (August 29).