While many are excited for the return of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, which began on Sunday, November 6, some are not so pleased to see the show back on our screens and have even urged hosts Ant and Dec to quit.
I'm A Celebrity is known for its gross Busktucker Trials where the celebrities have to take on grim challenges which can involve animals, including snakes, insects, rats and toads. Animal rights charity PETA has published an open letter and petition online, urging 46-year-old Ant and Dec, 47, to quit the show due to the use of animals in some of the trials. In the letter, from PETA's Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen, Ant and Dec are accused of being "complicit in cruelty to animals" on the ITV programme.
The scathing letter says that Ant and Dec's hosting of the show sends a "message to viewers that you think animal abuse is not only acceptable but also entertaining". It adds: "For 20 years, you have been complicit in the 'Bushtucker Trials', standing by as animals of all descriptions are tormented – and even killed – for TV ratings.
READ MORE: Grant Shapps delivers brutal Matt Hancock I'm a Celebrity dig on live TV
"In this time, you must surely have become aware of the suffering, discomfort, and fear that these unwilling participants endure during the challenges. Ostriches, crocodiles, snakes, rats, and thousands of insects have been exploited for the show’s puerile pranks – and we fear that the upcoming series will be no different."
The note also adds that the show could come up with "clever and captivating tasks that harm no animals". It then urges Ant and Dec to make the upcoming All Stars series of I'm A Celeb their last and says the move "would signal to the show’s producers that people aren’t going to stand for senseless cruelty to animals anymore and that it’s time to change".
PETA's letter also says they have received more than 50,000 signatures on their petition, urging ITV to "stop abusing animals" on I'm A Celeb. The letter ends with: "So please, hang up your hats and get yourselves out of there – for animals’ sake."
A spokesperson for I'm A Celebrity told the Mirror: "We are always fully transparent about our protocols and we have a very strict environmental plan in place on the show. As a production, we comply with all regional and national laws concerning the use of insects, animals and reptiles.
"Welfare and safety is always the primary priority on any of our programmes, and at any Bushtucker Trial that features animals, we have qualified and experienced animal handlers on-site at all times. We inform the RSPCA NSW of all of our activities on the show and they have an open invitation to attend the site at any time.
"We cannot stress enough that we have rigorous protocols in place to ensure that animals are handled safely at all times, before, during and after any filming has taken place, in compliance with all regional and national laws."
READ NEXT:
