THIS year’s I’m A Celebrity stars won’t be fed live critters in eating trials after Chris Packham’s animal cruelty campaign – but now he wants to go a step further.
The BBC presenter has today begged Dec Donnelly to “think of his daughter” and “end all involvement of animals” in the new series.
Dec Donnelly with daughter Isla who is out in Australia with him
He said in an open letter address to Dec and his co-host Ant McPartlin, Chris – who fronts BBC nature show Autumnwatch – said: “Declan, you have a daughter. Please think about how she will perceive your actions as she grows into a world increasingly devoid of wildlife.
“We are now all aware that we have a duty to safeguard our world for future generations.”
He added: “I am writing once again about the abuse of animals on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. I make no apologies for being tenacious.
“I’d like to call upon your consciences to reconsider the validity of your Bushtucker Trials to case these and to end all involvement of animals in your forthcoming series.
ITV will only serve celebs dead bugs after animal charities and wildlife experts said it was cruel
“I am certain that you and the imaginative producers at ITV could find very entertaining ways of replacing these segments of your show.
“So can I please – on behalf of large and growing number of people – ask you to immediately stop abusing animals on I’m A Celebrity.”
Yesterday HOAR revealed the 58-year-old’s campaign had encouraged ITV to only serve bugs already dead during the infamous Bushtucker Trials.
In the 2015 series, Towies Ferne McCann ate a live water spider,prompting 1,500 complaints to TV watchdog Ofcom.
The following year some viewers vented their anger when Scarlett Moffatt scoffed a live beetle.
And last year, eventual winner, footie legend Harry Redknapp endured a mouthful of wriggly witchetty grubs.
An ITV spokesman said: “The endurance type trials where celebrities hold insects in their mouths as seen with Harry and Noel last year will remain – but celebrities will no longer be tasked to eat live bugs.”
The new series of the ITV show kicks off tomorrow at 9pm.
