I’m A Celeb told to ‘ban animals in Bushtucker Trials’ as RSPCA launches new campaign after ‘60,000 complaints’
THE RSPCA is calling for the ITV show to revise its use of live animals.
ITV have been slammed by the RSPCA for celebrating the "mistreatment" of animals in I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!
The show is famous for it's gut-wrenching challenges - which often include live animals.
From eating pig testicles, to being trapped with reptiles or rats, the programme is known for putting animals in close quarters with it's contestants.
But now, the animal welfare charity, the RSPCA, have criticised the broadcasters for putting "living creatures in dangerous and unnatural situations" that could "potentially harm animals on set and encourage possible 'copy-cat' trials by viewers at home".
RSPCA head of wildlife Dr Ros Clubb explained: “Programmes like ‘I’m A Celebrity’ are still flagrantly disregarding the welfare of animals in the interest of a quick thrill and there’s currently nothing in the Broadcasting Code to dissuade them.
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“Sadly, in recent weeks, we've again seen the mistreatment of animals broadcast to millions of people in the name of reality TV and so-called family fun."
They went on to say: "Ahead of the show’s finale, anyone who agrees with us can back our calls for change on the RSPCA website.
“In the last four years, we’ve seen 60,000 sign-ups to our campaign - with more than 41,000 contacting Ofcom, and approximately 20,000 complaining to ITV.
“We are calling for the Broadcasting Code to be urgently evaluated and strengthened in order to help protect animals from mistreatment and abuse.
"Just weeks after the Online Safety Act came into force, including new measures on policing animal cruelty content online, it's clear we need further action on Ofcom's Broadcasting Code too."
The RSPCA has previously campaigned against the use of animals in the jungle reality show however, live animals have been a part of the programme's format since it first aired in 2002.
They are calling for animals to be banned from the challenges to avoid mistreatment and the likelihood of copy-cat trials.
Former contestant on the show Nick Pickard has recently opened up about how security rushed to the camp after Tony Bellew came face to face with a tarantula.
Chatting to the Mirror, Nick explained: "It was like a tarantula. But the security guys come in and couldn't catch him because they're fast.
"And so he just batted it into the bushes and went 'you're alright it's just a huntsman'."
