Wildlife presenter Chris Packham has branded I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here "a sham" and called for an end to the "barbaric" Bushtucker trials.
The
Springwatch host wrote an open letter ahead of the return of the reality show this Sunday, calling on Ant and Dec to intervene in the situation and remove animals from the popular trials.
He said that the show was teaching young viewers that killing for entertainment is acceptable and appealed to the two presenters that the legacy of the show is "a shame that I imagine neither of you will want to take to your graves".
"It's often pretty silly too, because many viewers recognise that the species used are not dangerous, or significantly toxic or venomous in the first place. Or that they've been 'doctored', their fangs sealed, their jaws bound so, even under the stress they're exposed to, they couldn't possibly harm any of your guests. But then, let's face it, as we all know, you couldn't let that happen anyway. It's a sham," he said.
"I can guarantee that some animals are harmed during production, because they are fragile or easily stressed. Or simply killed, as they are in your Bushtucker Trials."
He added that by encouraging a fear of the animals used in the trials, the show was "exaggerating a terrible ignorance and intolerance".
ITV has responded by saying that it takes the welfare of animals "very seriously" during the production of the show.
“Ant and Dec are the presenters of the show, and as such are not involved with the formatting of the trials, which are devised by the show’s producers. ITV takes animal welfare very seriously and expert handlers are on hand at all times.”
