I’m A Celebrity bosses have hit back at Chris Packham’s fierce attack on the show’s use of animals.
The 62-year-old Springwatch presenter posted an open letter to presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday, calling their hit ITV show a “grotesque stain on their reputation”.
It received 2 million views and gained 24,000 likes in less than 24 hours.
ITV has now responded to Chris’s outcry over the use of thousands of live insects and animals in the bushtucker trials.
A spokesperson said that “welfare and safety are always our top priority” when it comes to the animals used in the show and that they “comply with all regional and national laws in Australia”.
I’m A Celebrity bosses have hit back at Chris Packham’s fierce attack on the show’s use of animals
Chris criticized presenters Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly for promoting animal exploitation on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! They call the show a “stain on their reputation”
ITV added in a statement to The Sun: “We have introduced a very strict environmental plan for the show.”
“Well-being and safety are always our top priority in all of our programs.
“We always have qualified and experienced animal carers on site for every bushtucker experiment that involves animals.”
Web has contacted ITV for comment.
So far in this series, viewers have watched the celebrities get swarmed by a whole host of creepy crawlies, fend off mudcrabs and gobblers underwater, and lie in boxes full of dozens of snakes.
Chris, who has long been a critic of the show, criticized presenters Ant and Dec in his open letter for not responding to his previous correspondence.
He began his note: “Dear Ant and Dec, I hope you are both in good health.” I have written to you before but you never replied so I thought I would write again.
“My letters were polite, sensible and constructive. This time I will be a little more open and direct.
Chris’ angry open letter has now received 2 million views and 24,000 likes
So far in this series, viewers have watched celebrities being inundated by a whole host of creepy crawlies and lying in boxes full of snakes
Chris revealed he was running out of patience as he responded to the “appalling” animal cruelty that was shown nightly at 9pm on ITV
Chris shared an open letter to the presenters on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday, describing their hit ITV show as “embarrassing”.
I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here remains a grotesque blot on your reputation and that of ITV.
“The continued exploitation of animals for entertainment is an anachronistic embarrassment and betrays a dangerous divide between a world increasingly preoccupied with an environmental crisis and a reckless and marginalized section of the media that appears not to care.”
Last year the show received a record number of complaints about the use of live animals in its bushtucker trials.
The RSPCA received 17,000 complaints from spectators about the use of animals in the challenges.
Speaking about this, Chris continued: “I’m writing in my own capacity, not as President of the RSPCA, but I can tell you that last year the charity received 17,000 complaints about your deliberate abuse of animals and reinforcement of negative stereotypes.”
“I and all of these people, many of whom I have no doubt will be fans of you and the work you do and do, are fed up with your disregard for animal welfare and the way we feel about it.”
“You may see little or no connection between the global annihilation event that humans are bringing about and IACGMOOH.” [I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!] But it’s all about attitudes and education.
“Without a fundamental respect for life, especially life, it is difficult for those of us who care to get enough people on board to take essential action to protect and actively restore the world’s wildlife.”
“I spend my life trying to generate that respect, your program recklessly contradicts that, and what’s absolutely unfortunate is that it does it for fun.” Just for fun.
“28 percent of the world’s monitored species are threatened with extinction.” Is that funny? Is that a laugh?
Toads were used in the Bushtucker Trial Fishy Business earlier this week
In this year’s show the celebrities had to eat live insects (pictured Nigel Farage and Nella Rose)
“Well, maybe you just don’t care?” But Declan, in 2019 I asked you to think about how your daughter will perceive your actions as she grows into a world where there is less and less wildlife.. . What did she say?
“That was four years ago. What does she say now, knowing that her future is at serious risk from climate change and biodiversity loss?”
Chris continued on a second page: “But it’s also about money, isn’t it?” In March, the broadcaster and on-demand service reported studio sales of more than £2bn and I was told that IACGMOOH was the biggest Single banker for ITV. A Google search also suggests that your highest paid participant will receive £1.5 million this year. Speculative figures about one’s own earnings are also often published.
“But in November 2022, a peak of 10 million and an average of 9.1 million watched the launch episode.” This year, the number has fallen to a high of 7.8 million, and the average is just seven million. Um, maybe your viewers need a format change… so…
“Look at the world, listen to the voices of concern, read the writing on the wall.” Circuses are no more, dancing bears are no more, cock and dog fighting are the sad domain of psychopathic criminals.. .There are no performing dolphins or chimpanzees dressed up for tea time in Britain.
“The cruel exploitation of wildlife for free entertainment in your program continues to tarnish the UK’s reputation as a ‘nation of animal lovers’.”
“Finally, how about you announce now that from 2024 there will be no more abuse of animals for entertainment purposes? that there will instead be an educational component that celebrates wildlife and its conservation; that a percentage of program profits will go towards proactive practical conservation and that you will present a program to highlight this work (I’ll lend you my binoculars) and that you both agree to be ambassadors and influencers for prominent wildlife charities? Yours, Chris Packham.’
Chris’ Springwatch co-host and stepdaughter Megan McCubbin also enjoyed success on the show.
The BBC presenter claimed it was “unacceptable” to use animals, insects and bugs in the trials and called on Ant and Dec to change things.
Of the show’s animal welfare, she said: “In my opinion they’re not strict enough.”
“Animals are there to be admired, appreciated and respected, but to have them in that capacity for entertainment, and a lot of the language used in these attempts is quite negative.”
“I’m not a fan of the show, I don’t watch it and I won’t until they change things drastically.”
“You can take great trials, you can have adventures and have crazy, daring experiences without involving animals, especially in a negative sense.”
“I hope we’re past this point, but we’re still working on it, aren’t we?”
Crushed: In the show, which is filmed in Australia’s Springbrook National Park, animals were “thrown, thrown, roughly handled, chased and crushed”, reports the RSPCA
Chris’ Springwatch co-host and stepdaughter Megan McCubbin also criticized the show, calling it “unacceptable”.
The show, which is filmed in Australia at Springbrook National Park in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, has also been criticized by the RSPCA.
The animal rights group has called on viewers to complain to Ofcom to stop the use of such animals.
Organizers of a new campaign claim animals have been “dropped, thrown, roughly handled, hunted and crushed” since the show first aired in 2002.
They said: “As our previous calls for change have been ignored, we are more concerned than ever about the show’s use of live animals and the example it sets for viewers.”
“Also concerning are the show’s messages and its potential to encourage people to replicate the ‘Bushtucker Trials’ at home for entertainment.
“We believe that intentionally portraying certain species as ugly or scary, or as objects that can be used purely for entertainment rather than as sentient beings, sends entirely the wrong message.”
“While we understand that I’m a Celeb is a popular form of entertainment, we simply request that producers stop using living creatures in this capacity.”
However, I’m A Celebrity bosses insist they adhere to all rules and regulations surrounding the use of animals.
An ITV spokesperson told Web: “We are always completely transparent about our protocols and have a very strict environmental plan in place for the show.”
“As a production we comply with all regional and national laws regarding the use of insects, animals and reptiles.”
“Welfare and safety are always paramount in all of our programs and we always have qualified and experienced animal carers on site at every bushtucker trial involving animals.”
They continued: “We keep the RSPCA NSW informed of all our activities at the fair and they have an open invitation to attend at any time.”
“We cannot emphasize enough that we have strict protocols in place to ensure that the animals are treated safely at all times before, during and after filming and that all regional and national laws are adhered to.”