Chris Packham has said that Ant and Dec should “stand up and be counted” after sending an impassioned open letter to the I’m A Celebrity presenters calling on them to stop using animals on the show.
The Springwatch presenter, 62, spoke on the Jeremy Vine show about his public letter criticizing the show’s “exploitation of animals”, which was posted on X and received 25,000 likes.
He said on Wednesday morning’s show: “It’s time for her.” [Ant & Dec] “Stand up and be recognized at a time when we all must do so if we want a healthy, sustainable future for our children and grandchildren.”
In the interview, Chris said he believes presenters have an ethical responsibility to educate audiences about nature.
He added: “I’m asking Ant and Dec because they have a strong voice and are highly respected TV presenters with a large following.”
Chris Packham has said Ant and Dec should “stand up and be counted” after sending a passionate open letter to the I’m A Celeb presenters calling on them to stop using animals on the show
The 62-year-old Springwatch presenter spoke on the Jeremy Vine Show about his public letter criticizing the show’s “exploitation of animals”, which was posted on X and received 25,000 likes
“You could use this power to do something big and ask ITV to stop this animal testing!”
Jeremy Vine then read out a viewer’s comment on Facebook, which said: “The animals are not being harmed and are being well cared for by trained people. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
Packham responded to the comment: “I just saw this clip – were those cockroaches well cared for?” Were the green ants well cared for?
“When you see the toads in the enclosures, don’t tell me that these animals are not stressed and that they are not being harmed.”
“We cannot make these artificial judgments. You know, people wouldn’t do that to kittens and puppies, would they?’
When Jeremy asked if he had been asked to take part in I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, Packham replied: “I think after the flood of letters I’ve transcribed over the years he would I probably do.” the last on the list to be invited into the jungle.
“But here’s one thing. If they would stop these trials and take on someone who would teach the participants the importance of these animals and, frankly, how extraordinarily lucky they are to spend time in a rainforest, a place where many people never have the opportunity to go , You know, the happiness of visiting them that are full of life, and then they need someone like me to be there as an educator to connect people with these animals and talk about how important they are.
In the interview, Chris said he believes presenters have an ethical responsibility to educate audiences about nature
He said on Wednesday’s show: “It’s time for her.” [Ant & Dec] to stand up and be recognized at a time when we all must do so if we want a healthy, sustainable future for our children.
Jeremy Vine then read out a viewer’s comment on Facebook, which said: “The animals are not harmed and are well cared for by trained people.” “There’s nothing to worry about.”
Pictured is Nella Rose, who took part in a test last week where her helmet was full of scary creatures
“And wouldn’t that be a fantastic change for ITV on a flagship program like this with an audience of millions?”
Chris also appeared on Sky News on Wednesday following his public letter.
Chris told Kay Burley: “In a show that was broadcast to a very large audience in Britain – a nation of animal lovers – animals are exploited and abused, just for entertainment, just for laughs.”
“This is something that is undeniably outdated.” We have abolished the circuses and the bear baiting. Unfortunately, dog fighting may continue to occur in some circles.
“We don’t use animals for entertainment anymore.” When I was growing up in the ’60s, we had chimpanzees dressing up for tea parties. It’s all gone.’
Chris asked, “Why does this persist in this one program?”
“There are many other ways they can test their participants in difficult trials that could be just as amusing.” “The animals could easily be replaced.”
While Chris admitted that eating live insects during the eating challenges has now been banned, many more people were needlessly killed during the bushtucker trials because they were trampled or crushed.
He said: “When it comes to live animals, ITV would certainly like to say that they have inspectors and carers on site to ensure that the law is followed in the treatment of these animals.”
“I suspect many of us say the laws aren’t strict enough and animals shouldn’t be treated this way.
“These laws generally only apply to similar mammals and some reptiles.” The invertebrates do not appear to be protected. Many of them are killed for show.’
Chris added: “It’s not helpful when we’re in the middle of a biodiversity crisis. “Many of us are trying to protect life, not ridicule or exploit it.”
ITV previously 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”.
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.
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?
“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.
Chris revealed he was running out of patience as he addressed the “appalling” animal cruelty being shown every night on ITV at 9pm in his open letter
Chris shared the open letter to the presenters on Monday on X, formerly Twitter, describing their hit ITV show as “embarrassing”.
Toads were used in the Bushtucker Trial Fishy Business earlier this week (Sam Thompson is pictured)
“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 change in format… 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.’