I’M A Celebrity fans have called for a “disgusting” part of the show to be axed ahead of the new series.
In the past, ITV have been slammed by the RSPCA for celebrating the “mistreatment” of animals on the show for entertainment.
The jungle 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.
Some have once again flooded social media to hit out at the ITV series for using live animals in Bushtucker Trials and begged for it to be scrapped.
One wrote: “Never watched this s***, and never will. The cruelty to/exploitation of wildlife here for human entertainment is beyond disgusting. There’s NO justification for it, and this show should have been stopped years ago.”
A second demanded: “Ban I’m A Celeb – gratuitous violent cruelty to other creatures for entertainment!”
A third echoed: “I can think of way more than five reasons, this drivel is SO wrong on so many levels – but OK this is just a start,” along with an animal cruelty poster.
Charity Protect the Wild said the “use of invasive species is wrong” and “depicting animals as objects was inhumane”.
They also said that despite public outcry for change and expert criticism, the ITV show has continued to “ignore” pleas for change”.
Last year, animal welfare charity, the RSPCA, 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.”
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.
I’m A Celeb kicks off on November 16 with a host of famous faces.
Filming has already begun for the show with contestants competing against each other in the first challenge.
The Sun revealed that the celebs will race into the jungle when this year’s show kicks off – with the winners ruling over camp.
The stars will choose their partners under playground-style picking rules before dashing in, with the new challenge called Snakes and Leaders.
Now in first look photos, the celebrities are seen meeting for the first time as a luxury property in New South Wales.
One picture shows The Sun’s columnist and Loose Women star Jane Moore embracing her fellow jungle stars – including McFly‘s Danny Jones, Strictly pro Oti Mabuse, pop star Tulisa and Dean McCullough.
After some friendly exchanges, each contestant is then seen running for a helicopter as the first challenge kicks off.
Each year, two sets of celebrities form a group at the beginning of the series, and it looks like this year will be no different.
The other contestants competing this year includes radio and TV presenter Melvin Odoom, YouTube sensation GK Barry, Coronation Street star Alan Halsall, Coleen Rooney and ex boxer Barry McGuigan.
Latecomers include Maura Higgins and Richard Coles.
