Chris Packham criticises I’m A Celebrity… for ‘abusing’ animals

Chris Packham has called for producers on ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ to stop "abusing" animals on the reality show
The ‘Springwatch’ host was on hand at the 2019 TV Choice Awards to pick up the Best Factual Show prize on behalf of ‘Blue Planet’ and used his time on stage to criticise ITV’s jungle series for using a variety of insects and animals in the Bushtucker Trials endured by the famous contestants.
He said: "’I’m A Celebrity’, can you please think about no longer abusing animals on your programme?"
Packham’s comment prompted boos from some of the guests in attendance at the ceremony which was held at The London Hilton on Park Lane on Monday night (09.09.19).
The nature expert also used his speech to hit out at producers of TV wildlife shows for not doing enough to emphasise that the world is going through a "climate and environment emergency".
He said: "Our oceans are full of plastic. The Amazon, the lungs of the world is on fire. We will be breathing toxic air on our way back home tonight. Toxic air that will kill thousands of people in our beloved capital. We have to make a change. Making changes takes courage … We’ve got to start giving them the truth."
Just minutes before Packham’s comments, Holly Willoughby had been on stage to collect the gong for Best Reality TV Show for ‘I’m A Celebrity…’ following her stint as co-host alongside Ant McPartlin last year.
Holly co-hosted for one series whilst Dec’s regular presenting partner Declan Donnelly was on hiatus to receive treatment for alcoholism.
This is not the first time that Packham has spoken out to criticise ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ as he previously branded the programme "disgusting" for using animals for human entertainment.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz, he said: "I’d 100 per cent turn down ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ or ‘Bear Grylls’ because those animals are being used for nothing but entertainment. It’s nothing more than a shabby circus, it’s frankly disgusting."