Chris Packham wants Ant & Dec to help stop ‘I’m A Celerity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ from using animals.
The TV wildlife presenter has hit out at the ITV reality show’s use of creatures during the Bushtucker trials, and he admitted while he wants to speak to the Geordie duo about the issue, his real problem is with the programme’s bosses.
He’s quoted by the Daily Mirror newspaper as saying: "When I see them being harmed or killed for entertainment, I wonder if we are not in the Middle Ages.
"It’s about change. People have to accept that we have to make changes now.
"I have never met Ant and Dec but rest assured if I did, I would be chatting about it. But it’s the programme producers I’d really like to get in a room."
Two years ago, bosses came under wife when Vanessa White was seen holding live bugs in her mouth during a trial.
An ITV spokesman said: "As a production, ‘I’m a Celebrity complies with al regional and national laws concerning the use of insects animals and reptiles."
Just last month, ‘Autumnwatch’ host Chris used his platform at the TV Choice Awards to criticise the jungle series as he collected the prize for est Factual Show on behalf of ‘Blue Planet’.
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, but it’s not the first time he’s openly slated the show.
He previously told BANG Showbiz: "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."
Chris Packham wants I’m A Celebrity to stop using animals
