The RSPCA has called for Ofcom to step in over I’m A Celebrity - saying "animals should not be crushed and killed on TV". The RSPCA says living creatures have been "dropped, thrown, handled roughly, chased and crushed" since I'm A Celebrity first aired in 2002.
During Monday's episode, Nigel Farage tucked into a pizza topped with four different animal penises as he took on his first bushtucker trial on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here. The former MP and GB News presenter teamed up with YouTuber Nella Rose for the Jungle Pizzeria task, with the pair winning nine of ten stars for their efforts.
The charity says: "With our previous calls for change ignored, we’re more concerned than ever about the use of live animals on the show and the example it sets for viewers. The show's messaging and the potential to prompt people to try and copy the 'bushtucker trials' at home for entertainment is also worrying.
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"We feel that deliberately portraying certain species as nasty or frightening or as objects that can be used purely for entertainment rather than sentient, living creatures sends out totally the wrong message." The RSPCA went on: "While we understand that I’m a Celeb is a popular form of entertainment, we're only asking producers to stop using living creatures in this capacity."
ITV said: "I'm A Celebrity complies with animal welfare law concerning the use of animals and we are proud of our exemplary production practices." Among the various other unappetising toppings Farage chowed down on included camel and sheep udder, cow and goat feet and blended bull's tongue. As Rose tried not to vomit while tasting dishes that included giant mealworms and fly pupae, Farage offered her words of encouragement.
For his last meal, Farage had to eat a slice with a sheep, pig, bull and crocodile penis - which secured him his fifth and final gold star.