The conservationist compares ITV actuality present to pursuits which are ‘the sad preserve of psychopathic criminals’
Tue 28 Nov 2023 11.40 CET
Chris Packham has written a letter to Ant and Dec, accusing I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! of exploiting animals.
In the missive, released on X (previously Twitter), he states that this isn’t the primary time he has tried to have interaction with the present’s presenters about animal welfare requirements on the fact present, however that his earlier “polite, reasonable and constructive” makes an attempt had been ignored so “this time I’ll be a little more frank and forthright”.
“I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! remains a grotesque blot on the reputations of both yourselves and ITV,” wrote Packham. “Its continued exploitation of animals for entertainment is an anachronistic embarrassment and betrays a dangerous disconnect between a world increasingly concerned with an environmental crisis, and a reckless… part of the media which doesn’t appear to give a shit.”
Packham claims that his letter – which has been seen 1.3m occasions on X – is written in his private capability fairly than in his function because the president of the RSPCA, however that final yr the charity obtained 17,000 complaints concerning the present’s remedy of animals. He states that he and plenty of RSPCA followers “are sick of your perceived disregard for animal welfare and the way that we feel about it”.
According to Packham, I’m a Celebrity … undermines the “fundamental respect for life” that’s wanted to persuade folks to take motion in opposition to the local weather disaster.
“What’s absolutely pitiful is that it does it for laughs. Just for amusement. Twenty-eight percent of the world’s monitored species are threatened with extinction. Is that funny? Is that a laugh?”
The wildlife broadcaster additionally claimed that viewing figures urged that “maybe your viewers need a change of format,” as a result of viewers for I’m a Celebrity … tailing off from a November 2022 peak of 10 million to this yr’s peak of seven.8 million.
“Look at the world, listen to the voices of concern, read the writing on the wall. Circuses have gone, dancing bears have gone, cock and dog fighting are the sad preserve of psychopathic criminals. We have no performing dolphins in the UK and no chimpanzees dressed up for tea time,” he stated. “The cruel exploitation of wildlife for gratuitous entertainment on your programme continues to damage the great reputation of the UK as a ‘nation of animal lovers’.”
Instead of continuous the fact present’s “abuse of animals”, Packham means that the programme donate a share of income to conservation charities, spotlight their work and that Ant and Dec current a programme on the subject. “I’ll loan you my binoculars,” stated the conservationist.
A spokesperson for I’m a Celebrity … responded to say that they adjust to all legal guidelines relating to animal utilization and have a strict environmental plan in place. “Welfare and safety is always the primary priority on any of our programmes, and at any bushtucker trial that features animals, we have qualified and experienced animal handlers on site at all times,” they commented.
“We inform the RSPCA NSW of all of our activities on the show and they have an open invitation to attend the site at any time. We cannot stress enough that we have rigorous protocols in place to ensure that animals are handled safely at all times, before, during and after any filming has taken place, in compliance with all regional and national laws.”
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