To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

I'm A Celeb Bans Live Bugs From Bush Tucker Eating Tasks

I'm A Celeb Bans Live Bugs From Bush Tucker Eating Tasks

Animal lovers have branded it 'cruel' in the past

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

Bosses at I'm A Celeb have banned the use of live bugs in eating trials in the jungles after animal lovers complained.

Apparently, producers of the show have decided that the trials don't need live animals to be eaten, and that none of them would be used in the food challenges this year.

An ITV source said: "No live critters will be eaten in the Bush Tucker Trials this year. Producers have taken a look at the trials and decided that no live critters would be eaten in the Trials this year.

"They have been planning this for some time and actually last year beach worms were the only critters eaten live but this time around they've decided to implement the change fully and permanently."

Yum.
Pixabay

Many have called for an end to the eating of live bugs, including TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham, who wrote an open letter to Ant and Dec - not that I'm sure it's their choice what the trials involve.

In the scathing letter, he asks the Geordie duo to stop 'abuse of animals', saying that it's an embarrassment.

Part of Packham's letter reads: "Further, to say that exploiting animals for entertainment is a thing of the past in civilised societies in the 21st century should be a given.

"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.

TV presenter Chris Packham labelled the trials 'animal abuse'.
PA

"The cruel exploitation of wildlife for gratuitous entertainment on your programme is now no more than an ugly anachronism.

"It's embarrassing the great reputation of the UK as a 'nation of animal lovers'. I am certain that you and the imaginative producers at ITV could find very entertaining ways of replacing these segments of your show.

"So can I please, on behalf of a large and growing number of people, ask you to immediately stop abusing animals on I'm a Celebrity?

"Declan, you have a daughter, please think about how she will perceive your actions as she grows into a world increasingly devoid of wildlife... we are now all aware that we have a duty to safeguard our world for future generations."

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright will star in this year's series.
ITV

It's also been confirmed that following the extensive wildfires across New South Wales in Australia, camp fires won't be used this year either.

An ITV spokesperson confirmed: "In light of the current situation in Australia, I'm A Celebrity will not feature an open camp fire. Instead, camp mates will cook their food and boil their water on a specially made gas stove."

I'm A Celebrity returns on Sunday at 9pm on ITV.

Featured Image Credit: ITV

Topics: I'm a celebrity, TV and Film, UK Entertainment