Animal rights activists call for I’m a Celebrity boycott over “tired, tacky and cruel” Bushtucker trials

Animal rights activists have called for viewers to boycott I’m a Celebrity over its “tired, tacky and cruel” Bushtucker trials.

Peta claims that animals, such as live rats, snakes, spiders cockroaches and mealworms, are being used for “cheap laughs” on the hit ITV show, which is hosted by Ant and Dec.

More than eight million fans are expected to tune into next Sunday’s opening episode, which will be filmed at the Gwrych Castle in Conwy for the second year running, instead of its usual camp in Australia due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Jennifer White, Peta UK’s media and communications manager, told the Metro that ITV “must change the structure of the show” if they want to stay relevant.

“Every season of this show brings more cruelty to our screens,” she said.

“Animals are terrified and abused and killed for these challenges and it’s all for a cheap laugh.

“We encourage everyone to boycott watching this year’s show.”

Jennifer also said that it is “incredibly disappointing” that the change of setting from Australia to Wales did not bring with it an overhaul to the format of the show in the form of a ban on the use of live animals.

“People didn’t want to see animals being eaten alive and they got rid of live eating challenges,” she said.

“But we’re still seeing animals being treated in these incredibly horrific ways, all to try and up their TV ratings.”