RSPCA Cymru raises ‘serious concerns’ about welfare of animals featured on North Wales-based I’m a Celebrity series

RSPCA Cymru has raised “serious concerns” about the welfare of animals featured on the set of this year’s North Wales-based I’m a Celebrity series.

The charity got in touch with the producers of the ITV reality show ahead of last night’s launch episode filmed at Gwrych Castle, near Abergele.

It voiced worries as it said creatures had been dropped, thrown, handled roughly, crushed, chased, overcrowded, scared by contestants and prevented from escaping from stressful experiences since the programme first started.

It claimed there had also been incidents where animals had been killed for no other purpose than entertainment.

But despite producers responding to its reservations, the charity said they had made clear that animals would still be used in this year’s series.

The first episode reflected this with the celebrities seen being showered in bugs.

In a statement on its website, the RSPCA said: “The show’s messaging and the potential to prompt people to try and copy the ‘bushtucker trials’ at home for entertainment is worrying and 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.

“Throughout the years, we’ve been raising our concerns with the production company about how animals were being treated on the Australia-based programme, but we never received a response from the show.

“We were very pleased when the show’s production company got in touch with us in the planning stages of this year’s series, set here in the UK.

“We spoke to them about changing the way they use animals along with the change of continent – perhaps introducing welfare-friendly alternatives to animal use in the trials.

“However, we were really disappointed to be told that they would continue to be using animals in this way during this series.

“We know that many of you, the animal loving public, agree with us and really dislike the use of animals in this way.”

The charity said it would continue to urge ITV and the production company to rethink the way they use animals in I’m A Celebrity and replace the challenges with animal-friendly alternatives.

It said representatives would be watching the programme to flag up any concerns.

The RSPCA highlighted that many creatures used in the challenges, such as cockroaches and crickets, are invertebrates and aren’t covered by the Animal Welfare Act or the Performing Animals Act, which apply in Wales, meaning they have little protection under the law.

However, it said it would take action where it could.

The charity added: “The best way to take action if you’re unhappy about anything you see on television is to contact Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator.

“You can also contact ITV directly to voice your concerns for animal welfare on their programme.”

Main image “Bush Cockroach” by AdaMacey is licensed under CC BY 2.0