Chris Packham has accused Ant and Dec of deliberately ignoring his calls for them to meet up with him to discuss the treatment of animals on I’m A Celebrity.
The Springwatch presenter has been one of the ITV reality show’s biggest critics in recent years, and was even booed at the TV Choice Awards in September when he accused bosses of “abusing” animals in Bushtucker Trials.
Speaking to the Daily Star, Chris has now suggested that presenters Ant and Dec were complicit in I’m A Celebrity’s treatment of animals, claiming the pair have repeatedly snubbed his offers to talk about the issue in detail.
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Chris Packham
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“Every year for the past five years I’ve written to the producers of the programme complaining about the way they stereotype animals and abuse them. I always write to them and I’ve never had a reply,” he said.
“I then published an open letter in Radio Times asking for a personal reply from Ant and Dec. They didn’t reply.”
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Ant and Dec
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Chris continued: “I’m told it’s ITV’s most lucrative programme. I think they still believe that a significant part of the audience are titillated by animals being abused. But that is wrong.
“The whole thing utterly appals me and goes against everything I seek to achieve as a broadcaster. We are looking at a programme I feel is out of date.
“We’ve done away with circuses and dolphinariums. The way we think about animals is changing very rapidly and it’s time I’m A Celebrity caught up.”
While Sarah Harding might have been the first GA member to appear on reality TV after the band's split, The Sun reported Nadine is hoping to follow her Celebrity Big Brother success with a stint in the jungle. (credit:PA Archive/PA Images)
Caitlyn Jenner(02 of10)
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Known for: Reality star and member of the Kardashian family
Caitlyn is reportedly this year's star signing, with The Sun claiming she's agreed a record-breaking £500,000 appearance fee - the highest for any campmate in the show's history. Interestingly, Caitlyn previously took part in the US version of the show a decade ago, making it to the final four. (credit:SIPA USA/PA Images)
Ian Wright(03 of10)
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Known for: Former footballer and commentator
Back in June, Ian was said to be in "advanced talks" to enter the jungle after The Sun reported he had been offered a "offered a six figure sum" to take part. (credit:PA Archive/PA Images)
James Haskell(04 of10)
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Known for: Former England rugby player
James was linked to the jungle back in August, with The Sun claiming producers were hoping to see him "shed light on having Richard and Judy as his in-laws”. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)
Kate Garraway(05 of10)
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Known for: Good Morning Britain presenter
Kate has done nothing to downplay rumours she's set to enter the jungle, admitting she was "sweating" when pressed by co-host Ben Shepherd on Good Morning Britain. "Even if I was doing it, I couldn't say I was doing it," she said. (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Jacqueline Jossa(06 of10)
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Known for: Former EastEnders star
Jacqueline was originally believed to be taking part in X Factor: Celebrity, but it was then reported she'd changed her mind and decided to appear on I'm A Celebrity instead. (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Roman Kemp(07 of10)
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Known for: Capital Radio Breakfast presenter and son of Martin and Shirlie Kemp
According to The Sun, I'm A Celeb bosses were attracted to Roman as a potential campmate given his celebrity connections. (credit:SIPA USA/PA Images)
Andy Whyment(08 of10)
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Known for: Playing Kirk Sutherland in Coronation Street
There's always a Corrie star on the line-up, isn't there? And while Kym Marsh and Lucy Fallon were both reported to be taking part, it seems producers went with Andy in the end. (credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
Adele Roberts(09 of10)
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Known for: Being a Radio 1 DJ
Adele was the final star added to The Sun's rumoured line-up, and while she's known for her work on the radio, she does have some reality TV experience already, having appeared on the same series of Big Brother as Alison Hammond and the late Jade Goody. (credit:Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images)
Myles Stephenson(10 of10)
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Known for: Winning X Factor 2017 as part of Rak-Su
The singer was linked to a spot on the I'm A Celeb line-up just weeks after he split from girlfriend, Love Island star Gabby Allen. (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)