Springwatch presenter Chris Packham has doubled down on his recent criticism of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of here!, over the way animals are treated on the show.
Last month, Chris was booed at the TV Choice Awards when he accused I’m A Celeb bosses of “abusing” animals, urging producers to reconsider including living creatures in future Bushtucker Trials.
But despite the frosty reception he received from TV insiders at the bash, Chris is sticking to his guns, comparing the treatment of animals on the ITV reality show to the “Middle Ages”.
“When I see [animals] being harmed or killed for entertainment, I wonder if we are not in the Middle Ages,” he told The Mirror.
“It’s about change. People have to accept that we have to make changes now.”
Chris added: “I have never met Ant and Dec but rest assured if I did, I would be chatting about it. But it’s the programme producers I’d really like to get in a room.”
An ITV representative previously insisted: “As a production, I’m A Celebrity complies with all regional and national laws concerning the use of insects animals and reptiles.”
In 2017, Chris told BANG Showbiz that he would never agree to appear on I’m A Celebrity, branding the show “disgusting” and a “shabby circus”.
I’m A Celebrity returns for its 19th series next month, and will see Ant McPartlin returning to the show after a year off.
For last year’s series, Ant was replaced by Holly Willoughby while he focussed on his recovery, following his arrest for drink-driving.
Among the rumoured contestants for the upcoming run are Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle, football pundit Ian Wright and rugby player James Haskell.
