Chris Packham, the BBC wildlife presenter and animal activist, has disclosed that he sends an annual letter to Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, the hosts of ITV's I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, to protest the show's use of animals in Bushtucker trials. The 65-year-old Springwatch presenter told Radio Times that he believes the programme exploits creatures solely for entertainment and reinforces negative stereotypes about certain species.
Packham's Longstanding Complaint
Packham, who is set to front a new BBC science show titled Evolution, has been vocal about his disapproval of the reality programme's format. He stated that his annual correspondence aims to highlight how animals are being used "purely for entertainment" and that the show "reinforces negative stereotypes about [certain] sorts of animals." Despite his persistent efforts, Packham has yet to receive a response from Ant and Dec.
In 2023, Packham took to X (formerly Twitter) to publish a strongly-worded letter to the Geordie duo, in which he described the show as "grotesque" and "exploitative." He wrote: "I've tried to be polite but my patience has run thin." He also urged ITV executives to "listen to the voices of concern [and] read the writing on the wall," pointing to declining audience numbers as evidence of growing discontent.
ITV's Response and Animal Welfare Protocols
In response to Packham's 2023 criticism, ITV issued a statement defending the show's practices. The broadcaster emphasised its commitment to transparency and animal welfare, stating: "We are always fully transparent about our protocols and we have a very strict environmental plan in place on the show." The statement further explained that all Bushtucker trials involving animals comply with regional and national laws, and that qualified animal handlers are present at all times. ITV also noted that the RSPCA NSW is informed of all activities and has an open invitation to visit the set.
The statement added: "We cannot stress enough that we have rigorous protocols in place to ensure that animals are handled safely at all times, before, during and after any filming has taken place, in compliance with all regional and national laws." However, Packham remains unconvinced and plans to continue his annual letters.
Packham's New BBC Series: Evolution
Meanwhile, Packham is preparing to present Evolution, a new BBC science programme that charts four billion years of life on Earth through five extraordinary creatures: the bat, the peacock, the kangaroo, and others. Each episode will examine a different species' evolutionary journey. Packham also used the series to reflect on his own neurodiversity within an evolutionary context. He said: "I mean, why wouldn't we be neurologically diverse, so that in a time of crisis, a percentage of our population would be better equipped to deal with it and more likely to survive? Neurodiversity must have been advantageous throughout the course of our species' history."
Evolution begins at 9pm on Monday 13 July on BBC Two and iPlayer.
