I’m A Celeb hit with record number of complaints over controversial part of Bushtucker trials

I'M A Celebrity has been hit with a record number of complaints over a controversial part of its Bucktucker trials.

The RSPCA has received over 17,000 complaints regarding the show's use of live animals to create frightening challenges.

I'm A Celeb has included the use of bugs, snakes and reptiles since it first aired in 2002.

But their inclusion and portrayal of the animals has ignited a fiery response among those who don't want to see the critters included in the Bushtucker trials.

The tasks see I'm A Celebrity contestants complete to win meals for camp by collecting stars.

If they fail to win any stars then they have to survive off basic staples - like beans and rice.

Each trial usually involves getting close to Aussie critters like cockroaches, maggots and snakes.

In some of the more memorable Bucktucker trials, George Shelley had to rip open pigs balls to find three stars.

Alison Hammond and Kayla Collins once had to sit and put alive and kicking insects in their mouths for 20 seconds. This included grasshoppers, giant burrowing cockroaches, water spiders, yabbies and a stick insect.

Alex Best took on the Tunnel of Trouble which saw the model crawl through five tanks containing all manner of bugs, all while trying to pick up 10 stars with her mouth to win meals for the camp.

One of the most hard-to-watch eating trials was the one with Katie Price and Kim Woodburn's. They were forced to eat fish eyes, a cricket, a cockroach, kangaroo anus, a witchetty grub and a kangaroo testicle.

More than 1,500 viewers were left horrified and complained when Ferne McCann had to eat a live Tarantula which made noises moving around in the glass before a disgusting crunch sound was heard as she was chewing it.

The series has also seen Jordan North struggling with snakes, AJ Pritchard being bombarded with mealworms and crickets and Shane Richie being crawled over by naked rats.

The RSPCA is disappointed to see this year nothing has changed after last year's show saw more than 13,000 complaints.

Officials from the animal charity are urging the production company to think again and entertain the UK public without resorting to anti-animal trials. 

They say show bosses are putting sentient animals such as reptiles in distressing and inappropriate situations and invertebrate animals have routinely been put at risk of being crushed during trials.

RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said: "Sadly, we are once again seeing many live animals on our TV screens put in situations that could compromise their welfare for a quick laugh. 

“We are also concerned at the way the programme portrays animals; it risks trivialising their lives for the sake of light ‘entertainment’.

"With people discussing how scared they are, and animals portrayed in such a negative light, this programme is a long way from the RSPCA’s vision of a world where all animals are respected and treated with kindness and compassion.

We are always fully transparent about our protocols and we have a very strict environmental plan in place on the show.

ITV spokesperson

“And now that animal sentience - the ability of animals to have positive and negative experiences like pain, distress or pleasure - is recognised in UK law, portraying live animals to UK viewers in this way in I'm a Celebrity is out of sync with this progressive step back home.

"We've previously urged the production company behind I'm a Celebrity to think again - and entertain the animal-loving UK public without resorting to anti-animal Bushtucker Trials; and now thousands of supporters have written to ITV Viewer Services to back us too.

Chris added: "It’s encouraging that a record 17,000 of our supporters have already written to ITV this year to air their views.

"We believe it is very possible to produce this programme without compromising the welfare of animals, so urge all those connected with 'I'm a Celebrity' to re-think and update this show in line with public opinion."

After thousands people voiced frustrations over the use of animals last year as well, the RSPCA hopes to put pressure on the programme to change its ways.

In a statement, ITV defended the inclusion of living creatures and said strict measures are in place to ensure safety to both them and the contestant.

A spokesman said: "We are always fully transparent about our protocols and we have a very strict environmental plan in place on the show.

"As a production, we comply with all regional and national laws concerning the use of insects, animals and reptiles.

"Welfare and safety is always the primary priority on any of our programmes, and at any Bushtucker trial that features animals, we have qualified and experienced animal handlers on site at all times.

"We inform the RSPCA NSW of all of our activities on the show and they have an open invitation to attend the site at any time.

"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."