‘Police investigating I’m a Celebrity’ amid fears non-native bugs escaping into Welsh countryside – Evening Standard
P
olice are reportedly investigating I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! amid concerns non-native wildlife could have escaped into the Welsh countryside during bushtucker trials. Officers are probing the programme over its use of non-native species of bugs including cockroaches, maggots, spiders and worms, according to The Guardian.
A spokesman for the programme defended the use of bugs, saying all of the insects used during the programme are “non-invasive species”. The Guardian said the programme had potentially breached the Wildlife and Countryside Act if it failed to get a licence for the release of the insects. I’m A Celebrity: Who’s in the castle?
I’m A Celebrity is being filmed in Wales rather than its usual location in Australia due to the coronavirus pandemic. A range of insects have been used during the programme’s notoriously unpleasant trials which have seen large quantities of bugs dumped onto the celebrities as they take part in challenges. The programme’s spokesman added: “All of the insects used on I’m A Celebrity are non-invasive species.
“They are only ever released in a contained area and collected immediately after filming. “The bugs are UK-bred and are commercially purchased in the UK for birds and exotic animal feed for pets and zoo keepers in normal circumstances. “Our insects have been donated to local wildlife sanctuaries, trusts and zoos for their exotic animal and bird feed after filming.”
I’m A Celebrity …
Get Me Out Of Here!: Past Winners – In pictures
2002
Tony Blackburn
Rex Features
2003
Phil Tuffnell
Rex Features
2004
Kerry Katona
Rex Features
2004
Joe Pasquale (second series)
Rex Features
2005
Carol Thatcher
2006
Matt Willis
2007
Christopher Biggins
Rex Features
2008
Joe Swash
Rex Features
2009
Gino D’Acampo
TV
2010
Stacey Solomon
Rex Features
2011
Dougie Poynter
Rex Features
2012
Charlie Brooks
PA
2013
Kian Egan
2014
Carl Fogarty
Rex Features
2015
Vicky Pattison
Rex Features
2016
Scarlett Moffatt
Rex Features
2017
Georgia Toffolo
PA
2018
Harry Redknapp
Rex Features
2019
Jacqueline Jossa
Rex Features
Welsh naturalist and BBC Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams raised questions over the programme’s use of the creatures.
Last week he tweeted: “As well as the moral issue of using wild animals for entertainment, surely there are huge ecological issues here also.”
Related
Celebrities including athlete Sir Mo Farah, TV presenter Vernon Kay and journalist Victoria Derbyshire are among the famous faces taking part in this series of the programme.
Filming is taking place at Gwrych Castle near Abergele, north Wales.
