Ant and Dec have been urged to quit I'm A Celebrity just days before the latest series kicks off.
The hosting duo have starred in the show for over two decades, and will return for this season which features Boy George and Mike Tindall among others. A fan-favourite feature of the show is the Bushtucker trials, but a letter has recently hit out, calling the trials "cruel".
Not only that, the scathing letter also calls 46-year-old Ant and Dec, 47 "complicit". The letter was written by animal rights organisation PETA and calls for the two to quit the show.
The ITV programme features various challenges that include snakes, insects and other animals, and PETA claim that these animals are "tormented" for the sake of entertainment.
As reported by The Echo Online, the letter, from PETA's Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen, addresses Ant and Dec directly and states: "For 20 years, you have been complicit in the 'bushtucker trials', standing by as animals of all descriptions are tormented – and even killed – for TV ratings.
"In this time, you must surely have become aware of the suffering, discomfort, and fear that these unwilling participants endure during the challenges. Ostriches, crocodiles, snakes, rats, and thousands of insects have been exploited for the show’s puerile pranks – and we fear that the upcoming series will be no different."
The note also adds that the show could come up with "clever and captivating tasks that harm no animals".
It then urges Ant and Dec to make the upcoming All Stars series of I'm A Celeb their last and says the move "would signal to the show’s producers that people aren’t going to stand for senseless cruelty to animals anymore and that it’s time to change".
The letter ends with: "So please, hang up your hats and get yourselves out of there – for animals’ sake."
PETA's letter also says they have received more than 50,000 signatures on their petition, urging ITV to "stop abusing animals" on I'm A Celeb.
A spokesperson for I'm A Celebrity told the Mirror : "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."
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