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I'm A Celebrity: Peter Andre responds to animal cruelty debate (exclusive)

Peter Andre has shared his thoughts on I'm A Celebrity's animal cruelty debate. (ITV/Shutterstock)
Peter Andre has shared his thoughts on I'm A Celebrity's animal cruelty debate. (ITV/Shutterstock)

Pop star Peter Andre writes exclusively for Yahoo about I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2022

The latest series of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! is one week in, and just like it said they would — things are starting to creep out of the woodwork.

Apparently the camp was cleared of bugs after Matt Hancock got stung by that scorpion. Some people assume the snakes and spiders are planted in the camp — but it’s Australia. You’ve got nine out of the 10 most deadly snakes in the world living in Australia as well as some of the deadliest spiders including the funnel-web. I remember even when I was on my way out of the jungle I saw a funnel-web spider in one of the production cabins.

Read more: Chris Packham slams 'medieval' animal cruelty on I'm A Celeb

They live there, they don’t need to plant them!

Matt Hancock was stung by a scorpion on 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' (ITV/Shutterstock)
Matt Hancock was stung by a scorpion on 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' (ITV/Shutterstock)

There are some that say the show is cruel to animals because of the insects and other creatures being used in the trials. And maybe they’ve got a fair point, because I didn’t really think about that before. But there are certain cultures where they eat bugs, just like some of us eat meat.

Many complain that in this instance these innocent creatures are being harmed for entertainment or pleasure. But then we have to think that if you go out for a burger, it’s not for survival. You’re eating an innocent animal for pleasure.

It’s a discussion to be had, but I’m not sure how easy it is to change a generation’s way of thinking. You’re opening a whole can of worms — if you’ll excuse the pun.

Sting in the tale

Peter Andre Performing At Wembley Arena, London, Britain - Jul 1997, Peter Andre (Photo by Brian Rasic/Getty Images)
Peter Andre performing at Wembley Arena in 1997. (Brian Rasic/Getty Images)

I sort of know what it’s like to get stung by a scorpion. I was recording my album back in 1997 at a house in Beverly Hills and my manager Claire [Powell] was there. Suddenly she screamed and it was like she’d trodden on glass. And I looked down at the floor and there was this huge scorpion and I trapped it under a glass.

We rang the ambulance because she started feeling unwell and the guy laughed at me. He said “Here in this part of Beverly Hills we haven’t had a report of a scorpion sting for over 50 years.” He said it would be some kind of false scorpion.

Read more: Matt Hancock stung by scorpion

They sent the paramedics and I showed them the scorpion and he said, “Well I’ll be damned!” Fortunately she was alright, but it’s scary being stung by a scorpion. Matt Hancock handled that very well. He got on with the task. Thankfully some of the other contestants are now able to have a go.

Jungle wallflowers

Scarlette Douglas and Jill Scott on 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!'  (ITV/Shutterstock)
Scarlette Douglas and Jill Scott on 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' (ITV/Shutterstock)

There are actually a few people in the camp this year who are probably quite relieved Matt Hancock turned up — because it means they’ve been able to fly under the radar. We haven’t really seen enough of some of them, and there’s a lot of controversy surrounding certain other campmates.

But be sure — things are about to change. Because that’s what happens on this show, in a week’s time everything will be completely different and it's time for other people's dirty laundry to be aired.

Read more: Boy George says inmates loved him in prison

I’m also enjoying seeing the good side of people’s personalities come out. I’m loving Jill [Scott], not just because she sang my song, but because she comes across great, And when she told her story about how she made it into football, and the struggles she had — I think a lot of people felt for her. She’s the girl next door who had a dream.

Mike Tindall swimming on 'I'm A Celebrity'
Mike Tindall swimming on 'I'm A Celebrity'. (ITV)

Then you’ve got Mike Tindall. Anyone who can rock the budgie smugglers like that is pretty cool in my book, because I would not be keen to work that look! He seems like a really nice bloke. I remember the first week of the show when I was in there, the comments about me were all really horrible. And then I was doing a trial with Kerry Katona and acting all confident and then I fell in a ditch! And all of a sudden everyone was laughing and they said, ‘You know what — he’s a normal bloke’.

And this is one thing I love about the British public. They are so forgiving.

The Matt Hancock show

Matt Hancock has joined the jungle show. (ITV)
Matt Hancock has joined the jungle show. (ITV)

I’ve been really surprised by the number of people contacting me on social media to say they two things: One half saying that they think Matt Hancock seems like a really nice guy whilst others are saying I shouldn't even mention his name as if he were Voldemort. You see there are many that are not that interested in politics, or were not directly affected by the pandemic.

It’s very easy to just take anyone at face value on a TV show. He’s opened up about a few things, he’s coming across as a nice guy. But remember: he is a politician — one of the greatest acting professions in the world in my opinion (LOL).

But some are very angry indeed that he's even allowed airtime — it’s a 'Catch 22' situation. Get your popcorn ready, because this is only the beginning.

Pop star Peter Andre writes exclusively for Yahoo about I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2022

Watch: Matt Hancock talks politics in the jungle