Yahoo News I'm a Celebrity gets complaints over crocodile Bushtucker Trial
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! was a huge hit last year, but there was one Bushtucker Trial which caused controversy.
The ITV reality show received 53 Ofcom complaints about animal welfare during the December 1 episode, which included a crocodile with its mouth taped shut.
Ofcom assessed the complaints but will not be investigating further.
The Bushtucker Trial in question – called Savage Sewer – saw campmate Sair Khan entering a number of tunnels with the aim of retrieving stars. Sair succeeded in winning 10 stars that day.
On the night of broadcast, a number of viewers expressed concerns over how the crocodile was treated.
"It would be far more entertaining if the poor crocs mouth wasn't strapped," said one Twitter user on December 1. "Just sayin'."
This was not the only instance of the show taping a crocodile's mouth shut for a Bushtucker Trial, and viewers voiced their disapproval later on in the series as well.
"I've loved this series but I'm so not okay with them taping the crocs mouth for a trial," said one fan on December 7.
"The bit where Harry [Redknapp] is doing the trial with the crocodile in the cage with him – the croc has his mouth taped shut! Look closely!" said another viewer commenting on the same episode. "Cruel bastards. Just don't do trial with dangerous animals, eh."
Digital Spy has reached out to ITV for comment.
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! aired on ITV.
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