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Simon Duke

I'm A Celebrity hit by Ofcom complaints as viewers 'on verge of panic attack' at graphic vomiting

I'm A Celebrity has already found itself at the centre of some controversy after viewers, some who claimed they were 'left on the verge' of a panic attack, complained to Ofcom about the graphic content of the launch episode.

After serious doubts had been cast over the show even happening this year, it stormed back onto screens on Sunday with an audience of 12 million tuning into ITV to see Ant and Dec broadcast live from Gwyrch Castle in Wales.

There were plenty of thrills and spills in the first episode as a lineup including Mo Farah, Beverley Callard and Jordan North had their first taste of life as I'm A Celebrity contestants.

And it was cameras showing Radio 1 DJ Jordan violently vomiting, sound effects and all, that left some viewers feeling more than than just a bit queezy at home.

In a statement, Ofcom said: ‘Ofcom has received a total of 79 complaints for last night’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! of which 37 related to scenes of Jordan vomiting and 18 related to non-specific animal welfare."

There were a lot of angry tweets from people who suffer from emetophobia - an extreme fear of vomiting, seeing vomit, watching other people vomit, or feeling sick.

A viewer's complaint about the vomiting (Twitter)

Complaining about the vomiting on Twitter, one shaken viewer posted: "...the super close zoom of the vomit leaving the mouth and the turned up audio of the retching - how horrific!! Who decided that was ok to air?!?!" and another reacted: "ITV really shouldn’t have put the clip of Jordan throwing up on there because it’s not pleasant and also there are people like myself who have a fear of vomit and now I’m on the verge of a panic attack."

Directly tweeting ITV, the same viewer added: "Just do a quick scroll through tweets of people commenting on this - emetophobia is a super common thing and it’s just not necessary to air someone’s vulnerable moment to disgust and cause panic to people, the show stands on its own without this!! Or give warning"

The animal welfare Ofcom complaints stem from the celebs having creepy crawlies dropped on them during the Gates to Hell trial and then eating rabbit for dinner.

I'm A Celebrity continues on Monday night when Jordan will be joined by Shane Richie to take on Viper Vault - the first trial to be voted on by the public.

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