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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Molly Pike

I'm A Celebrity petition gets 13k signatures in a week as PETA calls for end to animal tasks

A petition against the "cruel" animal tasks in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! has garnered a whopping 13,000 signatures in just a week.

Animal rights organisation PETA told Mirror Online that their petition has received a huge amount of support already after being up for just a matter of days.

In it PETA accused the ITV reality show of "abusing" animals and killing them for a "cheap, immature laugh" to drive up ratings.

It called on the show to stop using animals in bushtucker trials all together and replace them with "real challenges suitable for this century".

I'm A Celebrity petition against animal cruelty has got 13k signatures in a week (James Gourley/ITV/REX)

PETA said in a statement: "After nearly two decades on our screens, during which thousands of complaints have been logged with Ofcom, it's beyond shameful that I'm a Celeb is still allowed to roll out the same tired, tacky, moronic, and – worse – cruel 'challenges' year after year.

"People are no longer wondering whether a celebrity will win plastic stars but rather whether the show will ever try something original, witty, or smart and lay off the animals who are terrified, abused, and even killed for a cheap, immature laugh.

Caitlyn Jenner in an animal task (ITV/REX)
ADELE GETS STUCK IN ON A COW'S ANUS

"Accosting animals, no matter their shape or size, should be banned in the entertainment industry – and that's why PETA has launched an online campaign urging ITV to scrap these disgusting stunts and replace them with real challenges suitable for this century."

Mirror Online has contacted ITV for comment.

Also campaigning against the trials is Chris Packham, has written an explosive letter to Ant and Dec about animal cruelty on I’m A Celebrity.

Cliff Parisi with worms in his mouth (James Gourley/ITV/REX)

The 58-year-old naturalist and campaigner calls on Dec to "think how his daughter will perceive his actions" in the future and demands for an end to animals being used in bushtucker trials completely.

The RSPCA has run a poll which found 89% of people agree with scrapping bushtucker trials.

It came as ITV bosses announced there will be no live critters eaten in trials this year.

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