Chris Packham rages 'my patience has run thin' in furious letter to Ant and Dec

27 November 2023 , 19:40

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Chris Packham has addressed a letter to Ant and Dec (Image: ITV)

Chris Packham has written a furious letter to Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, saying, "I've tried to be polite but my patience has run thin."

The BBC presenter and animal activist, 62, took to X - formerly Twitter - to share his strongly-worded letter to the Geordie duo as he furiously branded ITV's I'm A Celebrity "grotesque" and "exploitative" over its use of animals for entertainment. He went on to plead with the channel's bosses to "listen to the voices of concern [and] read the writing on the wall" as he pointed out the falling viewing figures.

This isn't the first time that Chris has publicly spoken out against the use of critters in trials. In 2019, he pleaded with Dec to "think how his daughter will perceive his actions" in an interview with the Mirror. He went on to claim to us last year that the ITV show doused the jungle with insecticide to stop bugs biting the star contestants.

Pointing out that none of the letters he had written had been responded to before, Chris revealed that he had penned yet another as he revealed the RSPCA received 17,000 complaints about - what he deemed - the "wilful abuse of animals". He wrote: "Hello , I’ve written another letter to @antanddec about the ongoing appalling abuse of animals on @ITV programme @imacelebrity. I’ve tried to be polite but my patience has run thin . If you agree with what it says please RT . #ImACeleb."

Chris Packham has shared a strongly-worded letter to Ant and Dec

In the letter, Chris begins: "Dear Ant and Dec, I hope you are both in good health. I have written to you before but you have never replied so I thought I'd write again. My letters were polite, reasonable and constructive. This time I'll be a little more frank and forthright.

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"I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here remains a grotesque blot on the reputations of both yourselves and ITV. Its continued exploitation of animals for entertainment is an anachronistic embarrassment and betrays a dangerous disconnect between a world increasingly concerned with an environmental crisis, and a reckless and marginalised part of the media which doesn't appear to give a s***."

He went on to clarify that he wrote in his own capacity and not as the president of the RSPCA, however said that he and the 17,000 complainants to the charity over the programme are "sick of your perceived disregard for animal welfare and the way we feel about it".

Chris shared the letter on Twitter (@ChrisGPackham / Twitter)

He lashed out at I'm A Celeb for its use of animals in trials (@ChrisGPackham / Twitter)

Chris referred back to his comments to Dec about his daughter from four years ago: "But Declan, in 2019 I asked you to please think about how your daughter will perceive your actions as she grows into a world increasingly devoid of wildlife... What did she say? That was four years ago, what is she saying now, aware I'm sure that her future is seriously imperilled by climate breakdown and biodiversity loss? But it's also about money isn't it. In March, the TV channel and on-demand service reported studio revenue of more than £2bn and I'm told that I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here is the biggest single banker for ITV."

He went on to plead: "Look at the word, listen to the voices of concern, read the writing on the wall. 'Circuses have gone, dancing bears have gone, cock and dog fighting are the sad preserve of psychopathic criminals... we have no performing dolphins in the UK and no chimpanzees dressed up for tea time. The cruel exploitation of wildlife for gratuitous entertainment on your programme continues to damage the great reputation of the UK as a 'nation of animal lovers'."

In response, fans praised the letter, with one commenting underneath: "Pitch perfect. Well done. I will share and direct people to this wherever I can." While another commented: "You're awesome Chris, and 100% correct on this. Well done and thank you for writing it. @antanddec need to give their heads a proper wobble. Shared."

The Mirror has reached out to ITV for comment.

Rose Hill