Meaty dilemma for ‘I’m a Celebrity’ vegans

VEGANS have urged the makers of I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! to ditch the gruesome Bushtucker Trials and expressed dismay that three contestants who follow animal productfree diets have agreed to take part.

Each year, the ITV series challenges campmates to eat a succession of disgusting meals, which can include such delicacies as fish eyes, witchetty grubs and crocodile penis.

That may present a dilemma for producers this year because Fleur East, the singer, James Mcvey, a musician, and Sair Khan, a Coronation Street actress, all reportedly follow a vegan diet.

Other Bushtucker Trials involve tanks filled with live animals, including snakes and spiders.

There are now an estimated 3.5 million vegans in Britain, and ITV is braced for complaints on social media when the series begins tomorrow.

A spokesman for the Vegan Society said: “Vegans disagree with the use of animals for entertainment. [We] were surprised to hear vegan celebrities have been confirmed to take part in the show – perhaps producers have found a way for a vegan to complete the challenges without using animals, which we’ll be interested in learning about.”

This year’s crop of celebrities include Noel Edmonds and Nick Knowles, the television presenters, and Harry Redknapp, the football manager.

The 18th series will be the first without Ant Mcpartlin, who is taking a break from television after his arrest for drink-driving earlier this year.

His on-screen partner, Declan Donnelly, will present the show with Holly Willoughby.