I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! has found itself in hot water after serving a vegan campmate meat during one of the show's infamous Bushtucker trials. Comedian Dave Hughes was served up lamb jaw and tongue during an eye-watering trial, and was tasked with eating the dish in order to earn stars and food for camp. Dave adapted to a plant-based diet back in 2019, with the show's host Robert Irwin quipping "First taste of meat in five years," as Dave prepared to take on the lamb dish. Replying that he actually hasn't tasted meat in over a decade, Dave said, "Actually I was pescatarian for 10 years, so this is my first taste of meat in fifteen years".
While Dave dove straight into the challenge, many viewers weren't so impressed by the show's decision to force meat upon him in order to earn stars for camp. Slamming the show, one user shared to X, "This is disgraceful, there are plenty of alternative "gross" things that could have been included while still being appropriate for vegans. I really hoped that the respect for animals would have been considered more once Robert joined the team, so disappointed that I was wrong".
While another wrote to Instagram: "As a fellow vegan this seems disrespectful to me asking him to eat an animal product. Surely there’s some equally disgusting thing that doesn’t involve animal cruelty…". However, some users argued that Dave appeared happy to take part in the challenge and wondered whether he had agreed off camera, as one wrote: "I mean I’m guessing he’s told them he’s fine with it for the trials, he certainly didn’t seem bothered (beyond the normal repulsion for having to eat that lol). Not everyone is vegan for ethical reasons.".
I'm A Celeb's Australian show kicked off on 1 February and features British TikTok star Max Balegde in its line-up. While there's still a while to go until the British show is back on our screens, following Danny Jones' win last year, there are already some stars in talks to head Down Under. Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave, who recently showed off his skills on Dancing On Ice, could be heading onto the UK version of the show. Admitting that his agent has plans for him to head into the jungle, Steve said: "We’ll see. My compromise was to do Dancing on Ice - at the moment. But never say never.
