Peta slam Adam Thomas for rough handling of ‘sensitive and intelligent rats’ during I’m A Celebrity Bushtucker Trial
Emmerdale star was warned not to be too rough with rodents by hosts Ant and Dec
I'M A CELEBRITY has been branded "cheap and immature" by outraged animal rights group Peta after Adam Thomas was warned over his rough treatment of rats in last night's episode.
The Emmerdale hunk, 28, was last night warned by hosts Ant and Dec to be careful with how he handled the rodents in the Food Factory Bushtucker Trial.
Viewers saw him delve in to a tray of rats and desperately trying to grab a star from beneath the gentle creatures.
Shrieking, screaming and stamping, he slammed one of the bewildered animals against the side of its enclosure - causing the Geordies to interject.
The Geordie duo had to remind him to be “nice and gentle” with the innocent creatures - who were clearly frightened by beinf manhandled by an aggressive stranger.
Elisa Allen, Director of PETA UK told The Sun online that it's about time producers showed a bit of empathy - and came up with some challenges that don't involve distressing or harming animals.
She said: "A token call for Adam Thomas to be gentle, as he furiously rifled through a tub packed with frightened rats, was little comfort to the animals, as they were shoved around with nowhere to escape.
"Rats are sensitive, intelligent animals who have been known to put themselves in harm's way deliberately, rather than allowing another rat to suffer – a demonstration of empathy that the producers of I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! could learn something from.
"After fourteen years of the same tired and tacky 'challenges', people are no longer wondering whether a celeb will win silly plastic stars but whether the show might ever try something original, witty, or smart, instead of bullying or otherwise harming animals for nothing more than a cheap, immature laugh."
It's not the first time the show has been blasted by animal lovers since it kicked off eight days ago.
There was outrage after Carol Vorderman refused to eat a live scorpion as part of a trial.
Viewers were also upset to see Homes Under The Hammer star Martin Roberts face "the most snakes ever" in Sunday night's Buchtucker Trial.
An ITV spokesman said: " At each of the Bushtucker Trials, which feature animals or insects, we have qualified and experienced animal and insect handlers on site and every trial has been carefully tested and developed."
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