I'm A Celebrity's contestants will not eat live bugs in this year's Bush Tucker trials
The decision came after concerns of animal cruelty were raised
Last updated 18th Nov 2019
The first episode of I’m a Celebrity’s 2019 iteration aired last night (Sun 17th Nov) in a highly-anticipated season, packed with famous faces including Caitlyn Jenner, Kate Garraway and Nadine Coyle.
While the return of the show we know and love promises all our favourite aspects – bickering, inclement climates, heart-warming vulnerability with the power to reboot flagging careers – this season will incorporate one major turn from form: it’s been announced that Bush Tucker trials will no longer include the eating of live insects.
How do conventions become set in stone? Who knows why some traditions stand the test of time, and others fall away? For one reason or another, the consumption of squirming creepy crawlies has become an absolute touchstone of ITV’s infamous gameshow.
Somehow, for years, we have watched household names consume writhing mealworms for our entertainment – unquestioning, unchallenged. The weird rite of passage is no more.
Wild-life guru Chris Packham talked to BBC Radio 5 live about the producers’ decision to axe insects from the celebrity menu. ‘There was never any ambiguity that eating live invertebrates was abuse and also exploitation for entertainment’, he said, before going on to criticise the show’s historic portrayal of other animals – rats and snakes, frequent components of its celebrity challenges – as ‘bad organisms.’
The times, they are a-changin’. And, as they (do not) say, what’s good for invertebrates is good for celebrities. It’s win-win – no bugs get eaten, and no celebrities have to eat bugs. Why didn’t we think of this before?
Scroll through to see which celebrities have signed up for I'm A Celebrity 2019...
Ian Wright
Former footballer and Match of the Day pundit Ian Wright is heading into the jungle. Ian Wright is rumoured to be earning the second-highest wage of £400,000 while in the jungle.
But during an appearance at the Royal Concert hall in Nottingham last week, Harry Redknapp, last year's King of the Jungle, revealed Wright would be earning one million as someone tweeted: "Just got home from seeing @Redknapp in Nottingham. Interestingly, he let slip that Ian Wright has been paid £1m to appear on this year's #ImaCeleb."
Nadine Coyle
Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle will be facing her fears on the show. What Nadine will be earning has been kept quiet for now, however, the average amount that stars of I'm A Celebrity earn is between £10,000 and £80,000.
Myles Stephenson
He won The X Factor with his band Rak-Su, but can Gabby Allen's ex-boyfriend win I'm A Celebrity?
Kate Garraway
She's used to putting up with Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain, so the jungle should be a doddle for TV presenter Kate Garraway. Kate's co-presenter Ben Shepard teased Kate on Good Morning Britain: "I can't wait for you to go away for a month," and Kate responded: "I can neither confirm nor deny."
James Haskell
He's used to being the hard man on a rugby pitch, so how will James Haskell cope in a jungle full of creepy crawlies? Although we can't confirm what James Haskell will be pulling in, last year's contestant John Barrowman received £200,000.
Caitlyn Jenner
Reportedly the highest paid star to ever grace the jungle, Kylie and Kendall Jenner's dad Caitlyn is set to reveal some major Kardashian gossip.
Jacqueline Jossa
Former EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of past soap stars on the show. Bosses are reportedly hoping she dishes the dirt on her on'/off marriage to reality star Dan Osborne.
Adele Roberts
Big Brother 3 star Adele Roberts is going back to her reality TV roots for the 2019 series.
Roman Kemp
Roman is a TV personality and son of former EastEnders actor Martin Kemp. He's set to bring some eye candy to the jungle. Roman has wanted to go into the jungle for quite some time as he told Digital Spy in 2017: "The only reality show I would do is I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! purely because I would get a holiday and get to see Ant & Dec every day!"
Andrew Maxwell
Irish comedian Andrew is set to bring the laughs to the jungle and we actually can't wait. There has been no details referring to what Andrew could be earning, yet latecomer Noel Edmunds earned £600,000, the highest amount that has been paid to any celebrity on the show.
Andrew Whyment
Coronation Street star Andy Whyment AKA Kirk Sutherland is a late arrival into the jungle!
Cliff Parisi
Former EastEnders star and current Call The Midwife actor Cliff Parisi is a late arrival alongside Andy Whyment!
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