The programme “I’m A Celebrity” ought to be removed from the airwaves
Following the departure of Grace Dent and now Jamie Lynn Spears from the programme due to 'medical grounds', there is a growing sentiment that it's high time for the cessation of the ITV reality show, which has been criticised for its cruelty and ethical concerns.
In these peculiar times, a drama unfolds thousands of miles away on the set of ITV’s headline-grabbing show, “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” A cascade of events—contestants departing, audiences in uproar—paints a compelling, albeit overdue, narrative of reckoning.
Amidst the ongoing concerns about animal and insect welfare during the nightly trials—a subject that elicited over 17,000 complaints in the 2022 series, with the resonating voice of TV naturalist Chris Packham among the loudest—the focus now shifts to the celebrities themselves. Their endurance seems to be waning.
Journalist and food writer Grace Dent, citing mental health reasons, recently bid adieu, expressing heartache at her departure. Her exit is regrettable; the programme, which essentially mirrors “Lord of the Flies” with an extra dose of tabloid drama, benefits from a touch of self-awareness amid the clamour for attention. Following Dent, Jamie Lynn Spears—sister of singer Britney—also left due to mental health concerns, having spent days in tears over missing her children.
One could argue that both were fully aware of what awaited them on the show and that their hefty compensation might have cushioned the blow of homesickness. Yet, mental distress constitutes the show’s essence—an orchestrated effort to destabilise contestants, denying them basic necessities like food, sleep, and warmth. It thrives on fostering competitiveness and igniting nightly conflicts around the campfire. From consuming unpalatable animal parts for the viewer’s amusement to welcoming vomit as entertainment, mental torture is the cornerstone of this show.
“I’m a Celebrity” has always thrived on such exploits. In 2004, All Saints’ Natalie Appleton’s fears led viewers to subject her to every trial until she reluctantly departed, her composure scattered. Similarly, former butler to Diana, Princess of Wales, Paul Burrell, experienced an intense episode after being buried alive, while the insects beneath him fared no better.
But unlike the Romans, we have not outgrown this form of public humiliation. Instead, we’ve tuned in by the millions. However, recent turns have been harder to stomach. The shift from soap stars and presenters to disgraced politicians, exemplified by Stanley Johnson in 2017 and more recently Matt Hancock, raises eyebrows.
Hancock, whose pandemic response contributed to avoidable deaths, made it to the final three in 2022 and pocketed £400,000. He’s now transformed into a reality TV icon, a transition that seems, for lack of a better word, unjust.
Now, Nigel Farage parades in Union Jack socks, grinning for the cameras, playing the role of the proud Englishman. A figure known for stoking division and spreading misinformation, he’s earning £1.5m for his stint, buoyed by aspirations for the Conservative leadership, partially fueled by his nightly appearance on ITV. From a naked shower to banter with Ant and Dec, Farage’s metamorphosis on screen is striking.
When do we wake from this surreal state? When do we declare: “Enough”?
Source: Nick Duerden/iNews
