TV Choice Awards: Chris Packham calls for I’m A Celeb to stop 'abusing animals'

The naturalist wants the show's producers to change their ways and help the environment
Chris Packham attending the TV Choice Awards with stepdaughter, Megan
PA
Tobi Akingbade10 September 2019
The Weekender

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Chris Packham received a mixed reaction at the 2019 TV Choice Awards after taking a dig at I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! for "animal abuse."

The naturalist and television presenter picked up a prize at the London event and used his acceptance speech to call out the ITV reality series.

The 58-year-old, who was picking up the Best Factual Show award on behalf of Blue Planet, reportedly received a mixture of applause and boos as he implored the people behind I’m A Celeb directly to change their habits and help the environment.

At the event, he said: “I'm A Celebrity, can you please think about no longer abusing animals on your programme?"

Elsewhere in his speech, Packham added: “Our oceans are full of plastic. The Amazon, the lungs of the world is on fire.

“We will be breathing toxic air on our way back home tonight. Toxic air that will kill thousands of people in our beloved capital.

"We have to make a change. Making changes takes courage."

Following claims the room reacted with boos, Packham tweeted: “Oh dear , apparently I’ve been booed (?) at the @TVChoice awards for very politely requesting that @imacelebrity finally stop abusing wildlife on their programmes . . . I’ll be losing sleep over that then.” [sic]

He also retweeted a post from a follower who said his comments were, in fact, well received.

The user, who is said to have been in attendance, shared: “Booed...? Funny, I don’t remember that. There was quite a lot of support for sticking up for animals and trying to prevent animal abuse on.”

Standard Online has reached out to I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here for comment.

TV Choice Awards 2019 - In pictures

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The award ceremony was held at London's Hilton Hotel, Park Lane and was attended by a host of celebrities and TV personalities.

Packham's fellow naturalist Sir David Attenborough was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

In a statement issued before the event on Monday morning, the publication said they wanted to “show our appreciation and respect for the joy he’s given us all over many decades of natural history television”.

“His lifetime’s work, played out to several generations of viewers, has made very TV show he’s made over an amazing 60-year career highly anticipated and enormously popular,” TV Choice said.

“Still working, learning and making programmes, Sir David Attenborough isn’t just a British hero, he’s a global icon.”

David was presented with the award at his home in London.

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