I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here will be receiving a rather unusual ‘gift’ from Peta founder Ingrid Newkirk if they don’t change the format: an actual piece of her backside.

The animal rights activist has long been vocal in her criticism of the ITV series, which begins tonight. The 74-year-old completely disagrees with the use of animals in bushtucker trials and finds the eating challenges – where we’ve seen celebrities chow down on everything from ostrich anus to camel penis, and even live spiders – particularly problematic.

Ingrid feels so passionate that she even plans to continue boycotting the programme after her death, with a bold statement in the form of an amendment to her will. She will be sending her ‘rump’ to the show’s producers in a bid to draw attention to ‘needless animal suffering and exploitation.’

‘I’m A Celebrity is bottom of the barrel TV so I’m sending them my bottom when I die. It’s what they deserve,’ Ingrid told Metro.co.uk.

‘A lot of people are now running away from animal-derived foods, but their producers are so out of touch, that they’re still including wild animals’ bits and pieces on the menu,’ commented Ingrid.

‘The producers remind me of snickering schoolboys. Using animals in trials is mean, and disgusting. There is no need for animals to needlessly die, or suffer. They should be ashamed.’

Ingrid continued: ‘There are plenty of ways to entertain viewers without hurting anyone. It’s cheap junk.’

Not only is Ingrid critical of the series’ production team, but she’s also angry at the famous line-up which includes Josie Gibson, Nigel Farage, and Jamie Lynn Spears.

‘They are grasping for people to come on the show, and I don’t resent struggling actors or someone who once stood next to Michael Jackson’s chef looking to make a pound or two,’ said Ingrid scathingly.

‘However, I do condemn every one of them if they go along with cruelty to animals. That’s unforgivable.

‘I won’t be watching them as my eyes see enough horror when I go into factory farms and slaughterhouses to rescue animals. I don’t need to see these morons making a mockery of suffering animals.’

She is equally unimpressed by the series hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly: ‘They are making money from the inhumane series. Hopefully one day they will think of more dignifying and humane ways to pay their mortgages.’

Last year, Peta even asked the presenting duo to resign, but their request went unanswered.

Ingrid, who is also planning on sending her intestines to Salt Bae and her leg to the Kentucky Darby or Grand National, invites the general public to come up with ideas on how to divide her body after death.

It was some correspondence from a stranger that led to Ingrid’s pledge to I’m A Celebrity. ‘I thought it’s pretty tasteless, but it certainly isn’t as tasteless as the show so it fits right in with the theme,’ she summarised.

For Ingrid, her statement is more than just a publicity stunt, and she’s convinced that her wishes will be carried out if the series continues using animals in the same way. She has entrusted three people to ensure it happens – a lawyer, a pathologist who will divide her body, and finally, her successor at Peta.

However, she hopes it doesn’t come down to that. While Ingrid claims that Peta has always been ignored by I’m A Celebrity, she is still hopeful that they will alter the format to remove animals.

‘I am always hopeful,’ she shared.

‘If we keep highlighting their errors, and the viewing public switch off then they’ll do better.

‘It would be marvellous if they apologised to everyone they’ve offended, but more importantly to all the animals they can’t bring back.

‘At the end of the day, the only thing that’s truly important is that they stop this juvenile, outrageously sick way of entertaining people,’ she concluded.

If production is looking for replacement trials then Ingrid, who started Peta in 1980, has an idea: ‘If they want to get contestants really sick and upset, show them the video of how camels are slaughtered in the Middle East, and how the penis ends up on the plate.

‘If they are still truly stuck for a new idea, they might consider serving up the rump of a willing human instead,’ she said making reference to her own future donation.

Ingrid doesn’t believe history will be kind to the reality show: ‘In 10 years it will be a relic of an ignorant era.’

Metro.co.uk contacted ITV for comment.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2023 kicks off tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

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