I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has sparked controversy just a week into its latest series, with 70 complaints filed with Ofcom after hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly made jokes referencing the Bible and Christianity.
The backlash began after Reverend Richard Coles, former Strictly Come Dancing contestant and prominent Church of England figure, entered the jungle alongside Love Island star Maura Higgins.
During an eating challenge featuring Coles, 62, and Higgins, 34, Dec quipped: ‘More tea, vicar?’ in a nod to Coles’ clerical role.
Later, Dec, 49, described the trial as ‘unholy,’ to which Ant jokingly added, ‘Bum-holey.’
The humour escalated during Tuesday night’s episode when Ant, 49, delivered a mock sermon about Coles waking up in camp.
As Dec narrated, ‘It’s the start of a new day now, and the first to wake up was Reverend Richard,’ Ant interrupted, saying: ‘Though the night before there had been darkness and a plague of insects had been visited upon him but he had received a small bounty that did taste of cheese and praise be… he did rise again.’
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I’m a Celebrity has sparked controversy with 70 complaints filed with Ofcom after hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly made jokes referencing the Bible and Christianity
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The humour escalated during Tuesday night’s episode when Ant, 49, delivered a mock sermon about Coles waking up in camp
Dec then said: ‘So basically you are saying Richard had a fright, got some crisps, then had a sleep and got out of bed?, to which Ant replied: ‘Yes my child’.
While the skit amused some viewers, others found it disrespectful, leading to formal complaints to Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator.
Neither Ant and Dec nor ITV have issued a public response.
An Ofcom spokesperson said: ‘We are assessing the complaints, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.’
MailOnline has approached ITV for comment.
Dec was raised in the Catholic church and his late brother Dermott was a priest based in the family’s north east. He tragically died at the age of 55 in 2022.
Father Dermott was a regular visitor to his brother’s traditionally London based shows, while the presenter travelled to the north-east frequently to attend Mass and visit the youth projects which had been a labour of love for the priest since the 1990s.
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The duo have come under fire as they made prayers hands to orchestral music while cracking the jokes
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While the skit amused some viewers, others found it disrespectful, leading to formal complaints to Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator
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Richard was ordained in 2005 and met his future husband, fellow priest David Oldham. In 2010 they entered a civil partnership together but David tragically died in 2019 after battling alcoholism
Since his arrival in the jungle, Rev Richard has impressed viewers with his candid moments.
In a conversation with influencer GK Barry (real name Grace Keeling), she asked about the challenges of being both religious and gay.
Coles responded confidently: ‘No, not at all. I’ve never given it a moment’s twinge of anxiety over whether God thought it was alright or not.
‘Whether other people thought it was alright or not, well, I’m happy to have that argument.’
He added: ‘I was not the first. Sometimes I look at documents from the early church or the church of the middle ages, and I just think—so gay.’
GK later admitted in the Bush Telegraph: ‘Never in a million years would I have thought I’d get on best with a reverend.’
Coles continued to make waves when GK asked if he had ever met a member of the royal family.
Richard cheekily replied: ‘Great in bed…’ before bursting into laughter, leaving campmates stunned.
Fans on social media were quick to react, with one user on X asking: ‘Who has Richard bedded from the royal family? Have I missed something?!’
Another posted: ‘Reverend Richard said a royal was good in bed,’ while a third declared, ‘I need to know which royal he was talking about.’
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Richard opened up about how it feels to be a gay man involved in the church
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The writer, presenter and priest, 62, got candid about his sexuality with newfound friend GK Barry during Monday night’s episode
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Dec’s late brother Dermott (pictured) was a priest for the Catholic church based in the family’s north east. He tragically died at the age of 55 in 2022
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During Tuesday’s episode, the Reverend revealed the heartbreaking dreams he has had about his late husband who died after battling alcoholism
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Richard was ordained in 2005, earning a reputation as one of the UK’s most unconventional religious figures
Richard’s path from pop star to priesthood has fascinated fans.
After The Communards, his synth-pop duo with Jimmy Somerville, disbanded in 1988, he converted to Roman Catholicism in 1991 before returning to the Church of England in 2001.
He was ordained in 2005, earning a reputation as one of the UK’s most unconventional religious figures.
During Tuesday’s episode, the Reverend revealed the heartbreaking dreams he has had about his late husband who died after battling alcoholism.
Richard opened up to dancer Oti Mabuse about life without his husband David Oldham – who died in 2019.
Richard has since met his new partner partner Dickie Cant, but admitted that David remains a ‘massive hole in his life’.
‘I miss him,’ Richard said. ‘And I want him to walk in the door. I had a dream he walked in the door and he was just carrying a Co-op bag, just like he’d been shopping and I said to him “I thought you were dead” and he said “No I was just out shopping”.
‘I said “It’s nice to see you, thanks for coming back”, to which he said “Oh I’m not staying, I met somebody else”,’ Richard added, to which he and Oti began to laugh.
‘But he’s just a massive hole in my life and I’m living my life around that loss and I’ve met Dickie now, and that’s great.
‘So we’re in a relationship now together but I just miss David very much.’
