I’m A Celeb slapped with more Ofcom complaints after Ant and Dec’s jokes
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! has been hit with 50 Ofcom complaints following two weeks of gags made by presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly
Ant and Dec have received more complaints about their jokes (Image: ITV)
For the second week running, I’m A Celebrity has sparked controversy and led to Ofcom complaints, as viewers express their displeasure with ongoing jokes by hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. Since its launch two weeks ago, the ITV show has faced backlash from viewers over the hosts’ quips about the Bible and Christianity, following the arrival of Reverend Richard Coles in the jungle. He joined the camp later than others, along with Love Island’s Maura Higgins.
Fans have complained about Ant and Dec’s religious jokes about Reverend Richard Coles (Image: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Viewers were left unimpressed during an eating trial featuring Maura Higgins and Richard, where Dec joked, “More tea vicar?” After the trial, in a studio segment, Dec labelled the ordeal “unholy”, with Ant adding “Bum-holey”. Tensions escalated further when Ant delivered a mock sermon on the live show.
It began when Dec said: “It’s the start of a new day now and the first to wake up was Reverend Richard…” At this point, dramatic music played, and Ant, adopting a preacher-like tone, said, “And 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 now, praise be, he did rise again,” reports Chronicle Live.
Dec asked: “So basically you are saying Richard had a fright, got some crisps, then had a sleep and got out of bed?” To which Ant responded in his accent: “Yes my child.”
There have been complaints to OFCOM due to Ant and Dec’s banter (Image: ITV)
Richard was ordained in 2005, leaving behind his music career with Jimmy Somerville when they disbanded their synth-pop duo The Communards. In 1991, Richard converted to Roman Catholicism and later returned to the Church of England in 2001.
Before stepping into the jungle, Ant unleashed a biting five-word critique of Richard on the I’m A Celebrity…Unpacked spin-off, saying he believed Maura would inject fun and vitality into the camp whilst Richard would provide a stable, calming influence. Ant remarked: “More people might know her,” referring to Maura’s recognition factor with the audience.
Richard has surprised viewers during his time in camp, making a risqué comment about sharing a bed with royalty just days ago. GK Barry, whose real name is Grace Keeling, quizzed Richard: “Who’s the most interesting person you’ve ever met? He said he had met a member of the royal family and when she asked what they were like, he quickly quipped: “Great in bed…” before bursting out laughing. Fans were lost for words and rushed to the comment section to question what happened. One user wrote on X: “Who has Richard bedded from the Royal family? Have I missed something?” Another wrote: “Reverend Richard said a Royal was good in bed.” “I love Richard so much and I need to know which Royal he was talking about,” another posted.
GK Barry and Reverend Richard Coles have become friends in the jungle (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
GK had also questioned Richard about being gay while being religious. She asked: “Did you find it quite difficult being gay and doing that job?” The Reverend confessed: “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… Sometimes I look at documents from the early church, or the church of the middle ages and I just think – so gay.”
Reflecting on her jungle companions, GK confessed in the Bush Telegraph: “I came into this jungle, maybe not knowing who I would gel with or who I would be close with in here and never in a million years if you told me that I would be getting on best with a reverend would I have believed you.”
