Ant and Dec face huge backlash as I’m a Celebrity is slapped with Ofcom complaints

I’m a celebrity… Get me out of here! has sparked controversy just a week after its final season, with 70 complaints lodged with Ofcom after presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly made jokes about 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 with Love Island star Maura Higgins.

During a food challenge with Coles, 62, and Higgins, 34, Dec joked: “More tea, vicar?” in a nod to Coles’ administrative role.

Later, on December 49, he described the process as “unholy,” to which Ant jokingly added, “Bum-holey.”

The humor escalated during Tuesday night’s episode when Ant, 49, delivered a mock sermon about Coles waking up in camp.

As Dec said: ‘It’s the start of a new day now, and the first to wake was Reverend Richard,’ Ant interrupted and said: ‘Although there had been darkness the night before and a plague of insects… again.’

The humor escalated during Tuesday night’s episode when Ant, 49, delivered a mock sermon about Coles waking up in camp

While the sketch amused some viewers, others found it disrespectful, leading to formal complaints to Ofcom, the British communications regulator.

Neither Ant and Dec nor ITV have made a public comment.

An Ofcom spokesperson said: ‘We are assessing the complaints but have yet to decide whether or not to investigate.’

MailOnline has approached ITV for comment.

However, Coles himself has also surprised viewers with 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 replied confidently, “No, not at all. I never spent a moment in fear whether God thought it was right or not.

“Whether other people liked it or not, I welcome that discussion.”

He added: “I wasn’t the first. Sometimes I look at documents from the early church or the church from the Middle Ages and I think: so gay.’

While the sketch amused some viewers, others found it disrespectful, leading to formal complaints to Ofcom, the British communications regulator. Neither Ant and Dec nor ITV have made a public comment

Richard was ordained in 2005 and met his future husband, fellow priest David Oldham. They entered into a civil partnership together in 2010, but David tragically died in 2019 after battling alcoholism

GK later admitted in the Bush Telegraph: ‘Never in a million years did I think I would get on best with a minister.’

Coles continued to cause a stir when GK asked if he had ever met a member of the royal family.

Richard cheekily replied: “Great in bed…” before bursting into laughter and leaving the campmates stunned.

Fans on social media were quick to respond, with one user on Did I miss something?!’

Another posted: ‘Reverend Richard said a royal was good in bed,’ while a third stated: ‘I need to know which royal he was talking about.’

Richard talked about what it feels like to be involved in church as a gay man

The writer, presenter and priest, 62, got candid about his sexuality with new boyfriend GK Barry during Monday night’s episode

In a lighter moment, Dec summed up Richard’s jungle experience: ‘So basically what you’re saying is that Richard was shocked, grabbed some chips, then went to sleep and got out of bed?’

Ant replied in a faux-religious tone, “Yes, my child.”

Richard’s path from pop star to priesthood has fascinated fans.

After The Communards, his synth-pop duo with Jimmy Somerville, split in 1988, he converted to Roman Catholicism in 1991 before returning to the Church of England in 2001.

He was ordained in 2005, gaining a reputation as one of Britain’s most unconventional religious figures.