ITV I'm A Celeb slapped with Ofcom complaints as Ant and Dec spark fan backlash

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I'm A Celebrity has already sparked outrage, with Ofcom complaints piling up as viewers took offence at Ant and Dec's humour. The popular ITV programme made its comeback just over a week ago, amassing 70 complaints from disgruntled fans.

The controversy stems from a quip by presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly that touched on the Bible and Christian beliefs. This occurred after Reverend Richard Coles joined the Australian jungle cast, alongside Love Island star Maura Higgins.

Ant and Dec have been observed mimicking prayer gestures with orchestral accompaniment when mentioning Richard during live broadcasts. During an eating challenge featuring Maura and Richard, Dec cheekily inquired: "More tea vicar?"

Post-trial, back in the studio, Dec labelled the ordeal "unholy", with Ant chiming in with "Bum-holey". In Tuesday's episode, Ant delivered a tongue-in-cheek sermon on air. Richard was ordained in 2005, following the disbandment of his synth-pop duo The Communards with Jimmy in 1997, reports the Mirror.

Express has contacted Ofcom for comment.

I'm A Celebrity's Ant and Dec has disgruntled ITV viewers (Image: ITV)

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After converting to Roman Catholicism in 1991, he rejoined the Church of England a decade later. Before Richard's jungle debut, Ant unleashed a biting five-word remark about him on the spin-off show, I'm A Celebrity...Unpacked.

While he predicted Maura would inject fun and vigour into the camp, he suggested Richard would provide stability and tranquillity. Ant remarked: "More people might know her," hinting at how the audience might react to Maura's arrival.

Richard left fans agog when he cheekily suggested bedding a Royal was a memorable experience. Grace Keeling, known online as GK Barry, probed the campmate during a heart-to-heart asking: "Who's the most interesting person you've ever met?"

Despite Richard's diplomatic response about finding everyone interesting, she pressed on about royals, leading to his risque reply: "Great in bed...". Which made GK Barry erupt into laughter. The internet went into a frenzy, with comments flying in questioning Richard's intimate revelation.

Ant and Dec have made jokes regarding Richard Coles in the jungle (Image: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

One puzzled viewer posted "Who has Richard bedded from the Royal family? Have I missed something?" Meanwhile, another teased, "Reverend Richard said a Royal was good in bed."

A third expressed their adoration and curiosity, saying: "I love Richard so much and I need to know which Royal he was talking about." GK Barry didn't stop there as she delved into Richard's personal journey of faith aligned with his sexuality.

Quizzing him, she asked: "Did you find it quite difficult being gay and doing that job?". With candid openness, the Reverend shared: "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 spoke candidly about his sexuality, saying: "Also, 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."

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In a moment of reflection in the Bush Telegraph, GK confessed: "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."

Richard was one of the late arrivals into the camp alongside Maura Higgins, who was tasked with doing a Bushtucker Trail alongside Jane Moore on Tuesday night. Altough she's only been on the show for a few days, the reality star is one of the front runners to win the show.

I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out ogf Here! continues weeknights on ITV from 9pm.

ITV I'm A Celeb slapped with Ofcom complaints as Ant and Dec spark fan backlash

ITV I'm A Celeb slapped with Ofcom complaints as Ant and Dec spark fan backlash

ITV I'm A Celeb slapped with Ofcom complaints as Ant and Dec spark fan backlash

ITV I'm A Celeb slapped with Ofcom complaints as Ant and Dec spark fan backlash

ITV I'm A Celeb slapped with Ofcom complaints as Ant and Dec spark fan backlash