Rat cooking lands TV show in hot water

**Jazzy** · 12-06-2009 06:35 AM

SYDNEY – Two stars of the "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here" television show have been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly killing and cooking a rat to eat during filming.

Chef Gino D'Acampo, who won the viewer-feedback contest series, and actor Stuart Manning were charged after animal welfare activists lodged a complaint about a segment for the British TV program, which was filmed in Australia, the activists and British media reported Sunday.

Full Story: Rat cooking lands TV show in hot water - Yahoo! News

**AussiePam** · 12-06-2009 11:16 AM

Oh dear me. We are a savage lot Down Under. I've never actually seen this program but apparently:

"I'm a Celebrity" strands C-list celebrities in the Australian jungle, subjects them to a series of icky trials involving spiders and snakes, and allows the public to vote them off the show one by one.

What an amazing, original idea!!!

And someone actually clobbered a rat, without having the RSPCA present - and tossed it on the barbie. They should be infracted for sure.

Here's some rat recipes

Weird Recipes Rats Recipes Rat Cooking

**G#Gill** · 12-06-2009 12:31 PM

If they killed the rat cleanly, and did not let it suffer, and they killed it for eating - which they did, then I can't see where the cruelty is FFS. Rabbits are killed for the pot, so why the heck can't they kill a rat for the pot? It wouldn't be my choice of menu, I have to say, but they obviously needed to eat some meat, so....................

The only thing I can think of that may be wrong, is if that segment was transmitted before the watershed. Then it would be the television company at fault, not those who killed the rat !

**AussiePam** · 12-06-2009 01:21 PM

I guess I'm not really that much of a purist, Gilly. When clobbering a rat - or any other rodent - or even humans who need killing - I've always found it's best just to lash out blindly, hard as you can -with whatever comes to hand. It may not be clean or nice - but it's usually quite effective. Of course, I hope I'd have the presence of mind to turn off the television cameras first. Neater than having to toss the cameraman on the barbie as well as the rattie.

**Rapunzel** · 12-06-2009 01:46 PM

They should have told the viewers that rattie was the main ingredient in the authentic ratatouille they were about to make! 96% of the viewers would have believed them!

**AussiePam** · 12-06-2009 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by Rapunzel

They should have told the viewers that rattie was the main ingredient in the authentic ratatouille they were about to make! 96% of the viewers would have believed them!

Absolutely! Bon appetit!

**mikeinie** · 12-07-2009 08:43 AM

OK, so people sit in their living rooms and enjoy watching desperate fame seeking people do endless degrading things to themselves week after week and then get all sad and humane when a rat is eaten?

What about all the other live insects and shyte they are made to eat on the show?

It is a show about bottom feeders designed to entertain bottom feeders, who gives a feck about a rat.

**G#Gill** · 12-07-2009 09:45 AM

I think the show should be axed, no future ones. I agree with you Mike, it's degrading, and cruel to the creatures that they use for whatever reason.

The 'reality show' that I thought was ever worth watching was the one where about 20 people from all walks of life were flung together on an off-shore island in Scotland. They had to fend for themselves, and make the best out of what they had at their disposal, and survive for about a year ! That was when Mr. Ben Fogle came into his own, and made an impact ! Now he's a very successful broadcaster/presenter in his own right!

All the other 'reality' shows are so much a waste of time, and pathetic!