Letter to ITV

I despise "celebrity" programmes. Today I sent this to ITV.

Dear Sir,

Today I had the misfortune by chance to see a small part of your programme “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.” and I am writing to comment on the way in which it exploits both live insects and the baser instincts of those who choose to watch it.

At a time when the natural world is being pushed to the edge by human society, have you no feeling of your responsibility to make people value even the simplest parts of that world? If people are taught that insects, grubs and other such primitive creatures have no purpose other than to die for their amusement, why shouldn’t they apply the same attitudes to other animals and eventually their fellow men?. Being amused by the torment and death of our fellow creatures makes us all Jamie Bulger killers writ small.

Out of programmes like yours come social attitudes which end up with people like Karen Matthews, who have lost all connection to the norms of a decent society.

It is a sad day when no doubt intelligent and accomplished people can prostitute themselves to make banal trash like this.

I should like to know your rationale for using this kind of “entertainment”.

Yours faithfully,