I'm A Rat, Get Me Out Of Here !!

I guess I should stop reading news stories "early doors" when I've only had one cup of coffee as my poor brain just can't take in some of the items.

Take this morning as a good example. Several UK newspaper sites are covering the hot news that two of the "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here" contestants, one being the winner, are facing criminal charges in Australia for killing and eating a rat !

It seems as part of the show, they were exiled and so had to live on rice and beans, which as we all know, is no food for a celebrity to live on. Especially when one is a celebrity chef. A celebrity chef I've never heard of but that's not surprising as I've rarely heard of any of the people on that show and can say, hand on heart that I've never even watched one episode of the show...ever. Nada. Not one. Not interested.

A few days ago I did watch an episode of America's "Survivor" where again a motley group of people are thrown together in some exotic location to outplay, outwit and outlast each other to be the last man, or woman, standing and get $1m. On that episode, they decided that the egg laying chicken was needed more as an actual tasty main course than for it's prowess at producing less filling delicacies every morning.

So the chicken was gathered up, protesting loudly as it happens, and had it's head chopped off in double quick time. We were spared seeing this in graphic detail but we did see and hear the machete in action, several times actually, and so we were left in little doubt that it was an ex chicken. The sudden lack of chicken noises was the first clue and then seeing its legs sticking out of the cooking pot a few minutes later only confirmed the deed.

Now I donno if this is a fact, but I don't believe that anyone from that show is being charged with anything other than being on a that show. It's not for me to say if that alone should be classed as a crime. Actually in an earlier episode they also caught, killed and ate a rat. Ironically they were heard to say it tasted a bit like chicken, much to the concern, and rightly so as it turned out, of the camp's resident chicken. From that moment on, its days were numbered.

But back to the Aussies and their obvious love of rats. At first I thought it was a publicity stunt to keep the now finished show fresh in our minds. Maybe the Aussie RSPCA felt the need to do something when they realised no one from their organisation was on set at the time this heinous crime was committed.

I don't mean to upset or annoy any animal lovers (or Australians) out there but come on....a rat !?

I'm sure this comes under the heading of all God's creatures deserve better....but a rat ?! And what exactly was criminal about killing one ? Was it teased and tortured first ? Made to watch outtakes from the show before it was despatched ? I guess it was just the fact that an animal was killed on a tv show and here is a quote from the news article.....

Ch Insp David Oshannessy, from the RSPCA in New South Wales, told BBC Radio 5 live there was a "code of practice" which dictated how animals could be used in theatrical productions and films.

"The killing of a rat for a performance is not acceptable. The concern is this was done purely for the cameras," he said.

So no mention then that it was done because the relevant celebs were just fed up with a diet of rice and beans ? I mean it's not an easy thing to do. to catch, kill, cook and eat a rat. Personally I'd be all for tucking into seconds of the rice and beans.

And I could just about understand the fuss if they'd killed a wallaby or some other cute looking critter (I think a kangaroo would be classed as a big rat down under so no fuss if one of those had been killed) but a rat ?! Again....a rat ?! Oh don't start singing "Ben"and telling me even rats have feelings too.....as you sit down in front of your supper with some dead animal part on your plate. Ah yes, I know a celery stick has feelings too, if you're as barking as Prince Charles.

"Eat your veggies, Charles. Be a good prince, now"

"No mummy. Shalln't. I talked to them earlier and they're not happy. Not happy at all"

It'll be interesting to see how this story develops......which may be just what the show's producers want.

I bet they're glad the celebs found a rat and not a wandering aborigine. In that case, I doubt if anyone would've cared.

Too far ?