Ant and Dec hit with 70 Ofcom complaints over I'm A Celebrity joke

I'm A Celebrity has been bombarded with Ofcom complaints as viewers have taken issue with hosts Ant and Dec's humour. The hit ITV show returned just over a week ago, stirring up 70 complaints from viewers unhappy with certain jokes concering the Bible and Christian beliefs.

This wave of disapproval followed after the reverend Richard Coles joined the jungle fray alongside Love Island alum Maura Higgins. Ant and Dec sparked controversy with their antics during the live shows, including making prayer-like gestures and playing orchestral music whilst talking about Richard.

Additionally, Ant and Dec gave a twist to the religious context during the gruesome eating trial featuring Maura and Richard—Dec quipped at Richard with "More tea vicar?" And back in the studio, described the trial as 'unholy', while Ant chimed in with 'Bum-holey'. The pair went further on Tuesday's live episode, with Ant delivering a spoof sermon.

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Kicking off the sketch, Dec announced: "It's the start of a new day now and the first to wake up was Reverend Richard..." followed by Ant interjecting with a sermon-esque speech: "And though the night before there had been darkness and a plague of insects had been visited upon him. But he had receiveth a small bounty that did taste of cheese. And now, praise be, he did rise again."

Dec queried: "So basically you are saying Richard had a fright, got some crisps, then had a sleep and got out of bed? " To which Ant responded in the accent: "Yes my child.", reports the Mirror.

Richard was ordained in 2005, eight years after he and Jimmy disbanded their synth pop duo The Communards. In 1991, he converted to Roman Catholicism before returning to the Church of England in 2001.

Prior to his jungle entrance, Ant made a cutting five-word remark about Richard while appearing on the spin-off show, I'm A Celebrity...Unpacked. The presenter suggested that Maura would bring fun and energy into camp, while Richard would provide stability and calmness.

Ant added: ""More people might know her," referring to Maura and how the public might react to her entrance. Richard has been surprising viewers himself since joining the camp as he made a cheeky comment about bedding a Royal earlier this week. GK Barry - real name Grace Keeling - asked Richard: "Who's the most interesting person you've ever met?

" When he replied that he finds all people interesting, she narrowed it down and asked if he had ever met a member of the Royal family. He cheekily responded with: "Great in bed..." and then erupted into laughter. The revelation left viewers gobsmacked, prompting a flurry of comments online. One baffled fan asked: "Who has Richard bedded from the Royal family? Have I missed something?!"

Another remarked: "Reverend Richard said a Royal was good in bed. " A third chimed in: "I love Richard so much and I need to know which Royal he was talking about."

GK also probed Richard on the intersection of his sexuality and faith, asking: "Did you find it quite difficult being gay and doing that job?" To which Richard openly replied: "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 further commented on his sexuality: "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."

Reflecting on their unexpected friendship, GK confessed in the Bush Telegraph: "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."