BIG Brother bosses were blasted last night after giving housemates a terrified kitten to play with.
The RSPCA is furious at Channel 4 bosses for the stunt, shown in a highlights programme last night.
And Ofcom also received complaints from viewers after the tiny puss was seen cowering in a corner as the housemates screeched with excitement.
Simon Powell, television development officer for the RSPCA, said he had made an official complaint to Channel 4 and Endemol, the production company which makes the show.
He said: “The kitten was clearly terrified by being surrounded by these slightly freakish people.
“The poor thing was left alone in the Diary Room until someone went in and found it, then cowered in the corner because it didn’t know where it was and there was so much noise.
“Using animals for an entertainment medium is never a good idea but this was ridiculous. These TV people dream up their ideas while they drink coffee and eat Hob Nobs with no thought to the consequences.”
Simon also revealed that Big Brother makers Endemol have asked his advice in the past but ignored it.
He said: “They asked about putting in goats and dogs and we told them ‘No’. They then asked if they could use ducks and we said it would be cruel. They did it anyway. We did not receive prior warning of the task involving the kitten.”
Noisy Craig, Makosi and Kemal were among those scaring the kitten.
Craig picked up the cat from the Diary Room shrieking: “Ooh, it’s frightened.”
Derek retorted: “Of course it’s frightened, you stupid moron.”
But a Big Brother spokesman said: “We are satisfied the kitten did not suffer any distress.”
Taken from
THE SUN ON-LINE