ITV, bosses have apologised for the killing of a rat during filming for reality TV show, I’m A Celebrity.

Celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo and Hollyoaks star Stuart Manning have been charged with alleged animal cruelty after they killed, cooked and ate the rat.

A spokesman for ITV said:

“The production was asked if a rat could be caught and eaten by the celebrities in exile camp to supplement the basic rations they had been provided with for their evening meal,” the spokesman said.

“Having sought health and safety advice, the go-ahead was given purely on this basis, when it became clear that there would not be any harmful effects of eating a properly prepared and cooked rat.

“The production was unaware that killing a rat could be an offence, criminal or otherwise, in New South Wales and accepts that further inquiries should have been made — this was an oversight.

“ITV apologises for this error, and to the celebrities concerned, and will put in place procedures for next year’s series to ensure that this cannot happen again.”

The Sun reports that ITV bosses have also admitted that the rat was a tame one which they bought from a local breeder and released into camp.