‘I’ve had to switch off!’ rage Martin Clunes fans as animal killed on camera in travel doc Islands of the Pacific
FURIOUS Martin Clunes viewers were forced to switch off after an animal was killed on camera in his travel series, Islands of the Pacific.
The 62-year-old actor has filmed a second series of his hit ITV adventures, and the new episodes have seen him travel to Papua New Guinea and The Phillippines.
In the latter, he took in Manila’s jeepneys, bamboo bikes, family feasts, remote tribal burials and shamans.
However, many viewers were not happy during a sacred rice ceremony which Martin was invited to observe.
It saw a priest foretell the success of the rice harvest, but at the expense of a live chicken.
The animal was brought in squawking loudly while hanging upside down.
The chicken was then killed, before the camera showed it being plucked and cooked on the fire, before it was cut open and its entrails read.
In a voiceover, Martin added: “Like a fortune teller’s tea leaves, for signs of the harvest to come.”
But the scenes showing the knife cutting open the bird and its insides being ‘read’ were too much for some watching.
Taking to X, one wrote: “Thought #MartinClunes was an animal lover?
Not getting into too much detail!” alongside a chicken emoji.
Another tweeted: “Was really hoping to visit the #Philippines one day, but some of the cruelty? Suppose everywhere has some form of animal cruelty! There’s cruel for food & cruel just for fun!”
A third added: “Had the turn the Martin Clunes programme off, killing a chicken, poor animal won’t be watching again.”
But others really enjoyed the show and understood the slaying was part of the local culture where Martin was visiting.
One wrote: “This is brilliant as well as a fantastic actor Martin clunes makes this shows effortless magic television.”
Another added: “Well, I thought Martin Clunes Islands of the Pacific was really good. The people of Philippines are so fantastic.”
A third shared: “3 mins in and I already want to go back to the Philippines.”
Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific airs on ITV1 and is available on ITVX.