Television presenter Joel Dommett has found himself at the centre of controversy following an ill-judged remark during the ITV2 programme I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Unpacked on Tuesday evening.
The 40-year-old comedian, who co-presents the spin-off programme alongside Kemi Rodgers, made a shocking comment about “shanking” whilst discussing confectionery with his fellow hosts.
The incident unfolded as the panel debated campmate Ruby Wax’s decision to keep a packet of Liquorice Allsorts for herself rather than sharing with fellow contestants.
Mr Dommett’s remark, “If someone stole my Haribo, I’d shank them”, immediately drew criticism from Declan Donnelly, who was appearing on the programme alongside his presenting partner Ant McPartlin.
I’m A Celebrity: Dec Donnelly told Joel Dommett he had ‘overstepped the mark’
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ITV
The 50-year-old I’m A Celebrity host swiftly intervened, telling Mr Dommett he had “overstepped the mark”.
His criticism came after Mr Dommett immediately questioned whether his language was appropriate for television, asking: “Is that alright to say on telly? Is that too much?”
Mr Donnelly’s response was unequivocal: “It was a little too much, you’ve overstepped the mark”, he replied, prompting an instant apology from the Unpacked presenter.
The controversial moment occurred during a discussion about the jungle celebrities receiving packets of sweets as treats.
Comedy veteran Ruby Wax had chosen to retain her Liquorice Allsorts rather than share them with other campmates, which sparked the panel’s conversation.
The term “shank” is widely recognised as street slang for stabbing, making Mr Dommett’s casual use of the word particularly jarring for viewers and his co-hosts alike.
Following the broadcast, Mr Dommett released a comprehensive statement addressing the incident.
“I would like to once again apologise to anyone offended by the language used in Tuesday’s show,” he stated.
Joel Dommett issued an apology for his language
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ITV
The presenter emphasised that he recognised his mistake immediately and had apologised whilst still on air.
“This was not a pre-written joke and I would never make light of such a serious issue as knife crime,” Dommett clarified in his statement.
ITV also responded to the controversy with their own apology, explaining: “We would apologise to anyone offended by the language used in Tuesday’s show.”
The broadcaster acknowledged that Dommett had recognised his “unfortunate choice of language” during the live broadcast and had apologised to viewers immediately.
The controversy prompted responses from anti-knife crime campaigners who stressed the gravity of the issue.
Patrick Green, chief executive of The Ben Kinsella Trust, acknowledged that whilst Dommett likely didn’t intend to cause offence, his comments highlighted how knife crime terminology has permeated everyday language.
“Knife crime is not a trivial matter — it takes young lives and leaves families and communities devastated,” Green stated.
Martin Crosser, whose son Charlie was fatally stabbed at a party in 2023, spoke powerfully about the reality behind such casual language.
He told The Sun: “Charlie died by losing every milligram of blood in his body – a ruptured bowel, ruptured spleen, he’d been stabbed in the heart.”
“There’s nothing to joke about with knife crime. There really isn’t,” Mr Crosser emphasised.