Pete Wicks Heartbroken as Beloved Pig ‘Colin’ Dies on Celebrity Island: ‘It’s Time to Pull the Plug on Shows Like This’
During his appearance on Celebrity Island in 2018, Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks made a heart-wrenching decision that ultimately led to the tragic death of a pig he’d named Colin. While the seven remaining celebrities were desperate for food, Pete, who had recently turned pescatarian, argued against killing the pig, believing the group could survive on fish alone, via OK! Magazine.
Despite leading Colin away from camp in hopes of sparing him, the pig repeatedly returned, and Pete named him in an attempt to humanize him, encouraging the group to see him as a pet rather than a food source. However, with food running scarce and campmates growing frustrated, heated debates arose over whether to eat the pig. As the decision lingered, Colin was tied to a tree on the beach to prevent him from rummaging through their supplies. Tragically, while tied up, the pig accidentally strangled himself, leaving Pete devastated.
Blaming himself for Colin’s death, Pete struggled to cope with his loss, especially when the camp debated whether they should eat the deceased animal. The group ultimately decided against it, and Pete gave Colin a sea burial, deeply affected by the incident. Boxer Anthony Ogogo, however, was less sympathetic, whispering to the camera, “It’s a bloody pig.”
The incident sparked backlash from animal rights groups. Humane Society International UK criticized the “grotesque” nature of the scenes and issued a statement saying, “It’s time for Channel 4 to pull the plug on programmes like Celebrity Island because it really is grotesque for animals to be made to suffer and die for a TV show.” They commended Pete’s compassion for Colin but condemned the situation, labeling the pig’s death as “highly dubious” and “painful.”
Viewers, however, were divided. Some praised Pete for his efforts to save Colin, while others accused him of hypocrisy, recalling that he had previously killed a stingray on the show. One viewer tweeted, “LOL Pete Wicks moralising over killing an animal when he stuck a spear through a stingray! Get it on the barbecue!” Another echoed the sentiment: “So Pete doesn’t want the pig killed but he was happy to stick a spike through the stingray’s head? #celebrityisland.”
While Pete’s compassion for Colin won some support, the controversy underscored ethical questions surrounding reality shows that involve animals. As the debate continued, calls grew for Celebrity Island to rethink its approach, or potentially, end it altogether.