I’m A Celeb star ‘broke the law’ after making illegal decision ‘quite often’

The star admitted to doing something at work that would get him in a lot of trouble.

Reverend Richard admitted to breaking the law (Image: ITV)

Reverend Richard Coles has openly admitted to flouting the law. The I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! star, 64, who was first ordained in 2005, made the startling confession at the Hay Festival.

The author and former 1980s pop icon revealed he had placed the ashes of dead dogs into their owners’ coffins — an unlawful act, as animal ashes cannot legally be interred alongside human remains. Nevertheless, Coles stated he trusted in God’s mercy and continued to reunite owners with their beloved pets, albeit in secret. After cautioning festival-goers in Wales that he probably ought not to be admitting to “breaking the law”, Coles revealed he would “quite often go to the undertaker’s with a dog’s ashes”. He recalled: “I would say: ‘Have you screwed down Mrs Haverstone? Not yet?’ I would then say: ‘Look at that bird’.”

The I’m A Celeb star shared that he puts dead pets in with their owners (Image: Getty Images)

The Communards star then mimicked slipping the ashes into a coffin. “God’s mercy is as wide as the sea. It is our job to ensure we live in accordance with that,” he added.

Environment Agency regulations governing the separation of human and animal remains effectively prohibit even the scattering of ashes in graveyards and the majority of cemeteries, reports the Mirror.

The retired Church of England priest, who first shot to fame in the 1980s as one half of pop duo The Communards, was ordained in 2005, serving in various parishes until 2022. The reality television star and bestselling author also pens the Canon Clement series, frequently drawing inspiration from his extraordinary journey from pop stardom to the pulpit. I’m A Celeb fans were left gobsmacked by Coles’ arrival in the jungle in 2024, particularly following his cheeky comment about the Royal Family.

In one conversation Down Under, GK Barry – whose real name is Grace Keeling – asked the Reverend: “Who’s the most interesting person you’ve ever met?” When Coles maintained that he finds all people interesting, GK pressed further, asking whether he had ever met a member of the Royal Family.

Confirming that he had, and when asked about their character, he playfully responded: “Great in bed…” before bursting into laughter.

Viewers also witnessed GK question Coles about his experiences as a gay man in a religious role. She asked: “Did you find it quite difficult being gay and doing that job?”

The Reverend frankly replied: “No, not at all. I’ve never given it a moment’s twinge of anxiety over whether God thought it was alright or not. Whether other people thought it was alright or not, well I’m happy to have that argument..”

He added: “Also, I was not the first. Sometimes I look at documents from the early church, or the church of the middle ages and I just think – so gay.”

CRE: https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/2209462/im-a-celeb-richard-coles-broke-law