Animal rights groups slam Farm star's turkey antics

18 May 2005

BLONDE model Emma Noble has sparked outrage among viewers and animal experts for her 'indecent' acts on television.

The Sidcup actress and her co-stars on Channel Five's reality TV show The Farm have been slammed by the RSPCA as 'reckless and irresponsible'.

Ms Noble and fellow contestant Emma B disgusted viewers when they pleasured a turkey and then artificially inseminated female hens using a straw.

Viewer Karen Moore, 21, from Welling told the Bexley Times: "It is disgusting.

"It is the last thing I want to see when I turn on my television. What they did is an act of indecency."

The scenes have also angered animal welfare groups, who are still unhappy at the way Rebecca Loos was made to pleasure a pig in the last series.

Dr Julia Wrathall, head of RSPCA farm animals department, said: "This is not reality television, it is shabby television, and it is irresponsible because there is a real danger of causing distress and suffering to the animals, all in the name of entertainment.

"If the previous series is anything to go by, the health and welfare of the animals will be put at unnecessary risk, and any educational merit is likely to be completely overshadowed by the antics of the contestants.

"The farming procedures are being undertaken by people who have minimum knowledge and training, and with entertainment rather than the animals' wellbeing as the primary objective."

Ms Noble, the ex-wife of former Prime Minister John Major's son, James, entered The Farm along with Public Enemy's Flavor Flav, Lionel Blair, porn king Ron Jeremy and Italian MP Cicciolina.

Other contestants include Keith Harris and Orville, Mikey Green from boyband Phixx, Charlene Tilton from Dallas and Jessie Wallace's ex boyfriend, Dave Morgan.

The 34-year-old mother-of-one has also taken part in less challenging tasks such as weighing pigs and helping out with lambing duties.