Singer and animal rights activist Linda Martin has expressed disgust at the decision to include bloodsport supporter Vinnie Jones on ITV's “X Factor: Celebrity”.

Jones, a supporter of cruel hare coursing, greyhound racing and shooting, is among the contestants in a new live version of the programme, which reportedly recorded its lowest ever ratings when it launched last Saturday.

Reacting to the appearance of Jones on the show, Eurovision Song Contest star Linda Martin tweeted: “I’m appalled to see Vinnie Jones on #XFactor. [He] brags about shooting 100 foxes, goes lamping and hare coursing and is involved in the greyhound industry. I won’t be watching again #SimonCowell.”

There is surprise that X Factor producer Simon Cowell - a vegan animal lover who has spoken out against hunting and fur farming and funded the rescue of dogs from Korea’s horrific dog meat trade - would accommodate a guest on the show who derives pleasure from killing animals.

In a 2010 video for the World Society for the Protection of Animals, Simon Cowell emphatically stated: “I don’t understand how anyone can get pleasure from hunting or killing animals - I totally do not understand it.”

Former footballer Jones has been slammed for his involvement in cruel hare coursing and for participating in the shooting of defenceless animals and birds.

Two years ago, he sparked outrage following a tweet showing the bodies of 100 foxes who had been shot dead. The photo was accompanied by the message: “A real night lamping foxes - anyone beat this?”

Following a major backlash, he deleted the tweet, denied he had sent it and claimed his account had been hacked.

Followers condemned the disgusting photo and message, saying “loved Vinnie Jones as a footballer but can't respect someone that kills innocent animals for fun. Shocking!”, “Vinnie Jones, hard man of film and football thinks it hard to kill foxes and enjoy shooting. Now has deleted this but too late!” and “here’s self proclaimed 'tough guy' Vinnie Jones bragging about his sickening pastime”.

Previously, in an interview with Shooting UK, he described how he gets his kicks from blasting birds out of the sky - "I love pigeon shooting - building the hide, putting the decoys out.”

He added: “Lamping [the shooting of foxes at night time] is probably my favourite. I've spent a lot of money customising my Land Rover for lamping. If the farmer has a fox problem I love going out there and dealing with it for him.”

He has said that his “perfect day” would be “to get up early, get the hide out, shoot pigeons all day, bagging about 200, then go lamping all night and get half-a-dozen foxes."

In 2017, he posted a photo online showing him crouching next to 16 dead rabbits he had shot along with the message "How about this for two hours pal."

Vinnie Jones has also been shamefully involved in hare coursing in Ireland. A greyhound he part-owned failed a drug test and was disqualified after “winning” a €80,000 JP McManus-sponsored “Irish Cup” coursing meeting in Limerick in February 2006.

As reported by the Irish Independent, the syndicate sought a High Court judicial review of the Irish Coursing Club's decision, claiming they were not afforded proper procedures in relation to the inquiry, also alleging that there had not been full disclosure of the allegations against them. The matter was settled in 2013 when the decision of the ICC inquiry committee disqualifying the greyhound was quashed and it was "agreed between all parties to accept a decision of the ICC's executive committee to declare that there be no winner of the 2006 Irish Cup".

It has been reported that the first episode of the new X Factor: Celebrity series recorded the show’s lowest ever ratings. According to Buzz.ie, “800,000 people switched off and figures dropped from 3.6 million to an all-time low (2.95 million) since the series began back in 2004”.

SEE ALSO

Animals Matter to Simon Cowell
https://youtu.be/mpH56jhP_CE

Long-running Vinnie Jones greyhound case settled at High Court
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/longrunning-vinnie-jones-greyhound-case-settled-at-high-court-29024791.html

Vinnie Jones posts photo of 100 foxes 'he shot dead' on Twitter (before deleting it)
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/vinnie-jones-shoot-100-foxes-dead-photo-twitter-lamping-animal-rights-football-actor-night-a7857811.html