Spanish broadcaster forced to axe plans to turn Pamplona's iconic bull running festival into I'm a Celebrity-style reality TV show 

  • Celebrities would have competed to outrun rampaging bulls in Spanish show
  • Idea axed following anger from local authorities in Pamplona
  • Mayor said he feared it would turn world famous San Fermin Fiesta into Big Brother 

By Ruth Halkon For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Celebrities have eaten kangaroo testicles in the jungle and injured themselves while jumping off ski slopes.

But B-list stars will be breathing a sigh of relief after a Spanish TV station announced it would be shelving plans to make them face their worst ordeal yet - being chased by rampaging bulls.

State broadcaster RTVE has axed plans for a reality show which would have seen celebrities pitted against each other to outrun fighting bulls in Pamplona. 

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Fifteen people have died since records began in 1924 and dozens are injured each year in the annual event

Fifteen people have died since records began in 1924 and dozens are injured each year in the annual event

The corporation caved in after the town's authorities said they would refuse to cooperate with their proposed programme.

The bull running takes part during the annual San Fermin Fiesta, and the mayor said he feared the broadcasters would turn the world famous festival into something out of Big Brother.

Enrique Maya told local media outlets: 'I am completely opposed to such a programme, and if it goes ahead it will be with zero co-operation from the City Hall.'

He said that city hall had been working to try and give the traditional encierro event more 'artistic and cultural value'. 

The town's mayor said he feared the reality TV show would turn bull running into Big Brother

The town's mayor said he feared the reality TV show would turn bull running into Big Brother

He added: 'Turning San Fermin into something like Big Brother would be terrible.' 

Fifteen people have died since records began in 1924 and dozens are injured each year in the annual event, known as the encierro.

In 2014 two people were severely injured after being gored by a frightened bull. 

Held since 1591, the fiesta attracts tens of thousands of foreign visitors each year for nine days of revelry, morning bull-runs and afternoon bullfights.

Ernest Hemingway propelled the San Fermin fiesta to worldwide fame after writing it about it in his 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises.

Held since 1591, the fiesta attracts tens of thousands of foreign visitors each year for nine days of revelry, morning bull-runs and afternoon bullfights

Held since 1591, the fiesta attracts tens of thousands of foreign visitors each year for nine days of revelry, morning bull-runs and afternoon bullfights

Alexander Fiske-Harrison, co-author and editor of 'Fiesta: How to survive the Bulls of Pamplona' dismissed the plans as 'laughable'.

He told The Local, 'Imagine trying to film a B-list celebrity running with the bulls in all the madness of the fiesta. It's laughable.'

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