Oz chef charged in rat killing

SYDNEY: Two stars of the I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here television show have been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly killing and cooking a rat to eat during filming.

Chef Gino D'Acampo, who won the viewer-feedback contest series, and actor Stuart Manning were charged after animal welfare activists lodged a complaint about a segment for the program, which was filmed in Australia, the activists and British media reported Sunday.

They have been asked to appear in court to face the charge on Feb 3. The maximum penalty is three years in prison.