Celebrities and Activists Unite to Demand Closure of MBR Acres Animal Testing Facility Amid Growing Global Outrage 
In a powerful show of unity, a group of renowned British celebrities, including Amanda Holden, Dame Joanna Lumley, and Jonathan Ross, have joined forces to demand the immediate closure of MBR Acres—a controversial beagle testing facility in Wyton, Cambridgeshire. The site, the only one in the UK breeding dogs for scientific research, has long been at the heart of animal cruelty allegations, sparking widespread protests and calls for change.
Amanda Holden, judge on Britain’s Got Talent, was among the first to sign an open letter urging the government to shut down the facility, which breeds approximately 2,000 beagles annually for use in experiments. Holden’s support follows disturbing reports of the mistreatment of the dogs, who are allegedly subjected to extreme pain and suffering, including being bled to death in heart experiments.
Joining her in the fight are actress Dame Joanna Lumley and Jonathan Ross, alongside Chris Packham, the host of Springwatch, and animal rights groups like PETA and Animal Rising. Together, they are lending their voices to a cause that has already garnered more than 170,000 signatures on petitions demanding the closure of MBR Acres.
The call to action comes after years of escalating protests outside the facility, including clashes between police and protesters at Camp Beagle in 2021. Activists, some of whom have carried out high-profile rescue missions, claim that MBR Acres is breeding the dogs for the sole purpose of testing, with no regard for their well-being.
In 2021, Animal Rising activists made headlines with a daring rescue mission to save beagles from the facility, and they have continued their campaign with vigor. Rose Patterson, director of Animal Rising, has stated: “The government has a mandate to act. Shutting down MBR Acres is the easiest and most immediate step they could take to end this cruelty once and for all.”
Among those leading the charge is Will Young, who became a symbol of protest when he chained himself to the gates of the facility in November 2021, demanding the government take action. Love Island’s Faye Winter also passionately addressed a rally against animal testing in February 2024, further amplifying the calls for a nationwide movement to put an end to animal cruelty in research.
The emotional outcry from these public figures, along with animal rights organizations, paints a clear message: MBR Acres’ practices must not continue.
The goal is to move forward into a future where animal testing is eradicated, and the dogs of MBR Acres can be rehomed, away from the pain and suffering they’ve endured for years. The global movement, fuelled by these celebrity voices, is louder than ever—and it’s only gaining momentum.
Read more about the campaign and the powerful testimonies of those involved
