The nation still hasn’t quite recovered from the I’m a Celebrity: South Africa final on Friday – arguably the most chaotic and nastiest live telly we’ve seen in recent years.
Filmed back in September, the spin-off saw 12 celebrities and ex contestants tackle the show again but in South Africa, with the winner being chosen via a live final in London on Friday (24 April). However, with various clashes taking place in camp and the cast stewing over them for the last seven months, the final saw these feuds quickly become an unstoppable shouting match between contestants Jimmy Bullard, David Haye and presenters Ant and Dec.
At the heart of the row was Adam Thomas and Jimmy Bullard’s explosive row during a trial, which saw Thomas scream at Bullard for failing to try in a trial and therefore costing both of them a place in the competition. In the final, Bullard repeatedly accused Thomas of being “abusive, aggressive and intimidating” before claiming that ITV “didn’t show” any of Thomas’s alleged “c-bombs” in the broadcast.
As a result, Ant and Dec began defending Thomas, David Haye – who had his own run-ins with Thomas – called him a “victim” and both Sinitta and Gemma Collins stormed off set. Thomas was eventually crowned the ultimate King of the Jungle, looking like the most dejected person to ever do so after the on-screen drama.
A day and a half on and the row has spilled over into social media, with Thomas’s wife calling his cast members “a pack of vultures”, Bullard and Haye revealing they were “kicked out” of the final and Ant and Dec even speaking up. As the fallout continues, here’s everything that’s happened since the uncomfortable I’m a Celebrity: South Africa final.
David Haye and Jimmy Bullard ‘kicked out’
Having constantly interrupted Ant and Dec throughout the live final, it’s no surprise that David Haye and Jimmy Bullard were asked to leave ahead of the companion show, Unpacked, airing on Friday.
Viewers noticed that immediately after the final ended on ITV, both Haye and Bullard were missing from Unpacked, which started immediately after and was meant to feature all of the contestants. Thomas was also absent from the show.
In footage shared by The Sun on Saturday (25 April), Haye and Bullard were seen walking out of the studio, with Bullard saying: “We got kicked out!” After a paparazzo asked why they were kicked out, Haye said: “For trying to tell the truth.”
A show source told The Independent: “Some campmates were uncomfortable being on stage with David and Jimmy, so we sent them home during Unpacked.”
The video also shows Thomas leaving the venue shortly afterwards alongside his brothers.
Meanwhile, in pictures shared by Metro, Bullard is seen speaking with Ant McPartlin outside of the final. The Independent understands that the pair briefly had a calm chat about the show as McPartlin was leaving the final.
The Independent has contacted ITV, Bullard and McPartlin for comment.
‘A vile display’ and ‘an embarrassment’: the stars who’ve spoken out
A number of the cast and their relatives have taken to social media since the dramatic night, describing the live argument as “upsetting” and “a glimpse of a real jungle”.
Adam Thomas shared a post after his win – but didn’t directly reference the drama that happened the night before. “I have realised that when people try to dim your light, it says more about them than it ever will about you,” he wrote. After thanking his friends, family and fans, he concluded: “And to those who doubted me or tried to bring me down, I carry no negativity towards you. I have already won in the ways that matter most. I have love, I have happiness and I have stayed true to myself, and that is something no one can ever take away from me.I hope one day you can do the same.”
Thomas’s wife was more direct with her criticism of his campmates, writing: “What should have been a night of celebration for everyone, turned into a glimpse of a real jungle, watching a pack of vulture attack! I have never ever seen anything like the vile display that was demonstrated live on national television last night, on what is supposed to be a loved family show full of laughter and fun!
“Not one bit of that was fun, or ‘banter’, as a wife my heart is breaking and I will forever be horrified at what I had to sit and watch my husband go through.”
Gemma Collins was also firmly in Thomas’s camp, writing on Instagram on Saturday: “What a show up !!! Absolutely disgusted with jimmy and David’s behavior [sic] the biggest show up in tv history !!! What an EMBARRASSMENT ! To all the took part in the show it was a discredit to the production crew cast Ant and Dec biggest disrespect ever !!!
“Last night was meant to be a celebration instead it was very upsetting !! X Let’s hope Adam will find some energy to absorb his victory ! X”
Sinitta – who stormed off during the show and backed Bullard’s claims that Thomas was “abusive and aggressive” – opened up about Bullard and Thomas’s row in camp, saying that she found it “very uncomfortable and disturbing”.
“It was very explosive, very aggressive,” she told The Sun on Saturday. “I was so visibly upset and shaken by it. I was saying to anyone who would listen: ‘Why isn’t anyone stopping this? Please make it stop. This is not right.’” She added that she cried about it afterwards and that she supported Adam by voting for him to stay, because she “felt sorry for him”.
“However, it did feel like rewarding a child for throwing a massive tantrum, but worse because it was so disturbing and he is nearly 40 years old.”
The next day, she addressed her walking off the show, saying: “I really wish everyone had been given a proper chance to speak last night, so it didn’t end up feeling hectic with people trying to talk over each other. Before I walked out, all I wanted to say was this: I hate that people are being called bullies and that there’s bad blood between us. I had a wonderful time with everyone, despite one difficult incident, and I truly hope we can hold on to the life lessons and the incredible experience we shared together. I adore them all.”
Sinitta added that calling someone a “bully” is “a very serious accusation”, appearing to reference the audience reportedly shouting that at Haye during the final. “Adam apologised, and I thought that was a very grown-up thing to do. I also believe friendships and banter can sometimes be misunderstood when viewed from the outside. I simply ask people to try and see both sides.”
Ant and Dec poke fun at row on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’
Absolutely brilliant 😆😆😆 #BGT pic.twitter.com/kQIwktTBGF
— Lewis 🏴 (@lewisa95) April 25, 2026
While Ant and Dec deserved a lengthy break after the madness of Friday, they were back on TV the next night for Britain’s Got Talent – and couldn’t resist speaking about the chaotic moment.
Ant said at the start of the show: “To be serious for a second, we had quite enough drama on the telly last night. So can you please, you four, be on your best behaviour tonight,” referring to BGT judges KSI, Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden.
The panel laughed, as Cowell remarked that the duo were “very, very naughty”, before Dec added: “If you misbehave, you’ll be out quicker than Sinitta.”
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