Ant McPartlin has urged fans of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! to remember the lighter moments from the show's chaotic South Africa season rather than the controversy that overshadowed the finale. The presenter addressed the dramatic ending of the ITV All Stars series while chatting with co-host Declan Donnelly on their podcast Hanging Out With Ant & Dec.
Focus on the Fun, Not the Fights
The pair reflected on the wild final episode, which descended into chaos as three celebrities started fighting and two stars walked out during filming. Despite the turmoil, Ant encouraged viewers to recall one bizarre moment that he feels captured the spirit of the season. He said: "I just felt it was a shame the crowning moment of I'm A Celebrity South Africa couldn't have been more celebratory. If anything, remember it for Craig Charles having a bath in the washing-up bowl. That's how I would remember it."
The Chaotic Finale
The finale aired last Friday and quickly became one of the most talked-about episodes in the show's history, with over 1,000 viewers reporting it to Ofcom. Adam Thomas was crowned King of the Jungle, but his celebrations were overshadowed by a tense confrontation with two campmates. A row erupted on stage between Adam and former footballer Jimmy Bullard, who branded the actor "intimidating, aggressive and abusive" regarding a disagreement after the Rancid Run trial. Former boxing champion David Haye also clashed with Adam and had a furious outburst when the actor was announced as the winner, shouting: "Do you think he deserves to win after calling Jimmy the C-word?"
Walkouts and Aftermath
The drama led to both Sinitta and Gemma Collins walking out while the finale was recorded live. In a preview of their podcast episode, Ant and Dec joked about the shocking events. Ant quipped: "If you didn't see it, I bet you read about it!" while Dec added: "It was quite the night!" Ant described the finale as "a weird night of TV", and Dec promised listeners they would explain the "ins and outs" of the dramatic evening. Dec also revealed that Gemma Collins and Adam Thomas have left the group WhatsApp chat post-fallout.
Adam Thomas Speaks Out
Since leaving the jungle, Adam has spoken about the impact of participating in I'm A Celebrity. While on The Thomas Bros podcast with his brothers Scott and Ryan Thomas, he admitted the experience left him emotionally drained. Adam said the moment he was announced as the winner was not the joyful experience he had expected; instead, he felt the colour "drain" from his face. He added: "It was like the curtain had just been pulled back. I feel, in all honestly, like I sold my soul. You couldn't pay me a million pound - ten million pound - to do that experience again. Nothing is worth what I went through."
