Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, popularly known as Ant and Dec, have addressed the chaotic finale of I'm a Celebrity: South Africa, revealing what contestants Jimmy Bullard and David Haye told them in the car park after the live show. The hosts were forced to take sides during the tense final after Bullard and Haye repeatedly interrupted them, questioning the show's editing of a previous row between Bullard and actor Adam Thomas.
Background of the Dispute
The altercation occurred eight months ago when Bullard decided to quit the ITV show, a move that would have sent Thomas home as well. Thomas was infuriated and confronted Bullard, with the fallout spilling into the live final on Friday, 24 April. During the finale, Bullard asked the presenters if Thomas had been intimidating. McPartlin shocked viewers by saying, “I didn’t think it was intimidating. I was there. I was there, Jim.”
Podcast Revelations
Speaking on their podcast Hanging Out, McPartlin said, “If you didn't see the finale on Friday, I bet you read about it. The first question was to Jimmy about why did you call ‘I'm a celebrity... get me out of here’ on the night. I said I disagreed with it.” The hosts revealed they knew tensions were high as Thomas and fellow contestant Gemma Collins had left a WhatsApp group set up after the show was filmed.
Car Park Encounter
McPartlin described meeting Bullard and Haye in the car park after the show. “I thought, ‘Oh God, how’s your luck?’ I went over to David Haye, and he was like, ‘How brilliant was that? Wasn't that great?’ And I was like, ‘Well, it was certainly talk-about-TV. I wouldn't call it great,’ but anyway, we had a laugh and we were cool. Then I walked off and saw Jimmy Bullard, and I just shook his hand and I was like, ‘Look after yourself’ and he was like, ‘Yeah, cheers.’” McPartlin stressed there was no confrontation. Donnelly added that Haye told him, “Hope you get some good ratings for that one.”
Legal Threats and Editing Controversy
According to reports, Bullard and Haye are considering legal action against ITV for unfair representation. Bullard claims Thomas's behaviour was “abusive, aggressive and intimidating” and that the channel edited out several expletives. McPartlin called the footage “unbroadcastable” after Bullard said, “You didn't show any of the c-bombs, it's a liberty.” Former singer Sinitta corroborated Bullard's version, walking off stage during the live final after the crowd chanted Thomas's name. Thomas ultimately won the show. The Independent has contacted Haye and Bullard for comment.
