ITV has defended its editing of the live final of I'm a Celebrity... South Africa, insisting it provided an “accurate and fair representation” of events after former footballer Jimmy Bullard and boxer David Haye accused the show of favouring eventual winner Adam Thomas.
Chaotic Final
The live final descended into chaos when Bullard and Haye claimed that ITV had cut footage of Thomas's “abusive, aggressive and intimidating” rant during a camp clash, including “C-bombs,” to portray Thomas as a victim. Bullard alleged that the network edited out the outburst to protect Thomas's image.
ITV's Response
In a statement, ITV denied the allegations of favouritism, saying: “We provided an accurate and fair representation of events. Any suggestion otherwise is incorrect and harmful.” The network stressed that all contestants were treated equally and that the editing was standard for reality television.
The Original Confrontation
The dispute stems from a confrontation in which Thomas yelled at Bullard for giving up on a trial. Both contestants were eliminated, but Thomas was later allowed to return to the competition, sparking accusations of preferential treatment.
Social Media Reactions
Following the final, Thomas posted on social media about people trying to 'dim your light,' while his wife, Caroline Daly, strongly criticised the “vile display” and “pack of vultures” on what she described as a celebratory family show. The controversy has divided fans, with some supporting Bullard and Haye's claims and others defending ITV's editorial decisions.
