Topics: Im A Celebrity, ITV, Ant and Dec, Celebrity, Sport, TV And Film, Entertainment, Reality TV
Former footballer Jimmy Bullard has made a serious accusation about I’m A Celebrity campmate Adam Thomas and what he allegedly said to him during a heated moment on the pre-recorded show.
Last Friday (24 April), Waterloo Road actor Thomas, 37, was crowned the winner of I’m A Celebrity… South Africa in front of a live studio audience.
He earned the title of ‘ultimate legend 2026’ after beating out Harry Redknapp, Craig Charles, and Sir Mo Farah.
However, the reality TV favourite’s moment was somewhat overshadowed by a raging debate between himself and Bullard, 47, who exited the jungle on day 12, finishing in eighth place.
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The ex-Premier League star, who claimed he ‘struggled’ with how hard the show was, alleged that before taking part in a Bushtucker trial (where the losing pair would be sent home), he talked to a member of the ITV production team about ‘pulling the plug’.
Thomas, who was Bullard’s partner, continued to throw himself into the challenge despite his colleague allegedly informing him that he may quit.
Instead of getting stuck in, the Wigan Athletic legend informed long-time hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 50, that he didn’t ‘have it in’ him to help out.
Bullard’s unwillingness to get involved caused Thomas - who was originally a contestant on the main I’m A Celeb show in 2016 - to blow up and ask his partner if he was ‘taking the p***’.
“What’s up with you bro? If you wanted to go, go. Don’t take me with you. Go home in camp, don’t do it on my f***ing watch.”
Eight months after the scene was filmed, the cast reunited to take part in the I’m A Celebrity live final on ITV.
During one segment, Bullard accused the father-of-two of being ‘abusive, aggressive, and intimidating’.
Despite McPartlin denying that Thomas’ reaction to potentially being booted out was any of the three descriptors, Bullard ploughed on.
He alleged that the Salford-born actor had thrown ‘C-bombs’ at him and that they had mysteriously been cut from the broadcast.
“Adam and all of you can be upset with me. And I absolutely threw him under the bus, I get it, I’ll wear that. But what I don’t stand for is someone being abusive, aggressive and intimidating. You didn’t show none of the C-bombs, that’s a liberty!”
In reply, McPartlin and Donnelly said that the so-called C-bombs were not aired because they were ‘unbroadcastable’.
Singer and actress Sinitta, 62, later alleged to The Sun on Sunday that Thomas was repeatedly ‘screaming F bombs and C bombs’ in an ‘explosive way’, which was ‘abusive and aggressive’.
She added: “I had a good cry later on about it.”
Meanwhile, in an interview with This Morning, Charles, 61, said that Thomas and Bullard’s argument in South Africa was ‘deeply traumatic’.
“He said: ‘It was deeply traumatic. It was very upsetting. Adam was so wound up, so aggressive, like a coiled spring.
“It looked like he was going to attack Jimmy, he was dropping F-bombs and C-bombs. They couldn’t broadcast it, I get that, I’m not blaming ITV, they edited it out.
“They had to water down what we’d really seen but they didn’t water down mine and Harry’s responses.”
Ahead of the live final, Thomas took to social media to tell his side of the story.
After claiming that spending time in camp has been ‘nothing short of a privilege’, the Emmerdale star stated: "I’ve seen some comments going around about things that some of my fellow campmates said during the row between me and Jimmy, and I just want to make one thing clear, I completely stand by them.
"Not everything was shown, and honestly, a lot of it probably couldn’t be aired anyway, I’ll hold my hands up to that. So I understand where they were coming from, and I respect their honesty.”
“It’s genuinely disappointing to see any negativity directed their way because they don’t deserve it. They are some of the kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.
"Being in the final alongside them is a real honour. I’ve got nothing but respect for these people, and if anyone deserves to win this, it’s them. They have my vote."
According to The Sun, Bullard is potentially considering legal action over Thomas’ alleged behaviour.
“Proving that Adam’s behaviour was abusive, aggressive and intimidating is the key to Jimmy’s legal case against ITV because that behaviour is in breach of the contract,” they claimed.
“At one point he had his phone out to check notes but no one is sure whether he was also recording chatter between the cast. Insiders say it’s clear from his conduct that a case is being built and that the channel is braced for it after the way he monopolised his moment.”
