ITV denies favouritism claims in I’m a Celebrity South Africa final amid camp row
ITV denies favouritism claims in I’m a Celebrity South Africa final amid camp row
ITV denies favouritism claims in I’m a Celebrity South Africa final amid camp row
ITV refutes bias claims as Adam Thomas wins the I’m a Celebrity South Africa final amid a chaotic finish and accusations over footage edits by Jimmy Bullard and David Haye.
ITV has denied claims that Adam Thomas received preferential treatment during the I’m a Celebrity… South Africa final, insisting the broadcast presented an accurate and fair representation of events. The all-star edition, pre-recorded last year, culminated in a live finale on Friday that saw former footballer Jimmy Bullard and David Haye publicly challenge the winner’s conduct.
In the closing moments, Bullard accused Thomas of abusive, aggressive, and intimidating behaviour during filming, suggesting footage of the row had been cut. Haye joined in, arguing that ITV framed Thomas as the victim. Thomas, for his part, said he accepted responsibility for his actions and later posted that he wouldn’t let others dim his light.
An ITV spokesperson told The Independent that suggestions of bias were incorrect and harmful, and that all campmates were invited to the live finale to share their thoughts, both individually and collectively. The channel stressed that the final represents a fair capture of events, though representatives for Thomas, Bullard, and Haye did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The dispute traces back to the final week of pre-recorded action when Bullard walked away from a trial, and both he and Thomas encountered tense exchanges in camp. Thomas yelled that Bullard was “taking the p” and told him, “Don’t do it on my fing watch!” He was later allowed to stay after fellow campmates voted to keep him in the competition.
During Friday’s live grand finale, Bullard claimed a substantial portion of his confrontation with Thomas—including several strong expletives—had been removed from broadcast. He argued that the show failed to show the full context of the clash. Sinitta, a commentator on the show, later suggested Bullard and Haye looked like bullies in the finale.
ITV’s statement has reignited the debate about whether reality shows can ever be fully fair, especially when edited episodes precede live broadcasts. The star-studded ending, already fraught with tension, continues to prompt questions about transparency and the power of production choices in shaping public perception.
