Jimmy Bullard shares what happened off camera before huge bust-up that changes entire incident
It might have only been half an hour, but the second part of tonight's live I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! South Africa final was total chaos.
Jimmy Bullard took the opportunity to have his say on the bust-up with Adam Thomas, as he branded his behaviour as 'abusive, aggressive and intimidating'.
But before he burst out into a rant against ITV and with Ant and Dec, he shared what went down before he quit the trial.
Filmed in South Africa back in September, the footballer was paired up with the now winner when he decided to say the coveted words 'I'm a celebrity get me out of here' and quit the show.
Advert
He clarified that he picked Thomas before finding out that it was possible to get home as he thought it was just 'for stars'.
"I didn't have it in for this boy, never have done," Bullard said. "So now, all of a sudden, there's a chance for me to go home."
He explained that he spoke to a member of production before the trial to say he was going to 'pull the plug'.
Bullard continued to claim: "I told Adam before, and I spoke to Harry, I shook Craig's hand and I said, I'm gonna have to pull the plug boys."
He said he didn't want to get 'into' the 'heavy reasons' why he left, as he added: "Everyone's got their own issues."
And the former footballer then began to discuss his 'contract' for the show which is 'pro rata'.
"Let me give you an example, if i go home and call Adam back with me, I get full pay," Bullard explained.
"And it's all a job for us. It's a job for me, and that money's big for me and my family.
"If I'd go home, stay in and go back and pull the plug, I'll get a certain percentage of that.
"I made my mind up in that light bulb moment, I'm going home. I have to go home for personal reasons. That's why I took Adam and then all hell breaks..."
Bullard told his campmates can be 'upset' at him and believe that he threw Thomas 'under the bus' and he'll 'wear that'.
"But what I don't stand on is someone being abusive, aggressive and intimidating. I don't stand on it," he added.
The show descended into total chaos though, with both Sinitta and Gemma Collins walking off set as Ant and Dec tried to diffuse the situation.
The highest paid I’m a Celeb campmates of all time
Not all I’m a Celeb campmates are paid equally, with salaries ranging from around £13,000 to over £1 million.
This year’s campmate David Haye told The Sun this year’s campmates are paid around £20,000-£25,000 per day, which works out £300k-£375k for the whole 15 day stint.
But some contestants have previously been paid a great deal more than this.
Matt Hancock (2022) - £400,000
Former health secretary Hancock was a controversial signing, joining the show after he ended his political career by kissing aide Gina Coladangelo at the height of Covid-19 social distancing regulations.
Going on I’m a Celeb led to him losing the whip in parliament. He finished in third place, and was clearly paid handsomely, so it may all have been worth it.
Amir Khan (2017) - £400,000
Boxer Khan returned for the first series of I’m a Celebrity… South Africa back in 2023, and when the pay cheque is this good, why wouldn’t he?
The undoubted highlight from his original 2017 appearance was the strawberry-gate incident with Iain Lee, when the pair decided to scoff strawberries and cream meant to be shared with the rest of the camp.
Despite this act of treachery, he finished fifth.
Ian Wright (2019) - £400,000
The former Crystal Palace forward was accused of bullying his campmate Andrew Maxwell, and said in his exit interview: “I’ve got to try and be a little bit calmer.”
He finished in eighth place.
Katie Price (2009) - £450,000
The former model famously found love on her first go-around on I’m a Celeb with Peter Andre in 2003.
She returned in 2009, which is when she earned that £450k pay packet.
Despite this, she left after a week, after being repeatedly nominated to compete in Bushtucker Trials.
Harry Redknapp (2018) - £500k
Football manager Redknapp ended up being one of the most beloved I’m a Celeb campmates of all time and won his season - so it’s no surprise he returned for this year’s series.
But he seems to have caused more controversy this time around, with some viewers angry at him for criticising Adam Thomas’ outburst in his blow-up with Jimmy Bullard.
Boy George (2022) - £500,000
The Culture Club singer was one of the show’s most controversial signings, having been sentenced to 15 months in jail back in 2009 for falsely imprisoning a male escort and handcuffing him to the wall.
On the show, he also drew viewers’ ire from his feud with Loose Women’s Charlene White.
He was the fourth celebrity to be eliminated, finishing eighth.
Caitlyn Jenner (2019) - £500,000
The reality TV icon was paid handsomely, with producers likely hoping she would spill the tea on the Kardashian-Jenner clan.
On the show, she was very candid about her experience of coming out as trans, and ended up finishing sixth.
Noel Edmonds (2018) - £600,000
Ironically, Edmonds was paid £600k to spend just eight days in the jungle, coming in as a late arrival on day five and being the first to be eliminated on day 13.
He later told ITV’s Lorraine he was ‘disappointed’ to be shown the door so early, in spite of his burgeoning friendship with Harry Redknapp.
Nigel Farage (2023) - £1.5 million
The man many think could be the future UK prime minister was one of the most controversial signings in I’m a Celeb history - and the joint most expensive.
He did end up getting into political spats with several campmates, including Fred Sirieix and Nella Rose, but viewers ended up taking to him. He finished third.
Coleen Rooney (2024) - £1.5 million
Coming in off the back of her Wagatha Christy fame, Rooney shares the top spot with Farage, and ended up coming in second place to boot.
On the show, she mostly steered clear of talking about her feud with Rebekah Vardy, but did end up calling Donald Trump a ‘dirty bastard’ at one point, as well as opening up about her marital strife with Wayne.
Topics: ITV, Im A Celebrity, TV and Film, Celebrity
Jess Battison