Harry Redknapp dismisses I’m A Celeb bullying row as ‘banter’ and says ‘I’ve never seen so much aggravation’ after ‘nightmare’ live final ended in chaos

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As a big fan of the show, I have to say I wasn’t surprised to hear Harry Redknapp downplay the drama that happened after the final. It all seemed a bit blown out of proportion to me, and he’s right – it was just some heated banter between Adam and the others after everything they’d been through in the jungle. It’s a shame it overshadowed Adam’s well-deserved win, but honestly, it felt like typical campmate disagreements taken a little too seriously.

The ITV show, which is a continuation of the popular series I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, faced disruption when Thomas got into a disagreement with former footballer Jimmy Bullard.

The soap opera actor blamed Bullard for nearly getting him voted off the show, reviving a conflict that started when the ex-footballer wouldn’t do a challenge. Because they were a team, Bullard’s refusal put both of their spots on the show in jeopardy.

Harry Redknapp, appearing on talkSPORT with Ally McCoist and Andy Townshend, dismissed the heated exchange as just friendly banter. Redknapp previously managed Bullard when they were both at West Ham United.

He admitted to the hosts that he initially thought he’d wandered into the wrong television show, believing it was ‘The Jeremy Kyle Show.’ He was surprised by the intense atmosphere, saying he’d never witnessed so much conflict and confusion, and wondered if he was in the wrong studio because of all the shouting from the audience.

‘Oh, it was a nightmare. I thought, you know, I’m not a celebrity. get me out of here.’ 

During Friday’s live episode of ‘I’m A Celebrity… South Africa,’ hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly attempted to calm tensions after disagreements between former boxer David Haye and Fred Sirieix, as well as a walk-off by Sinitta and Gemma Collins.

Later that evening, another ITV program experienced disruption when security staff removed a member of the audience from the Hammersmith Apollo in West London.

Police were forced to arrest the woman and take her away in a police van. 

Harry Redknapp seemed surprised by how well David Haye was doing, telling talkSPORT on Monday that he was in good shape.

Look, we all grew up around sports and locker rooms. You two have been involved with football your whole lives, so you know what real playful ribbing is like. This wasn’t even that strong compared to the things people say in those environments over the years.

Things just escalated quickly, didn’t they? It started with some playful teasing, but people took offense and it turned into a much larger problem.

The current season of I’m A Celebrity… South Africa has been filled with arguments and disagreements, including accusations of bullying among the celebrities.

Thomas spoke with Bullard on Friday following a heated argument where he reportedly used a highly offensive slur. This happened after Bullard participated in a challenge on ‘I’m a Celebrity,’ putting Thomas at risk of elimination from the show.

The actor had shared on his podcast, ‘At Home With The Thomas Bros,’ that he was in therapy and openly discussed how his public disagreement with Haye had deeply affected him.

He became emotional and explained that the experience felt like being back in school, facing a different kind of torment. While it wasn’t physical or traditional bullying, he felt mentally manipulated and deeply disturbed.

I regret not standing up for myself while I was in that situation. Looking back, that feeling of not defending myself bothered me more than anything else that happened.

He explained that the jungle experience profoundly changed him. He wasn’t the same person who went in, and that wasn’t an exaggeration.

I’m now seeing a therapist because this situation has really messed with my head. I keep wondering how this could be happening – I’m a 37-year-old man, and I’m frustrated with myself for letting someone else have this kind of impact on me.

Haye hasn’t stopped criticizing Adam, recently making a comment on social media and alleging that Adam earned between £20,000 and £25,000 per day for being on the ITV show.

As a longtime viewer, I was really shocked during the finale when Bullard directly accused Thomas of being abusive, aggressive, and intimidating. Apparently, this came up during a heated argument with swearing that was filmed for the show last year. It was a really difficult moment to watch.

Haye also chimed in, after taking fresh swipes at Thomas earlier this week, reigniting their feud.

After everything that happened, my heart goes out to Thomas’s wife, Caroline. She shared with me how horrified she is by the events, and she made a really powerful point: good people don’t ultimately lose out – they succeed in the end. It’s a message I truly believe in, and it’s so important to remember, especially during tough times.

What should have been a happy celebration quickly became a chaotic and unpleasant scene, like watching vultures descend on prey.

I was shocked by the awful behavior I witnessed on national television last night. It was completely inappropriate for what’s meant to be a family-friendly show known for its lighthearted entertainment.

That was incredibly painful to watch, and it certainly wasn’t playful or humorous. As a wife, I’m devastated and will never forget the suffering my husband endured.

Despite feeling heartbroken, Adam managed to remain calm and find the strength to defend himself, as he always did.

Congratulations, my dear! I’m so proud of you for being yourself and for winning not just the competition, but the affection of everyone watching.

You were a true role model, demonstrating the qualities – like kindness, honesty, and respect – that all parents hope to instill in their children.

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2026-04-27 13:34