Jimmy Bullard has explained why he quit I’m a Celebrity: South Africa despite knowing it would also send home his campmate Adam Thomas – which led to a furious showdown between the pair.
Former footballer Bullard was partnered with actor Thomas for a pivotal trial in which the losing duo would be sent home from the ITV reality show. Despite Thomas throwing himself into the challenge, Bullard almost immediately abstained from taking part, telling hosts Ant and Dec: “I just don’t have it in me.”
Thomas angrily confronted Bullard, shouting: “You’re taking the p***!” before telling him he should have left the show after the trial instead of prematurely ending his time on the show also. Almost eight months after the series was filmed, they are reportedly not on speaking terms.
Speaking to the cameras after exiting the show, Bullard addressed the “kerfuffle”, stating: “Letting Adam down’s a killer. He’s my boy, you know? From day dot, we had the craic. He wants to do well, and I get it.”
Bullard, who said he “struggled” with how hard he found the show, said his decision to use the opportunity to leave stemmed in part from wanting to be with his parents.
“I thought we were going in for stars for the camp to eat, but then they leave the door open where you could say ‘I’m a celebrity… get me out of here’ and go home – I got my mum and dad at home, the dad ain’t too well, so that comes in.”
He added that, despite people thinking he’s outgoing and a wind-up, that “doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready for them trials and stuff”.
“I lost David Haye, Gemma [Collins], they were my big bounces, I’d say. You could bounce off of them. Unfortunately, my time was up in the game.”
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After realising Bullard was quitting the show on their behalf, Thomas said: “You’re joking me bro. Jim, come on, man. Don’t do this bro! Is that how we’re going out, yeah?”
However, despite Ant and Dec encouraging Bullard to continue for Thomas’s sake, he remained adamant, stating: “I’ve had enough. Sorry, boys and girls.”
Thomas stormed up to Bullard, asking: “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.” Bullard told him: “I choose when I come and when I go.”
Because Bullard did not complete any of the trial, Ant and Dec intervened, allowing campmates to vote for whether they would let Thomas remain on the show. They unanimously voted in his favour.
According to The Sun, Bullard is threatening not to attend the show’s final, which will be filmed live on Friday in London. Unlike with every celebrity who’s left so far, Bullard did not complete a post-exit interview with ITV. The Independent has reached out to the channel and Bullard for comment.
The spin-off show proved to be a tough experience for former Emmerdale actor Thomas, who also struggled with campmate David Haye while in the jungle.
Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Thomas admitted that Haye “broke” him while filming the show. It came after Haye turned on Thomas for asking not to do a Bushtucker Trial as he was feeling unwell.
“Who gives a s*** if he doesn’t feel well,” Haye said. “He’s a grown-ass man. I don’t like guys who are a bit useless. I hate them useless guys.”
Writing on Instagram, Thomas said: “He broke me in there, he pushed me to my limits, and I’ve told David this and he’s apologised and that’s that! I’ve moved on now, am not one to hold a grudge.”
