Ant and Dec's 30-year run of live TV calm shattered by I'm a Celebrity chaos

Key facts

• Ant and Dec have presented I'm a Celebrity for 23 years without major live TV drama.
• The South Africa final aired live on ITV in March 2025.
• Adam Thomas was crowned the I'm a Celebrity legend in the final.
• Jimmy Bullard quit a task in September 2025, causing his and Thomas's elimination.
• Thomas hurled the c-word at Bullard in unbroadcastable scenes.
• Bullard accused the show of editing to make him look bad during the final.
• David Haye accused the show of editing to make Thomas look like a victim.
• Sinitta and Gemma Collins walked off set during the final.

A live finale erupts after months of simmering tensions

For three decades, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have navigated live television with a composure that earned them 23 consecutive National Television Awards for best presenters. That unbroken run of control ended last week during the live final of I'm a Celebrity... South Africa, when a pre-recorded argument from September 2025 exploded into an on-air confrontation that the hosts could not contain. The trouble began when former footballer Jimmy Bullard quit a task, knowing it would send him and his partner, soap star Adam Thomas, out of the competition. Thomas reacted furiously, and in scenes deemed unbroadcastable by the show, he repeatedly used the c-word at Bullard. The incident was recorded but not aired until the final, where it was shown as part of the episode's recap.

Bullard and Haye challenge the presenters' impartiality

During the live broadcast, Bullard interrupted Ant and Dec to accuse the show of editing the argument to make him look bad. Former boxer David Haye, whom Thomas later described as 'manipulative' in camp, repeatedly chimed in, escalating the confrontation into a screaming match. The presenters, known for their relaxed style, struggled to regain control. In an extremely rare move, they abandoned their usual impartiality. When Bullard asked directly whether they thought Thomas's behaviour had been intimidating, Ant replied: 'I didn't think it was. And I was there.' The moment marked a sharp departure from the duo's long-standing policy of staying neutral on air.

Thomas speaks out about bullying after his victory

Days after being crowned the most defeated winner in the show's history, Thomas addressed the controversy on his podcast, At Home With The Thomas Bros. He said he regretted not standing up for himself during the original incident and had brushed it off as 'banter'. But now he stated plainly: 'What happened to me in camp is bullying. I don't think it's fair to people who are going through what I went through in the real world to pass it off as banter, because it's not.' Thomas's accusation adds a new layer to the fallout, which has already seen Sinitta and Gemma Collins walk off the set during the final. Donnelly noted on the duo's podcast that 'Gemma and Adam had left the WhatsApp group', indicating the rift extends beyond the broadcast.

Ant and Dec reflect on a 'weird night of TV'

In a preview for their podcast, Hanging Out With Ant And Dec, McPartlin described the final as 'a weird night of TV'. He recalled seeing 'two people in the car park, David Haye and Jimmy Bullard, and I thought 'oh god, how's your luck?'' Donnelly added that Bullard had 'a bee in his bonnet' and wanted to get something off his chest. The presenters also had to downplay embellished reports of a separate showdown with Bullard and Haye in the studio car park after the show. The incident has drawn comparisons to how other veteran hosts handle controversy. Davina McCall told The Independent in 2020 that she has always embraced shows that could be 'a career ender'. Emma Willis, who replaced McCall on Big Brother, said in 2024: 'Even if it's not down to you, you are the person that is held accountable for it in the press because you're the face of it.'

A departure from the show's drama-free tradition

Since its launch in 2002, I'm a Celebrity has prided itself on being a reality show devoid of the kind of interpersonal conflict that defined Big Brother. The South Africa final broke that mould, presenting viewers with an uncharacteristically hostile viewing experience. For Ant and Dec, it was the first time they had to battle egos on live television rather than deliver scripted mockery. The duo had previously navigated contentious moments, such as Nigel Farage's appearance in 2023, which was described as 'reputational rehab' for the former Ukip leader. But they left the tough conversations to campmates and softly mocked Farage from the studio. The South Africa finale forced them into uncharted territory, where they had to react off the cuff and share an opinion.

The fallout continues as parties trade accusations

The saga has accelerated since the final, with all involved parties still calling each other out. Bullard maintains that the editing made him look bad, while Haye insists Thomas was portrayed as a 'victim' unfairly. Thomas, now the show's most defeated winner, has doubled down on his bullying claim. The presenters have been caught in the middle, forced to defend their own actions and the show's integrity. McPartlin and Donnelly have not indicated whether they will change their approach to handling live confrontations. But the incident has exposed a vulnerability in their polished presentation style, suggesting that even the most seasoned hosts can be thrown by genuine conflict.

A new chapter for Ant and Dec's live television mastery

The South Africa final may prove to be a turning point for the Geordie double act. For years, they have operated within the sphere of structured entertainment, avoiding controversy and maintaining a carefully impartial image. The live showdown with Bullard and Haye forced them to act on instinct, revealing a more human side that some viewers found thrilling. Whether this experience will embolden them to engage more directly with contentious issues on air remains to be seen. But for the first time in their three-decade career, Ant and Dec have shown that they are not immune to the chaos of live television. As one observer noted, it was good to see them floundering a little, acting off the cuff and sharing an opinion.

The bottom line

• Ant and Dec's 30-year record of live TV composure was broken during the I'm a Celebrity South Africa final.
• The conflict originated from a pre-recorded task in September 2025 where Jimmy Bullard quit, leading to Adam Thomas's elimination and angry outburst.
• During the live final, Bullard and David Haye accused the show of biased editing, prompting a rare on-air opinion from Ant.
• Thomas has since labelled his treatment in camp as bullying, a claim he previously dismissed as banter.
• The incident has sparked a wider debate about the role of presenters in managing live conflict, with comparisons to Davina McCall and Emma Willis.
• The show's traditionally drama-free brand was upended, leaving Ant and Dec to navigate uncharted territory.