LONDON: The hosts of the British reality show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! have finally addressed the controversy surrounding the chaotic finale of its all-stars edition, which aired on April 24, 2026.
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The show concluded with 37-year-old actor Adam Thomas being crowned the winner, but the finale drew significant attention due to a heated on-air exchange involving presenter Ant McPartlin and contestant Jimmy Bullard.
Ant and Dec break silence on dramatic I’m A Celeb live final pic.twitter.com/cSkL4ck2jL
— The Sun (@TheSun) April 30, 2026
Speaking on the podcast Hanging Out, McPartlin and co-host Declan Donnelly broke their silence on the incident, offering behind-the-scenes insight into what happened during the live broadcast and immediately after.
McPartlin acknowledged the tension during the finale, particularly when Bullard was questioned about his earlier decision to withdraw from the programme. He said the moment created an unexpected live-TV situation that quickly became a talking point.
“If you didn’t see the finale on Friday, I bet you read about it,” McPartlin said, referring to the widespread media coverage that followed. He added that while the exchange felt intense on screen, the atmosphere off-camera remained calm.
McPartlin also described briefly meeting Bullard after the segment, noting that their interaction was civil and without confrontation. “I just shook his hand and said, ‘look after yourself,’ and he was like, ‘yeah, cheers,’” he recalled, adding that there was no shouting or escalation behind the scenes.
Donnelly also reflected on the moment, saying that former boxer David Haye reacted positively to the drama, joking that it could help ratings.
The hosts emphasized that although the finale appeared chaotic to viewers, it was handled professionally behind the scenes, and there was no lasting conflict between the individuals involved.
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The incident has since sparked debate among viewers about reality TV production, live broadcasting pressures, and the blurred line between entertainment and real-time conflict.