I’m A Celebrity’s Jimmy Bullard used live final to ‘build evidence’ against Adam Thomas

I’m A Celebrity star Jimmy Bullard is said to be pursuing legal action against ITV and used Friday’s chaotic live All Stars final to gather evidence, according to sources.

The 47-year-old football star accused the broadcaster of protecting eventual winner Adam Thomas with the show’s edit and not giving a fair or accurate representation of how their row on the show went down in reality.

During the live final, a heated exchange unfolded on stage, with Gemma Collins and Sinitta leaving amid the confrontation as Jimmy challenged both presenters Ant and Dec and his fellow contestants over how events in the camp had been portrayed.

He also repeatedly described Adam’s conduct during their argument on the show – pre-filmed in South Africa last year – as ‘abusive, aggressive and intimidating’, while also criticising the programme’s edit.

Jimmy said this exact description a reported nine times during the final, which is said to be a key phrase used in the celebrities’ contracts for the show to define unacceptable behaviour.

Get personalised updates on I'm A Celeb

Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.

Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.

The former footie coach was also said to be glancing at his phone during the recording of the final, with a source claiming he was checking his notes while also possibly recording the clash as further evidence for a potential claim.

‘Proving that Adam’s behaviour was abusive, aggressive and intimidating is the key to Jimmy’s legal case against ITV because that behaviour is in breach of the contract,’ an insider told The Sun.

‘Jimmy didn’t only repeat that phrase, he also built-up on-air evidence of other campmates agreeing that Adam crossed that line.

They added: ‘At one point he had his phone out to check notes but no one is sure whether he was also recording chatter between the cast.

Insiders say it’s clear from his conduct that a case is being built and that the channel is braced for it after the way he monopolised his moment.’
Hosts Ant and Dec had invited Jimmy to explain during the final why he had decided to quit before even attempting a Bushtucker Trial – in which he was paired with Adam, putting his spot on the show in jeopardy too – by yelling the trademark phrase, ‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here!’.

Jimmy argued: ‘Adam and all of you can be upset with me.

And I absolutely threw him under the bus, I get it, I’ll wear that.

But what I don’t stand for is someone being abusive, aggressive and intimidating.

You didn’t show none of the C-bombs, that’s a liberty!’
However, Ant responded by rejecting that characterisation, stating he did not agree with Jimmy’s account and that Adam’s language had been ‘un-broadcastable’.

‘The reason we didn’t air the C-bomb is because that is un-broadcastable.

I was there and I didn’t think it was intimidating.’
In a statement to Metro, ITV previously insisted the programme ‘showed an accurate and fair representation of events’.

Jimmy later said he had intended to leave the programme for personal reasons and had informed production and Adam of his decision in advance, explaining that completing the challenge was linked to his contract, with his fee changing depending on how he left the show, which influenced the way he decided to bow out.

Adam also acknowledged the explosive and uncomfortable-to-watch clash and admitted emotions had definitely run high.

He said he took ‘full responsibility’ for what happened in the moment and had ‘nothing but love for Jimmy.’
However, the soap star was also reportedly so furious as the final was being filmed, which saw former boxer David suggesting the show’s edit painted King of the Jungle Adam as a ‘victim’ and that he wasn’t a ‘worthy winner’, that he stormed off set just moments after being crowned.

Craig Charles – who finished fourth – previously spoke about Adam and Jimmy’s bust-up during an appearance on This Morning.

He said: ‘It was deeply traumatic.

It was very upsetting.

Adam was so wound up, so aggressive, like a coiled spring.

‘It looked like he was going to attack Jimmy, he was dropping F-bombs and C-bombs.’
Craig added: ‘They couldn’t broadcast it, I get that, I’m not blaming ITV, they edited it out.

‘They had to water down what we’d really seen but they didn’t water down mine and Harry’s responses.’
Following the airing of the final, Gemma branded David and Jimmy’s behaviour ‘disgusting’.

‘Not one bit of that was fun, or “banter”, as a wife my heart is breaking and I will forever be horrified at what I had to sit and watch my husband go through,’ she wrote.

‘I have realised that when people try to dim your light, it says more about them than it ever will about you.

‘This experience has shown me my strength in ways I never imagined.

Not because of any title or recognition, but because I stayed kind, I stayed grounded and I stayed real.’
His post received support from fellow campmates too, with Scarlett Moffatt writing: ‘You have handled it all with grace.

Sending lots of love.

No one can take the title of legend away from you.

Keep smiling Adam.’
Meanwhile Ashley Roberts also commented: ‘Nothing but love for you Adam.

You deserved that legend title.

Keep shinning that big light of yours.’
Metro has contacted reps for Jimmy Bullard and ITV for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.