To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Ant McPartlin has addressed a confrontation he reportedly had with I’m A Celebrity…South Africa contestant Jimmy Bullard after the show’s finale last week.
The all-stars spin-off ended in hugely controversial fashion, as the winner Adam Thomas came under fire from Jimmy and David Haye in a live showdown.
Hosts Ant and Dec have admitted they struggled to keep a handle on the campmates on stage, in a new episode of their podcast.
The duo have also addressed the fallout from the live show, after Ant was pictured in what seemed to be a fiery clash with Bullard in the car park of the studio.
Yet, the TV presenter has now insisted that ‘there was no confrontation’ and the pair shook hands after Ant wished the former Fulham footballer the best.
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.
Speaking on their Hanging Out podcast, the Geordie hosts explained they left separately, with Ant setting the scene, saying: ‘There’s two people standing in the car park: David Haye and Jimmy Bullard.
‘I thought, oh god, how’s your luck? So I went over to David Haye and he was like, “How brilliant was that? Wasn’t that great?” I was like, “Talk about TV, I wouldn’t call it great”. But we had a laugh and we were cool.’
He continued: ‘Then I walked off and saw Jimmy Bullard and I shook his hand and was like, “look after yourself” and he said, “yeah, cheers”.
‘So there was no confrontation. He wasn’t shouting at me. I wasn’t shouting at him. I wasn’t flanked by two security guards. I think one of them was carrying my bag to the car in a Beyoncé style.
‘I saw Jimmy and went over to Jimmy. There was no argument between us two in the car park.’
Dec recounted how he also ran into David in the car park, and he said the former boxer told him: ‘What about that then? Hope you get some good ratings for that one.’
Speaking on the podcast, Ant said: ‘See, he doesn’t care! That’s what he does. He’s a boxer. It’s his stock and trade – calling out from the audience. He’s used to it.’
He went on to say it was a ‘shame’ that the ITV reality show’s crowning moment wasn’t more ‘celebratory’, lamenting the fact they weren’t able to direct a question at each of the celebrities as intended.
Elsewhere in the chat, the pair admitted they didn’t know what to expect going into the live final, given the crossfire of ‘moaning and complaining’ from campmates ahead of their grand reunion.
They had learned that Gemma Collins and Adam had left the cast WhatsApp group and were also unsure whether Jimmy would actually make an appearance.
As for the chaos that unfolded on the stage, Ant and Dec said that after David started his heckling from the audience, they guaranteed him a right of reply on stage.
‘Not thinking that we would give them that much right of reply, but that’s what happened,’ they wryly admitted.
As for the chaos that unfolded on the stage, Ant said, ‘Unfortunately, it went on too long, we thought. We tried to handle it as professionally as we could and keep on track.’
I’m A Celebrity…South Africa is available to stream on ITVX.
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.