I’m A Celebrity…South Africa has officially crowned its 2026 winner in a live finale that descended into shouting chaos.
Adam Thomas has been named the Ultimate Legend in the second-ever all-star version of the hit ITV jungle show, in a decision made by the voting public at home.
While the bulk of the show was filmed last autumn in South Africa, the final unfolded in an epic, shouty two-part live event in London, hosted by Geordie double act Ant and Dec.
The finalists were a crop of the camp’s men, with Olympian Sir Mo Farah, former football manager Harry Redknapp, Corrie star Craig Charles and Waterloo Road actor Adam vying for the crown.
All their fellow campmates were in the audience, with the exception of soap star Beverley Callard, who was unable to attend. The hosting duo offered their ‘support and love’ to Bev during the show.
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The final four were each tasked with their own trial before they were whittled down to three, with Craig first to go, followed by Harry and Sir Mo in runner-up.
The first chunk of the final was taken up with pre-recorded trials of each finalist, which put them through their paces against the gorgeous backdrop of the Kruger National Park.
Sir Mo screamed as he took on 70 snakes in his ‘viper pit’ trial while Harry took on five mystery boxes, which saw him faced with hairless rats, frogs and insects.
Craig was strapped to a board and lowered face-first into a pit full of rats as he used his mouth to retrieve stars. Last of all, Adam took on an eating trial during which he was served a sheep’s anus and vagina, as well as a tarantula.
The show then played out the final evening in the South Africa camp, where the four last men standing were treated to a meal of their favourite dishes.
Who did you want to win?
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Mo Farah
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Harry Redknapp
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Adam Thomas
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Craig Charles
After the pre-recorded bits, ITV cut back to a classic studio audience with the I’m A Celebrity cast gathered in the audience, while Ant and Dec presided over the night from the stage.
However, the viewers at home could feel the tension in the studio, after what has been an incredibly messy, catty and drama-fueled series.
The finale lived up to that series, with a finale thirty minutes that was described as ‘car crash TV’ on social media, when the cast erupted over a much-discussed argument between Adam and Jimmy Bullard.
Sinitta and Gemma Collins decided to walk off stage as Jimmy and David Haye started going at it with Adam over the argument that was reportedly edited for broadcast.
Ant and Dec rightly pointed out that David hadn’t actually been there for the argument, but Jimmy demanded ITV play the full clip.
Reacting to the live scenes in the studio, Maisey Prue tweeted: ‘This is the best live TV we’ve seen in years. Absolute chaos.’
Anna wrote on X: ‘This must be the most awkward final ever. Such bad vibes.’
Meanwhile, Caroline tweeted that Ant and Dec were earning their pay to corral the crowd, as she added: ‘There is quite an atmosphere in that studio.’
Chris tweeted that it ‘all seems a bit awks’, while Christina added: ‘So I’m not the only one to feel that there is tension in the audience.’
Another described it as ‘excruciatingly awkward’.
I’m A Celebrity…South Africa is available to watch on ITVX.
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