Ant and Dec have taken the unusual step of publicly criticising a contestant on I’m A Celebrity, expressing their discomfort at watching David Haye’s behaviour towards fellow campmate Adam Thomas.
The presenting duo don’t typically air their personal opinions about celebrities taking part in the ITV show, but have addressed concerns following viewer backlash over Mr Haye.
Speaking on the ITV1 companion podcast I’m A Celebrity… Unpacked on Friday, Ant McPartlin said: “It’s not a nice watch. He just kind of picks and picks at them.”
The presenter added that the Waterloo Road actor had been struggling in the jungle.
He stated: “Adam has had a bit of a tough time and he’s not coping well. Clearly the banter has got too much. But David won’t stop.”
His co-host Declan Donnelly echoed the concerns, admitting: “It’s kind of crossed the line from banter. I don’t find it comfortable to watch.”
Mr Thomas broke his silence on Sunday with a candid Instagram post reflecting on what he described as one of the most challenging experiences of his life, both physically and emotionally.
The 37-year-old soap star directly addressed the tension with Haye, writing: “He broke me in there, he pushed me to my limits, and I’ve told David this and he’s apologised and that’s that!”
The actor made clear he harbours no ill will towards the former heavyweight champion, adding: “I’ve moved on now, am not one to hold a grudge.”
He revealed he had taken time since leaving the jungle to process his emotions, stating he had “let go of the anger” and “chose peace” after having the necessary conversations.
The friction between the pair had been building throughout the series, with tensions boiling over during Thursday’s episode when Thomas smuggled chocolate to hungry campmates on the Lions team.
When the rule-breaking resulted in two stars being deducted from the camp’s dinner, Haye was quick to voice his displeasure, suggesting Thomas’s portion “should be a little bit smaller than everyone else’s”.
Ant and Dec shared their thoughts on David Haye’s I’m A Celebrity behaviour
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The boxer dismissed the gesture as “hollow” and “empty”, prompting Mr Thomas to later admit in the Bush Telegraph that he couldn’t tell whether Mr Haye’s comments were genuine criticism or simply banter.
Further conflict arose on Friday when Mr Thomas opted out of a Bushtucker Trial due to feeling unwell, with Mr Haye responding: “Who gives a s**t if he doesn’t feel well. He’s a grown-ass man. I hate them useless guys.”
Mr Thomas opened up about his battle with psoriatic arthritis, an autoimmune condition he was diagnosed with in 2023, revealing it had significantly affected him during filming.
The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant admitted his “biggest fight” was maintaining a brave face while concealing the pain, describing the effort as exhausting in itself.
Declan Donnelly admitted he didn’t find David Haye ‘comfortable to watch’ in I’m A Celebrity South Africa
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Despite moments when he wanted to walk away from the show entirely, Mr Thomas expressed pride in his determination to continue.
He penned: “Even when I wanted to walk away, even when it felt like too much, I never give up! And that means everything to me.”
He concluded with a message of resilience, noting: “We all face people and situations that try to break us, but sometimes those moments are what rebuild you stronger than ever. Be kind.”