Adam Thomas has finally spoken publicly about the tumultuous I'm a Celebrity: South Africa final, describing how he felt "exploited" during the chaotic broadcast.
The 37-year-old Emmerdale actor, who was crowned King of the Jungle on Friday night, opened up on his podcast At Home With The Thomas Bro's alongside siblings Ryan and Scott on Wednesday.
Mr Thomas described the moment his victory was announced as deeply unsettling: "When they were announcing the winner, I just felt the colour drain from my face.
“The moment where I realised this isn't about me, this is not about me, this is about you guys and whatever agenda you want to fill off the back of me.”
The pair went to blows during a tense Bushtucker Trial
|ITV
The actor added: “It was like the curtain had just been pulled back. I feel, in all honestly, like I sold my soul.”
Mr Thomas confirmed reports that he threw his crown after being declared the winner, overwhelmed by the evening's events.
The actor also disclosed that he declined a request from hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly to participate in a live segment following the programme.
He was notably absent from the ITV2 show Unpacked, with his brothers revealing he had been crying backstage between broadcasts.
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly defended Adam Thomas during the live final
|ITV
"ITV wanted me to go and do the ITV2 show and I was like, 'There is no way. I've had enough of this,'" Mr Thomas explained.
"Imagine me going and doing the ITV2 show and then everyone again just ripping into me and pointing the finger at me."
Mr Thomas stated the experience would haunt him permanently, declaring no sum could persuade him to return.
"You could pay me £10million to do that experience all over again and I would say no in a heartbeat because nothing is worth what I went through in there," he said.
Mr Thomas claimed Mr Haye manipulated him during their time on the show
|ITV
Despite the turmoil, the Waterloo Road star accepted responsibility for his confrontation with Jimmy Bullard during the Rancid Run trial, after Mr Bullard forfeited a challenge that cost them both their place in the competition.
His brother Ryan Thomas offered an emotional tribute to how his brother conducted himself throughout the ordeal.
He said: "Honestly, you've done me so proud and I look up to you so much. You showed the world that we are f****** human, and we are f****** lovely people and we want the best for everyone else."
Mr Thomas was unequivocal in labelling the former boxer's behaviour towards him as bullying, dismissing suggestions from fellow campmates Sinitta and Harry Redknapp that it constituted mere "banter".
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
"I'll just be outright and say it how it is now. What happened to me in camp is bullying. That is the matter of fact about it. It was bullying," Mr Thomas stated on the podcast.
He argued it was unfair to those experiencing similar treatment to minimise such conduct: “I don't think it's fair to people who are going through what I went through in the real world to pass it off as banter because it's not."
Mr Thomas explained his silence during filming stemmed from others normalising Mr Haye's actions.
"The reason why I didn't speak up for myself when I should have done is because when I was in camp, everyone was passing it off as banter."
He also accused Mr Haye of psychological manipulation, claiming the boxer fabricated a story about show producers expressing concern over his mental wellbeing.
According to Mr Thomas, Mr Haye approached him after a trial and claimed ITV staff had instructed him to ease off due to worries about Mr Thomas's mental state.
"[Producers] said, 'Adam, we've never once said anything to David about you or your mental health.' I asked David when I got out and he was like, 'Yeah, I made it all up,'" Mr Thomas revealed.
Breaking down during the podcast, he added: "Like, you really f****** manipulated the s*** out of me. He got in my head like you wouldn't believe."
Mr Thomas described receiving a congratulatory voice note from Mr Haye following the final as "the most disturbing bit", with the boxer praising the show and celebrating his victory.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter