I'm A Celeb's Ant and Dec break silence after car park 'showdown' with Jimmy Bullard amid 'bullying' claims

Lauren Williams
Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:57:09 +0000

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have dismissed reports of a confrontation with Jimmy Bullard in the aftermath of the I'm A Celebrity South Africa finale.

The presenting duo used their podcast, Hanging Out with Ant & Dec, to address speculation that had emerged following the dramatic live broadcast on April 24.

Earlier accounts had claimed Mr McPartlin was surrounded by security personnel when he encountered the former footballer outside the studio.

However, both presenters have firmly rejected this version of events, insisting no altercation took place between them and Mr Bullard after the show concluded.

The pair described the evening as "quite the night" and likened the chaotic scenes to something resembling a talk show confrontation, with Ant referencing "Jimmy Springer" when recalling the atmosphere.

Mr Donnelly recounted his interaction with Bullard, explaining that he approached the former midfielder and offered a simple handshake.

"I just shook his hand and I was like 'look after yourself' and he was like 'yeah, yeah cheers, cheers, cheers'. So there was no confrontation," Mr Donnelly said on the podcast.

Mr McPartlin was equally keen to dispel the notion that he required protection during the encounter.

He rejected claims published in newspapers that he had been accompanied by two security guards, offering a rather different explanation for the presence of another person.

"I wasn't flanked by two security guards as it said in the paper. One of them was carrying my bag to the car in Beyoncé style," Mr McPartlin clarified, adding a touch of humour to his denial.

The finale itself had been marked by considerable tension, with Adam Thomas taking the crown as King of the Jungle despite heated confrontations during the live programme.

Mr Bullard had accused the Waterloo Road actor of being "abusive, aggressive and intimidating" during their earlier row in the South African savanna, claiming Mr Thomas had used language that was not broadcast.

When the former footballer asked Mr McPartlin and Mr Donnelly for their view during the live show, given they had "front row seats" to the original dispute, Mr McPartlin disagreed with the characterisation, stating: "No, it wasn't, I was there!"

The situation escalated further when David Haye accused ITV of editing footage to portray Mr Thomas as a "victim", prompting both Gemma Collins and Sinitta to leave the set in protest.

Despite the drama that unfolded, Mr McPartlin made clear his regret that the evening's focus had shifted away from the winner's achievement.

He expressed his disappointment that Mr Thomas' victory could not be marked with greater celebration, given the circumstances that had overshadowed proceedings.

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"I just felt it was a shame the crowning moment of I'm A Celebrity South Africa couldn't have been more celebratory," Mr McPartlin remarked on the podcast.

Rather than dwelling on the conflicts, the presenter suggested an alternative memory from the finale that viewers might prefer to hold onto.

"If anything, remember it for Craig Charles having a bath in the washing up bowl that's how I would remember it," he concluded, steering the conversation towards a lighter moment from the broadcast.