Jimmy Bullard is at the centre of drama on I’m A Celebrity South Africa after almost coming to blows with a fellow contestantMark Whiley Sports Reporter and Tom Sunderland Sports Writer
15:28, 26 Apr 2026
Premier League cult figure Jimmy Bullard is in the headlines following his Adam Thomas row on I’m A Celeb(Image: Jonathan Hordle/ITV/Shutterstock)
Former Premier League footballer Jimmy Bullard has found himself at the centre of controversy on I’m A Celebrity… South Africa. The ex-Soccer AM host was embroiled in a heated row with fellow campmate Adam Thomas after walking out during a challenge.
Bullard, who will reportedly be stripped of his appearance money, accused Thomas of “abusive, aggressive and intimidating” behaviour, footage of which was not broadcast on the show. Hosts Ant and Dec, along with several other campmates, dismissed those allegations as the finale descended into a heated exchange.
Wherever you stand on the dispute, it has kept Bullard firmly in the spotlight and is likely to pave the way for more well-paid opportunities on the reality TV circuit. Here’s everything you need to know about Bullard’s life outside the jungle, including his net worth, long-term fiancee and sports star son.
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I’m A Celebrity row
A fiery dispute between Thomas and Bullard dominated the closing episode of I’m A Celeb South Africa this week. Thomas was declared the winner in Friday’s finale, only for the 37-year-old actor to be branded “abusive, aggressive and intimidating” by Bullard.
Boxing icon David Haye then accused the programme of manipulating footage to portray Thomas as a “victim”. After coming to the actor’s defence, fellow contestants Sinitta and Gemma Collins stormed off set.
During the episode, Bullard called upon Sinitta and Collins to share their views on Thomas’s conduct throughout the series. Former The Only Way Is Essex star Collins posted on her Instagram story: “Jimmy Bullard and David Haye should be absolutely DISGUSTED WITH THEMSELVES.”
Actor Adam Thomas gave Bullard a piece of his mind after the ex-footballer refused to take part in a Bushtucker trial(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
Bullard addressed their dispute on the programme, alleging Thomas had dropped “C-bombs” that were not broadcast. He then called upon hosts Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly for their take, given they had “front-row seats”.
McPartlin rejected the suggestion that the exchange had been aggressive, responding: “No, it wasn’t. I was there.” Bullard is now reportedly weighing up legal action against ITV and a spokesperson said: “We showed an accurate and fair representation of events.”
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Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
Personal life
Bullard is engaged to his long-term partner, Diane, with whom he has two children, Archie and Beau. And Diane has managed to stay largely out of the public spotlight despite Bullard’s outgoing persona.
However, ahead of his first appearance in the jungle in 2014, he told The Mirror: “My amazing missus, along with my two fantastic kids, Archie and Beau, are the greatest things that ever happened to me.”
Little is known about his daughter, while Archie has carved out a promising career in motorsport. He is currently taking part in this year’s GB4 Championship, a single-seater feeder series to Formula 1.
Among Archie’s competitors is Dayton Coulthard, son of F1 legend David. The 2026 season kicked off at Silverstone this weekend.
Career and net worth
Former Fulham and Hull City star Bullard is estimated to be worth £3.5m(Image: Jonathan Hordle/ITV/Shutterstock)
A native of East Ham in London, Bullard was born on October 23, 1978. The midfielder’s playing career took him through spells at Wigan Athletic, Fulham, Hull and West Ham, though he never made a first-team appearance for the Hammers.
Following his retirement from football, he carved out a career as a television personality, co-presenting Soccer AM on Sky Sports and featuring on programmes such as Celebrity MasterChef and the 2014 series of I’m A Celebrity. He has also bought a pub alongside his father and runs his own venture, Jimmy Bullard Ltd, with an estimated net worth of around £3.5million.