Harry Redknapp has addressed the “nightmare” live final of I’m A Celebrity… where it all kicked off in front of the nation and the former King of the Jungle has even defended his controversial campmate David Haye
Harry Redknapp has described the IAC final as a ‘nightmare'(Image: AP)
Harry Redknapp has addressed the “nightmare” live final of I’m A Celebrity South Africa just three days after the explosive scenes played out to the nation. The former footballer, 79, first appeared on Ant and Dec’s reality survival show in 2018, which he went on to win, and then made a comeback for the all-stars edition that was aired over the last few weeks.
Things took a dramatic turn when boxer David Haye was accused of bullying Adam Thomas and claimed that the Waterloo Road star was using his arthritis condition to get out of doing Bushtucker Trials and challenges.
Since the series was pre-recorded, the celebrities all gathered back together for a live final in which the British public chose Adam to be their winner, but the announcement came amid much furore, where arguments unfolded live on air and led to stars like TOWIE legend Gemma Collins and pop singer Sinitta storming off the stage.
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Harry compared the final to The Jeremy Kyle Show (Image: Talk Sport)
Now, Harry has expressed the shock he felt as he watched everything unfolding while they were all live on air and compared the action to scenes infamous on the now-defunct Jeremy Kyle Show, in which dysfunctional families would air out all their messy problems to a studio audience.
He said: “I thought I’d gone to the wrong show! I thought it was The Jeremy Kyle Show. I’ve never seen so much aggravation! I thought, ‘I’m in the wrong studio here.’ All the crowd is shouting and things. Oh, it was a nightmare. I thought, you know, I’m not a celebrity… get me out of here. That’s what I was going to say!”
When it comes to the issues caused by boxer David, who also left the likes of Coronation Street star Beverley Callard and Gogglebox’s Scarlett Moffatt horrified with his sexist comments about women as he peddled his “ugly duckling” theory, Harry insisted that it was all just “banter” that was nothing like what may go on in a male changing room.
During an appearance on TalkSport, he told Andy Townsend: “David was, you know, he was in good form, David Haye. But listen, Andy, we’ve been brought up in dressing rooms. You’ve been around football, you two guys, Andy, you know, all your life.
Harry said he’d felt as if he’d walked onto the wrong show when things came to blows (Image: Jonathan Hordle/ITV/Shutterstock)
“Banter – This wasn’t strong banter compared to what you’ve had in dressing rooms over the years. You just get on with it, don’t you? It all got out of hand. You know, people couldn’t take a bit of banter and it became a big issue.”
Adam, who shot to fame as Donte Charles on the BBC’s flagship school drama before enjoying success with a role in Emmerdale, has previously admitted that he ended up in therapy thanks to the events that took place whilst filming the series. He said: “It’s changed me and that’s no over-exaggeration.
“I’m in therapy now because, like it’s f***** with me mentally because I just thought, ‘How is this happening? I’m a 37-year-old man’. I’m like, ‘How am I letting some other person do this to me in here?”
During Adam’s turbulent time in camp, he also came to blows with Jimmy Bullard when they were paired up for a trial, which, they were told, would place both of them at risk of elimination should they come in last place.
Jimmy decided to leave on the spot and claimed that Adam, who was allowed to stay in the competition despite the threat of being cut, was “abusive, aggressive and intimidating” and that footage never made it to air.
During live scenes that shocked the nation as Jimmy raged, Ant said: “I was there and I didn’t think it was intimidating,” When he questioned him again Ant’s voice went higher pitched and he said, ”No, I was there, Jim.”
Dec supported Ant and said to Jimmy: “Hang on, lets come back to you. Emotions were obviously running high.” He then diffused things by inviting Adam to speak. “
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