What a chaotic, entertaining, but emotional series for the I’m A Celebrity South Africa second series, which was released on 6 April 2026 on ITV and finished on the 24th of April.
Crowned the I’m A Celeb Legend winner for the second season was actor from Waterloo Road, Adam Thomas. In the runner-up place was Sir Mo Farah, in third place was Coronation Street actor Craig Charles and in fourth place was football star and ex-manager Harry Redknapp.
Filled with comedy and entertainment, the reality TV show also revealed drama descending into chaos between former footballer Jimmy Bullard, ex-boxer David Hayes and Adam Thomas.
While there was a lot of banter and laughs in the beginning, it quickly escalated into bullying between David and Adam, making Adam feel vulnerable in a delicate situation.
After the dramatic Live Final aired on the 24th of April and apologies were received and taken, actor Adam Thomas felt it was necessary to open up and share his experience on I’m A Celebrity South Africa involving the situation that occurred between him and David Hayes.
Despite the pair having great conversations and happy chats between ‘bro to bro’, it eventually progressed into bullying from David Hayes, leading to Adam breaking down while speaking up on his journey on I’m A Celeb.
Inside the recent episode of the laidback, chilled podcast ‘At Home With The Thomas Bros’, an informal conversation between Scott Thomas, Ryan Thomas and Adam took place where the theme of this episode was the inspiring actor sharing his experience on returning to the TV show after ten years.
Taking it in that he won the second series of I’m A Celebrity South Africa, the actor felt he wasn’t a winner due to the journey being a ‘whirlwind from start to finish’, due to it being bittersweet.
Already taking responsibility for how he reacted when Jimmy Bullard pulled out from the Rancid Run trial midway through the course and mentioning how he said a few ‘c-bomb’ words, Adam takes full account of his actions and has apologised numerous times to the former footballer star.
On this note, Adam also takes the blame for the situation escalating between him and David Hayes due to not speaking up sooner about his ‘bullying’. During the scenes aired on the ITV show, it is revealed that Adam and David had various ‘banter’ conversations, where the pair communicated and got on with each other, but there were times when words got heated, where David mocked Adam a few times, telling him to ‘man up’ and be strong.
Taking on this mocking and ‘bullying’ led Adam to feel low in his self-esteem, making him state that he has lost a certain light inside of him because of how he experienced it during camp. Through the banter back and forth, Adam dared to eventually step up and say ‘enough is enough’, and he stood up for himself, which came across as influential and even on the podcast, Adam stated to anyone who is being bullied, make sure to always stand up and defend yourself, as no one deserves to be treated that way.
Despite dealing with this traumatic journey, Adam continues to have the courage and strength to speak confidently about his story while breaking down on the podcast in front of his caring brothers.
Explaining why he didn’t speak up sooner about David Hayes ‘ alleged bullying was because he felt all the campmates agreed it was just normal ‘banter’, making Adam feel he had to brush it under the carpet. However, it progressed to a point where the situations surrounding Adam’s head made him explode, leading to a heated row between him and Jimmy. While there were no harmful intentions, Adam made it clear that his actions were because everything was getting to a point where he couldn’t control his emotions due to the bullying experience, leading him to feel emotional and break down, and we have all been there where everything gets too much, so it is real and moving to see Adam open up about his mental health.
Speaking about his journey, his brothers Scott and Ryan felt it was important for Adam to know that while he is going through an emotional story, it is courageous to see the actor open up, making them in awe of their brother and stating that they both hope to be as strong and heroic a character as Adam is.
On this note, Scott also described further that while it is not right that Adam experienced bullying, he has set an influential example of being the ‘modern man’, making it known to men that it is okay to open up about your emotions and cry, it is normal and shows strength and power and should not feel ridiculed for being vulnerable when needed to be.
After sharing the DM that David Hayes sent him, explaining that his actions were because Adam ‘is the nicer guy I’ve ever met and I just wanted to break you’, the Waterloo actor felt like he had lost his bubbly and charismatic energy. However, as his brothers said this will only make Adam stronger in his journey throughout life, while it is hard to see now, the actor should never give up on that unique spark he has inside of him, as it brings joy and magic inside everyone’s lives, whether that is through watching Adam on screen or meeting him, he is one of a kind and should never change.
What an incredible and emotional series from ITV, I’m A Celebrity South Africa, and congratulations to all the brilliant cast members, including the producers, presenters Ant and Dec, and Sir Mo Farah, Craig Charles, Harry Redknapp, Ashley Roberts, Scarlett Moffatt, David Haye, Beverley Callard, Seann Walsh, Sinitta, Gemma Collins, and Jimmy Bullard.
Why not watch the podcast on Adam Thomas’s experience now?