MANCHESTER – The 2026 “Ultimate Legend” of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! South Africa hasn’t spent his first week out of the jungle celebrating. Instead, Adam Thomas has spent it reeling. On 1 May 2026, the Emmerdale actor finally broke his silence on what he called a “disturbing” post-show interaction with former heavyweight boxer David Haye—a moment that apparently ruined his victory for good.
The series, which wrapped in late April, was supposed to be a victory lap for the show’s most iconic contestants. Instead, it ended in a mess of 1,187 Ofcom complaints and allegations of a “bullying” camp culture that left the winner feeling “numb and dead inside”.
“I Threw the Crown in the Bin”
Speaking on his family podcast, At Home With The Thomas Bros, Adam sat down with his brothers Ryan and Scott to explain why he looked so miserable during the live final. He confessed that the second his name was called as the winner, his face just “drained”. There was no joy—just a desperate urge to get home.
“I wouldn’t do it again if you offered me £10 million,” Adam told his brothers. He even confessed to chucking his winner’s crown in the trash as soon as he landed back in Britain. The Mirror claims the backstage atmosphere was so poisonous that several campmates allegedly quit on set before the cameras had even stopped rolling. Adam said he felt “exploited” by production, alleging the team mined his emotional turmoil for drama while his mental health took a back seat.
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The Voice Note That Crossed the Line
The most unsettling detail from the podcast involved a voice note sent by David Haye after the show ended. During the series, Haye, 45, was repeatedly called out by viewers for his treatment of Adam. But the boxer reportedly sent a “chipper” message to Adam after the win, acting as if they were the best of friends.
Adam described the message as “the most disturbing bit”. To hear Haye acting happy for him after weeks of what Adam felt was psychological intimidation was the final straw. As reported by The Independent, Adam’s response was a clean break. He told the boxer: “I think this is where we draw the line now. I hope you find happiness, bro, but I’m done.”
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David Haye Hits Back Amid Legal Threats
The drama isn’t likely to end with a polite “goodbye,” though. David Haye has already fired back on social media, accusing Adam of “spinning the victim narrative”. Haye claims that the actor is playing to the cameras and has even hinted that he might sue ITV over his “edit”, claiming the show’s producers misrepresented his personality to create a villain.
The friction didn’t stop with Haye, either. LADbible noted that Adam also had a heated confrontation on stage with former footballer Jimmy Bullard during the final. It’s a far cry from the “jungle family” vibe the show usually tries to sell.
For a man known as one of the most cheerful faces on British telly, this version of Adam Thomas—tearful and exhausted—has left fans questioning the ethics of the All-Stars format. So far, ITV has refused to comment, but with the ‘Ultimate Legend’ title currently in a Manchester rubbish win, this series has lost an epic amount of credibility.
It seems like that “Legend” experiment might have gone a bit too far. If the winner is so traumatised that they can’t even hold onto the trophy, you have to question whether the drama was worth it. So is this the end of “All-Stars” as we know it, or will everyone have forgotten this by the time the next Bushtucker Trial starts?
Sources and References
- The Independent – Adam Thomas claims David Haye sent ‘disturbing’ voice note after final.
- LADbible – Adam Thomas reveals ‘disturbing message’ David Haye sent after I’m A Celeb final.
- The Mirror – Adam Thomas breaks silence on I’m A Celeb win and ‘disturbing’ message David Haye sent.
- Sportbible – David Haye’s ‘disturbing message’ to Adam Thomas after I’m A Celeb final.
- OK! Magazine – David Haye issues a warning to Adam Thomas.
- Manchester Evening News – David Haye hits back at Adam Thomas ‘victim’ claim.
- The Standard – Adam Thomas tearfully claims ITV ‘exploited’ him.
