David Haye, 45, and Adam Thomas, 37, Clashed on 'I'm a Celebrity' Before Haye's Eviction – Video That Ignited Buzz

Something was simmering in the South Africa camp well before it reached the surface, as a clip of a tense exchange from "I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!" circulated widely online, and the conversation it sparked across social media was pointed.

A seemingly light-hearted morning in camp took a tense turn when former professional Boxer David Haye and actor Adam Thomas reignited their ongoing friction, with barbed remarks and visible irritation dominating the exchange.

When Banter Becomes Something More

The moment unfolded during the latest episode of "I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! South Africa," when contestants had initially woken in high spirits.

Thomas, 37, appeared upbeat as he greeted campmates, casually noting, "I felt like it wasn't that cold last night, though." However, Haye, 45, quickly steered the tone elsewhere, replying, "That's because the warm love everyone's been giving you."

Thomas shot back, "Apart from you," setting the tone for what followed. What began as teasing soon edged into something more pointed, as Haye continued to challenge Thomas's resilience and mindset. "Someone's got to keep it real, don't they?" the 45-year-old remarked.

Despite the visible irritation, Haye continued, seemingly doubling down with sarcastic remarks that kept the exchange alive.

"I spent my whole life trying not to be in that place of fainting or losing consciousness or whatever. It feels like you're trying to get to it so comfortably," he added.

Thomas firmly pushed back, insisting, "No, I'm fighting very hard not to get to it, mate. And you're not helping." The tension simmered as camp chatter briefly shifted to a previous challenge, but the focus soon returned to the pair.

When Thomas explained he had faltered due to "an itch on me elbow," Haye interjected, "He didn't have the mental strength not to itch an itch." That comment appeared to strike a nerve.

"Shut up, man. Honestly, just shut up now," Thomas snapped, his frustration becoming increasingly clear. Despite the visible irritation, Haye continued, seemingly doubling down with sarcastic remarks that kept the exchange alive.

"No, I'm just saying. But you weren't well, though. You weren't well, though, was you?" he said, prompting Thomas to respond, "Shut up, bro. All day, every day for two days straight. Just chill."

As the exchange intensified, Thomas drew a line, declaring, "Enough's enough now, bro." Fellow contestant and former football player Jimmy Bullard stepped in, urging, "Let him wake up, Dave," attempting to defuse the situation.

Despite the eventual laughter, some viewers were not convinced by the lighter tone and took to social media to voice concern over the exchange.

Thomas questioned the ongoing digs, asking, "Why are you coming for me like for two days?" to which Haye replied, "I'm trying to be nice—I'm trying to be caring," likening it to "big brother being caring."

Bullard later reflected in a confessional that "David's being David," but noted that Thomas had been feeling low, which made the situation "seem twice as bad." However, just as the moment appeared to reach a breaking point, the mood shifted — revealing a more playful undertone beneath the friction.

It was Bullard who eventually broke the mood entirely, drawing a comparison between the pair and a couple making up after a row, telling them the friendship would only be stronger for it.

Both Haye and Thomas began to laugh, easing the tension. The former even joked, "I'm looking forward to that phase," signalling that the clash may not have been as serious as it first appeared.

Viewers Were Not Laughing

Despite the eventual laughter, some viewers were not convinced by the lighter tone and took to social media to voice concern over the exchange.

One person said, "Why wasn't something said then [sic]. It was a hard watch." Another shared, "David Haye should not have been shown on TV. This was recorded last year. ITV should never have broadcast."

Others expressed frustration at the lack of intervention. "Why is no one stepping in and stopping this [sic]" one commented, while another added, "He over stepped [sic] the mark. I hope he goes next."

A more decisive reaction came from another viewer, who typed, "If David does not go tonight I will be not watching any more, Adam does not deserve this and the show producers should put a holt to this ASAP [sic]. Just my opinion."

'He Broke Me in There' – Thomas Reflects on 'Toughest' Experience After Filming Wrapped

Following his return home, Thomas addressed the experience directly, offering a candid and emotional reflection on his time in camp. In an Instagram post dated 19 April 2026, the actor admitted the experience had taken a significant toll.

He described the show as "one of the toughest things I've ever been through, physically, mentally, and emotionally," revealing that watching it back had been particularly difficult. Thomas also acknowledged:

"There were moments I felt pushed to my absolute limit, and if I’m honest, times I didn’t even recognise myself."

The former contestant also opened up about living with arthritis, explaining that it "really took its toll" during the show, while he tried to maintain a brave face despite the pain.

Reflecting on his behaviour, Thomas admitted he did not always handle situations perfectly, noting, "I wish I spoke up for myself sooner." However, he added that the experience ultimately helped him find his voice and gain perspective.

The actor also confirmed that he and Haye had since addressed the situation privately. He stated, "He broke me in there, he pushed me to my limits," but added that the former professional boxer had apologised and that he had "moved on now."

Thomas concluded on a note of resilience, emphasising that despite wanting to quit at times, he never gave up and encouraged others to "be kind."

Yet while Thomas's experience offered a deeply personal look at the emotional toll of camp life, it was far from the only moment to leave viewers talking.

Gemma Collins's Bushtucker Trial pushed her to the brink, delivering one of the most intense and talked-about moments in the current series of "I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! South Africa."

The 45-year-old reached her breaking point during a gruelling overnight trial on the ITV series, competing against fellow contestant Scarlett Moffatt across three relentless underground challenges.

The pair went head-to-head for gold nuggets to bring back to camp, but what unfolded had fans reaching for their keyboards before the episode had even finished.

What began as a test of endurance escalated into a multi-stage ordeal involving insects, forceful blasts of unknown substances, and physically demanding tasks deep within a mock coal mine setting.

In the opening round, Collins and Moffatt were required to grip onto overhead straps while maintaining their composure as ants crawled across their bodies. The situation intensified when a powerful jet of liquid unexpectedly blasted towards them.

The force appeared to overwhelm Collins, snapping her grip and knocking her backwards in a moment that proved decisive. Despite her visible effort to hold on, she conceded defeat, telling Moffatt — who secured three gold nuggets from the round:

"Oh, forget it. You've won."

The second challenge shifted underground, where both contestants were instructed via intercom to retrieve gold nuggets buried within piles of coal, navigating through restrictive barbed wire.

The environment became increasingly hostile as bursts of smoke erupted without warning, obscuring vision and adding pressure. Collins regained momentum here, securing eight nuggets, while Moffatt collected six, bringing her running total to nine.

Their final task placed them face-to-face with a series of enclosed boxes filled with live animals, including rats, scorpions, iguanas, cockroaches, and frogs. Hidden among them were more gold nuggets, forcing both women to confront their fears head-on.

As if that were not enough, opening some boxes triggered sudden eruptions of thick, slimy liquid that splashed across their faces and clothing. By the end, Collins had clawed her way back to a total of 16 nuggets, but Moffatt ultimately triumphed with 20.

The aftermath proved just as dramatic. Upon returning to camp, Collins appeared emotionally overwhelmed, breaking down during a confessional. She said tearfully, capturing the toll the trial had taken:

"I feel like you're trying to kill me. You're gonna kill me. It's, like, not even funny. I definitely feel like you're trying to kill me."

The scenes quickly sparked a wave of reaction online, with many rushing to defend Collins's performance. One person said, "Ridiculous. The objective of the first round was to hold on for dear life and Gemma did."

"Her straps broke coz [sic] the girl was holding on for dear life. The force of that literally knocked her off her feet @itv @imacelebrity #justiceforgemma," they added.

Another shared, "Still holding onto her straps that broke!! Makes me think that was done on purpose by itv to make a mockery of Gemma! 'Good tv' and all that. Not impressed. Well done Gemma you're doing AMAZING!! ❤️"

Support for Collins's resilience continued, with one netizen commenting that the force which caused the straps to break did not seem right and praising her strength, adding that many others would likely have quit under the same pressure. Others responded more emotionally, with one writing, "I want to hug her."

However, not all reactions were sympathetic. One commenter offered a more critical take, typing, "Gemma, I feel her pain. Oh, the rich life! The spoiled life! She so used to be waited on sitting around clicking her fingers, getting everything done for her."

"Now she living the poor life, the pain of it all is making her really believe that they trying to kill her. Because that something she not uses to is....walking. And that why she can't stop crying [sic]," they continued.

Whether viewed as a moment of vulnerability or controversy, Collins's reaction has undeniably become one of the defining talking points of the series so far, highlighting both the physical intensity of the trials and the emotional strain placed on contestants.