Ant and Dec wasted no time addressing the chaos that erupted during the I’m A Celebrity… South Africa finale as they made their return to live television for the Britain’s Got Talent semi-final — turning the drama into a cheeky on-air joke.
The Geordie presenting duo, both 50, had struggled to contain the explosive scenes just 24 hours earlier, when former footballer Jimmy Bullard accused eventual winner Adam Thomas of being “abusive, aggressive and intimidating” during a heated off-camera row that later spilled into the live final.
But stepping back into the spotlight on Saturday night, Ant brushed off the tension with humour, admitting: “I love live telly me,” while Dec added: “There’s nothing better, is there?”
Clearly referencing the previous night’s meltdown, Ant quipped to the judging panel: “We had quite enough drama on the telly last night, so can you four please be on your best behaviour?”
Dec doubled down with another playful dig, warning: “If you misbehave, you’ll be out quicker than Sinitta,” a nod to the moment both Sinitta and Gemma Collins stormed off stage in protest during the chaotic finale.
The light-hearted tone marked a stark contrast to the tension-filled scenes that had unfolded just hours before — including an awkward run-in between Ant and Jimmy as the presenter headed home with his wife, Anne-Marie Corbett.
Even the judges joined in on the joke, with Amanda Holden teasing: “After watching your extraordinary performance last night, I took notes. I have learnt from the best!”
Behind the humour, however, the fallout from the I’m A Celeb final continues to dominate headlines.
During the live broadcast, Jimmy openly admitted he had “thrown Adam under the bus” when he quit a trial that triggered the explosive argument — explaining he had personal reasons for leaving and needed to say “I’m A Celebrity” to secure his full payment.
He said he understood why others were upset, adding he would “wear that,” but insisted he would not tolerate behaviour he described as “abusive, aggressive and intimidating.”
Tensions escalated further when Jimmy challenged the hosts, accusing them of hiding key footage. He pointed out that viewers had not seen the worst of the argument, saying the “C-bombs” were cut and calling it “a liberty.”
Ant defended the decision, explaining such language was “unbroadcastable” and adding that, from his perspective, the situation did not feel intimidating at the time.
However, David Haye sided with Jimmy, questioning why Adam’s alleged outbursts were not shown and suggesting editing had painted him unfairly as a victim.
Adam later addressed the situation directly, taking responsibility for his actions and admitting emotions had run high. He said he had apologised to Jimmy multiple times and insisted the incident did not reflect who he is.
He explained: “I take full responsibility for my actions… I have nothing but love for Jimmy in that moment… the only thing I can do is apologise. That is not how I want to show myself.”
But the exchange quickly spiralled again, with David interrupting and claiming the truth had been edited out, while Ant and Dec repeatedly tried to regain control of the broadcast.
The tension ultimately pushed Sinitta to storm off stage, telling the audience they hadn’t seen what really happened and insisting the situation had been “aggressive and abusive,” while Gemma Collins followed her exit in solidarity.
As the dust settles, Ant and Dec’s return to Britain’s Got Talent may have brought laughter — but it’s clear the fallout from one of the most chaotic finals in UK reality TV history is far from over.
