David Haye and Gemma Collins Depart I'm A Celebrity in Dramatic Double Elimination
In a stunning turn of events on Monday evening's broadcast, former heavyweight boxing champion David Haye and television personality Gemma Collins were both voted off the all-star edition of I'm A Celebrity... South Africa. The dramatic double eviction marks the second and third departures from the ITV reality series, sending shockwaves through the camp and viewers at home.
The Eviction Process and Controversial Selection
The elimination unfolded through a unique voting mechanism where campmates individually selected celebrities they wished to save from eviction. This process left David Haye as the final unsaved contestant, resulting in his automatic departure from the jungle. In a surprising twist, the 45-year-old former boxer was then given the authority to choose another campmate to accompany him in leaving the show, and he nominated The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma Collins.
This controversial decision followed recent tensions between Haye and fellow contestant Adam Thomas, who plays Donte Charles in the revived series of Waterloo Road. Haye had publicly criticised Thomas for withdrawing from a bushtucker trial, citing dehydration and illness as his reasons.
Haye's Reflections on Camp Dynamics and Conflicts
When questioned about his feelings after not being saved by his fellow celebrities, Haye responded with mixed emotions. "I'm okay. I'm happy. Had an amazing time. Great, great new friends. Lots of experiences," he stated. However, he acknowledged the deteriorating atmosphere within the camp, noting: "Today and yesterday, people started cracking. It was a bit more beef between people."
The former boxer specifically addressed his conflict with Adam Thomas, describing it as banter that wasn't well received. "Me and Adam had a little bit of back and forth. I was bantering, but the banter, he didn't really like the banter," Haye explained. He conceded that he might have taken things too far, describing himself as "an extremist" who sometimes cannot control his impulses, but emphasized: "It's all love. I love him, really. He's a cool guy."
Collins' Determined Return and Emotional Journey
For Gemma Collins, this elimination marked the end of a particularly meaningful journey. The television personality had previously quit the original Australian version of I'm A Celebrity after just three days, struggling to cope with the challenging environment. Reflecting on her different approach this time, Collins revealed: "I was much more determined this time. I had a lot to prove, just to do a trial was like such a moment in my life, because I never thought I could do it."
She spoke candidly about the contrast between outward confidence and inner vulnerability, stating: "Obviously, it's always easy to be outwardly confident, but sometimes inside you are a little bit less confident." Becoming emotional about her experience, Collins added: "I'll hold on to it for as long as I can. It's like almost bringing a tear to my eye. I've just had a really lovely time. It's been an adventure. Lots of new friendships, everyone's so stripped back in there that you just kind of bond in a really unusual way."
Broader Context and Future Hopes
This incident represents another controversial moment for David Haye on the spin-off series, following last week's remarks about "ugly birds" while discussing his girlfriend Sian Osborne. Meanwhile, Adam Thomas has since acknowledged that Haye "pushed me to my limits" during their time together on the show, but confirmed that the boxer has apologised and they have moved forward. Thomas, who manages psoriatic arthritis—a long-term condition causing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness according to the NHS—explained his health challenges and emphasized: "I'm not one to hold a grudge."
As they departed, both Haye and Collins expressed their hopes for Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah to be crowned king of the jungle. Collins additionally named actress Beverley Callard and former football manager Harry Redknapp as her preferred winners. I'm A Celebrity... South Africa continues its broadcast on ITV, ITVX, STV, and STV Player, with further eliminations expected as the competition intensifies.
