Adam Thomas has released an emotional statement following his victory in the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! South Africa final, which descended into chaos after a confrontation with fellow contestant Jimmy Bullard.
The 37-year-old actor won the ITV show by public vote, but the finale was marred by Bullard accusing him of being 'intimidating, aggressive and abusive' during the Rancid Run trial. Bullard claimed he had informed producers he wished to leave, exiting in a way that allowed him to receive his full fee.
In a statement on Instagram, Thomas said: 'I walked through this journey with my heart first, no matter what came my way... It was not always easy, there were moments that could have broken me, but I stayed true to myself.' He added: 'I have realised that when people try to dim your light, it says more about them than it ever will about you.'
The finale also saw David Haye accuse the show of editing footage to make Thomas look like a 'victim', while Sinitta and Gemma Collins walked off set. Ant and Dec defended Thomas, with Ant stating he did not find the actor's behaviour intimidating.
Olympian Sir Mo Farah finished second, former football manager Harry Redknapp third, and Craig Charles fourth. Thomas concluded his statement by thanking his wife for her support and saying: 'I have already won in the ways that matter most.'
