Former footballer Jimmy Bullard became the first contestant to be voted off I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! on Monday night, following allegations that he bullied fellow campmate Jake Quickenden. Bullard, who had been a favourite to win, saw his popularity plummet after a clash with the former X Factor hopeful.
During the altercation, Bullard asked Quickenden: "Why the fuck are you in here? What are you? What sort of skill have you got?" Viewers turned against him, and bookmakers described his early exit as one of the show's biggest shocks. Coral's Nicola McGeady said Bullard's eviction was "one of the biggest shocks in the show's history."
After leaving the jungle, Bullard defended his comments as "banter" and told ITV's Lorraine show: "It does come across to the outside as harsh. I can understand that. I knew what I was letting myself in for. But believe me, on the inside it was nothing like that." He admitted struggling with lack of sleep but said being surrounded by people was "a buzz" reminiscent of a football dressing room.
Bullard, 36, was evicted after 17 days, losing a public vote against superbike champion Carl Fogarty, television personality Melanie Sykes, and rapper Tinchy Stryder. He celebrated his departure with a "fry-up" and said he had made good friends with Fogarty and Quickenden, tipping them both for victory.
