Ashley Roberts has revealed she still hasn't recovered from her I'm A Celebrity... South Africa experience, describing Friday's live final as 'unhinged' and comparing it to 'a scene from The Jerry Springer Show'. The Pussycat Doll, 44, reunited with her campmates for the live finale at London's Apollo Theatre, months after filming the main show in South Africa's Kruger National Park.
Roberts found herself caught between former footballer Jimmy Bullard and ex-boxer David Haye as they reignited a furious row with eventual winner Adam Thomas. 'It was unhinged! I felt like I was on a Jerry Springer show,' Roberts told Heart Radio co-hosts Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston on Monday. 'It was just unbelievable! People were walking off and there were hands flying everywhere, there was yelling, emotions and crying, it was wild! I don't feel like I'm fully recovered if I'm honest with you.'
Thomas had accused Bullard of nearly causing his elimination from the camp, reigniting a spat that began when the ex-midfielder refused to do a Bushtucker Trial challenge, putting both their positions at risk as they were partnered up. Roberts was caught in the crossfire as Haye and Bullard publicly attacked the actor. 'I was just trying to dodge big man hands flying in my face,' she recalled. 'I thought at one point I was going to get smacked. It was absolute chaos.'
Holden admitted she was appalled by the scenes, describing Bullard and Haye as 'just horrific and just absolutely awful.' Roberts added: 'I was disappointed and my heart hurt a bit inside because there's so much going on in the world and for us to then treat each other like that. We all went through this really tough experience, and we all could have sat and discussed as adults.'
Roberts also accused Haye of exaggerating his aggressive character for ITV viewers. 'I was angry because I was seeing the way these men were speaking to one another and it made me really sad,' she said. 'Because the world is a crazy place already and I feel like David was maybe trying to go in there with this persona to entertain people, but I think it really affected Adam.'
The live show saw Haye and Bullard clash with Thomas, while Sinitta and Gemma Collins stormed off set. Later, security dragged an audience member out of the Hammersmith Apollo, and police arrested the woman. Roberts disputed claims that Haye made amends with Thomas, saying: 'I don't remember that part. David was trying to be like "oh buddy, you're going to win this" but Adam didn't like that.'
Thomas had previously revealed he was receiving therapy after his feud with Haye 'f***ed with him mentally'. Breaking down in tears on his podcast, he said: 'It was like being back in school again... he was just mind f***ing me. I'm not the same person as I was when I went into the jungle. It's changed me.'
