It was a night that promised drama, and ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! South Africa certainly delivered. On April 24, 2026, the much-anticipated live finale unfolded in London, crowning Adam Thomas as the show’s latest champion. But, as with much of this season, the road to victory was anything but smooth—and the show’s new format left viewers and contestants buzzing for all sorts of reasons.
The second season of the South Africa celebrity all-stars spin-off has been described by LADbible as one of the most contentious in recent years. Adam Thomas, best known for his roles in Waterloo Road and Emmerdale, emerged as the winner after a finale marked by tension, heated exchanges, and a few unexpected twists. The live broadcast, hosted by the ever-reliable Ant and Dec, took place in a jungle-themed studio, with the cast and a lively audience watching as the final four—Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah, ex-football boss Harry Redknapp, entertainer Craig Charles, and Thomas—vied for the title of I’m A Celebrity Legend 2026.
Notably absent was former Coronation Street star Beverley Callard, who missed the festivities on medical advice following a recent cancer operation, as reported by Wales Online. Scarlett Moffatt, another fan favorite, had been eliminated the night before, narrowing the field to a quartet of determined celebrities.
Yet, even before the winner was announced, the finale’s format sparked a chorus of opinions on social media. Many fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their discomfort with the indoor studio setting and the earlier-than-usual 7:30pm start time. “This feels... wrong? Think it’s the studio audience and the fact it’s so obviously a studio,” one viewer commented, echoing the sentiment of others who missed the traditional jungle backdrop. Another wrote, “I’m not keen on the studio #imaceleb,” while a third lamented, “The final being on this early feels wrong. Who chose this?”
Still, not everyone was displeased. Some viewers found the live format electrifying, with one fan admitting, “Can’t lie, this live final is quite exciting waiting to see what might go down when this lot are reunited #ImACeleb.” Another noted the show’s resemblance to Saturday night entertainment staples, writing, “Is it me orrrrrr is this live show so Saturday Night Takeaway coded #ImACeleb,” and another chimed in, “So much better imo with an audience #ImACeleb!”
For Adam Thomas, the win was a bittersweet culmination of a rollercoaster season. The finale itself was chaotic, punctuated by a high-profile confrontation between Thomas and fellow contestant Jimmy Bullard. According to LADbible, Bullard accused Thomas of being “abusive, aggressive and intimidating,” prompting some campmates to walk off set in protest. The drama didn’t stop there—David Haye, another contestant, questioned whether Thomas truly deserved the title, adding to the mounting pressure on the actor.
In the end, Thomas claimed the crown despite the controversy. But as he took the throne, his demeanor was noticeably subdued. “He didn’t seem as happy as you might expect when he took the throne,” LADbible observed. Still, there was a silver lining: unlike his Australian counterparts, Thomas would get to keep both the crown and the coveted sceptre.
This detail might seem trivial, but it’s been a point of contention among recent winners. The sceptre, traditionally crafted from local wood, is usually passed from winner to winner in the Australian version, largely because it can’t be brought through airport security. Last year’s Australian champion, Angry Ginge (real name Morgan Burtwistle), aired his frustrations in a candid interview with LADbible: “I think it’s an absolute joke, mate. I think I should have been able to keep the staff, but there’s a rule in Australia. I managed to get the crown through security, so I’ve still got that. I tried to keep everything I could, to be honest, but we have to sign it and give it away to charity, so you can’t really argue against that.”
Sam Thompson, another previous winner, shared a similar lament: “I didn’t get to keep anything! They wouldn’t let me keep anything! I had to give the sceptre back. I really wanted to bring it through airport security because it’s quite big. But yeah, I don’t have anything to show for it.”
In contrast, because this year’s finale was held live in London, Thomas will be able to take the sceptre home—a small but meaningful victory after a season fraught with tension. Alongside the physical prizes, he also secured a £100,000 donation to a charity of his choice, a tradition that continues to set the show apart from other reality competitions.
Of course, the glitz and glamour of the finale also shone a spotlight on the show’s financial side. Salaries for I’m A Celeb contestants have long been a topic of fascination, and this season was no exception. According to LADbible, campmate David Haye revealed that participants can earn between £20,000 and £25,000 per day, amounting to as much as £375,000 for a 15-day stint. Some celebrities have commanded even higher fees: Matt Hancock, Amir Khan, and Ian Wright each earned around £400,000, while Katie Price reportedly took home £450,000 for her 2009 appearance—even though she left after just a week.
The upper echelons of I’m A Celeb paydays are reserved for a select few. Football manager Harry Redknapp and pop icon Boy George both earned £500,000, as did reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner. Noel Edmonds, despite being the first eliminated in his season, was paid £600,000 for just eight days in the jungle. But the record was smashed by two recent contestants: Nigel Farage and Coleen Rooney, each reportedly pocketing a staggering £1.5 million for their stints, making them the show’s highest-paid campmates to date.
The combination of high drama, big personalities, and even bigger paychecks has kept I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! South Africa at the forefront of reality television. The show’s willingness to experiment—moving the finale to London, introducing live studio audiences, and tweaking the prize structure—has sparked debate, but also kept the format fresh and unpredictable.
As Adam Thomas takes home his crown, sceptre, and a hard-earned sense of accomplishment, the legacy of this season will likely be remembered as much for its controversies as for its triumphs. For fans and critics alike, it’s clear that the spirit of I’m A Celeb is alive and well—just perhaps a little more complicated than ever before.