Tensions flare in heated I'm A Celebrity live final

Spoiler warning: This article reveals details about the final of I'm A Celebrity... South Africa.

Tensions flared during the live final of I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! on Friday after a drama-packed series.

A heated argument broke out among the all-star cast over what was said when actor Adam Thomas launched a tirade at footballer Jimmy Bullard for almost causing his elimination from camp.

Hosts Ant and Dec raised their voices to control the row - which also saw singer Sinitta and TV personality Gemma Collins walk off set - before Thomas was crowned the public's king of the jungle.

Olympic athlete Sir Mo Farah, boxer David Haye,TV and radio star Craig Charles, and former football manager Harry Redknapprounded out the cast of finalists.

Thomas posted on Instagram on Saturday: "I have realised that when people try to dim your light, it says more about them than it ever will about you."

"There were moments that could have broken me, but I stayed true to myself and that is something I will always be proud of," he said of his time in the jungle.

It was the second series of the South Africa-set spin-off starring past contestants.

Thomas had finished third on the regular show in 2016. This time, the Waterloo Road actor's eventful jungle stay included being on the receiving end of jibes from Haye, who later called him "weak" and "brittle-spirited".

His row with Bullard came after the pair teamed up for a trial in which the losing duo would be eliminated. Bullard did not join in and said "I'm a celebrity get me out of here", to forfeit the challenge.

Thomas responded by launching an expletive-laden rant at his partner, telling him he should have quit on his own or not done the show at all.

However, Thomas was saved when hosts Ant and Dec let the other campmates decide whether he be allowed to stay - and they unanimously agreed he should.

Producers did not show Thomas's full outburst. "They watered it down," Charles revealed.

"It was unbroadcastable as it was. It was deeply traumatic and it was really upsetting. Adam was so wound up. He was so aggressive. It looked like he was going to attack Jimmy."

Bullard called his reaction "pathetic" and explained that he had quit because he wanted to go home.

"I know a lot of my time in camp which has been aired recently has been drama," Thomas wrote on Instagram on this week, "but there was so much more... so many laughs and so much love and warmth."He also wrote about the physical toll of the experience due to living with psoriatic arthritis.

The action in the South African camp was filmed several months ago but the winner was not chosen until the live final in London.

And it was an eventful series in other ways.

Former Coronation Street star Beverley Callard was forced to withdraw after passing out in the show's Bush Telegraph.

In February, she revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and said filming I'm A Celebrity "was the start of everything" in terms of feeling unwell.

She was unable to travel to attend Friday's final on medical advice - saying she was "absolutely gutted", but that "resting up and getting well is more important at the moment".

Haye also faced controversy for his remarks about women, including saying his girlfriend has "the personality of a proper ugly bird".

After being picked to leave in Monday's episode, Haye was asked to choose one other celebrity to depart, and selected Collins.

Collins, a fan favourite, was taking part 12 years after quitting the regular show when she failed to adapt to jungle life.

Charles also made an emotional return to I'm A Celebrity after being forced to withdraw from the same series following the sudden death of his brother.

This year's other contestants were TV star Scarlett Moffatt, singer Ashley Roberts and comedian Seann Walsh.