Harry Redknapp dismisses I'm A Celeb bullying row as 'banter' and says 'I've never seen so much aggravation' after 'nightmare' live final ended in chaos

Harry Redknapp has dismissed the explosive row that overshadowed I'm A Celebrity... South Africa as harmless 'banter' after Friday's live final saw winner Adam Thomas embroiled in a furious row with his former campmates. 

The ITV show, a spin-off to long-running reality series I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, was plunged into chaos after Thomas engaged retired footballer Jimmy Bullard in an argument.  

The soap star accused Bullard of almost causing his elimination from the camp, reigniting a spat which began when the former Wigan Athletic midfielder refused to take on a Bushtucker Trial, putting both of their positions at risk because they were partnered up.

Playing down the volatile incident during an appearance on talkSPORT with Ally McCoist and Andy Townshend, fellow campmate Redknapp - who once managed Bullard at West Ham United - claimed it was only 'banter.' 

'I thought I'd gone to the wrong show,' he told the hosts. 'I thought it was The Jeremy Kyle Show. I've never seen so much aggravation. I thought I'm in the wrong studio here. All the crowd is shouting and things. 

'Oh, it was a nightmare. I thought, you know, I'm not a celebrity. get me out of here.' 

I'm A Celebrity... South Africa hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly tried to wind down the row during Friday's live show, which saw ex-boxer David Haye also clash with the Thomas, while Sinitta and TV personality Gemma Collins stormed off set.

Hours later another ITV show descended into disarray with security dragging an audience member out of the Hammersmith Apollo in West London.

Police were forced to arrest the woman and take her away in a police van. 

'David was, you know, he was in good form, David Haye,' a nonplussed Redknapp told talkSPORT on Monday morning. 

'But listen, we've been brought up in dressing rooms. You've been around football, you two guys, you know, all your life. Banter. This wasn't strong banter compared to what you've had in dressing rooms over the years. 

'You just get on with it, don't you? It all got out of hand. You know, people couldn't take a bit of banter and it became a big issue.'

The latest series of I'm A Celebrity... South Africa has been plagued with bullying rows and controversial spats between feuding cast mates.

Thomas had the opportunity to speak to Bullard on Friday, after allegedly calling him the 'C-word' in an explosive clash when the footballer called 'I'm a Celebrity' in one of the trials, which left Adam in danger of going home.

The actor had previously revealed he was receiving therapy on his At Home With The Thomas Bros podcast, as he emotionally said his 'feud' with Haye 'f***ed' with him.

Breaking down in tears, he said: 'It was like being back in school again and although it wasn't physical bullying or anything like that, and I'm not saying it's bullying, but he was just mind f***ing me.

'And I just never stuck up for myself whilst I was in there and I was like "s**t bro, I wish I stuck up for myself". That was beating me up more than anything.'

He continued: 'I'm not the same person, like I know for a fact I am not the same person as I was when I went into the jungle to when I came out. It's changed me and that's no over exaggeration.

'I'm in therapy now because, like it's f***ed with me mentally because I just thought, "How is this happening? I'm a 37-year-old man". I'm like, "How am I letting some other person do this to me in here?"'

Haye has continued to take swipes at Thomas, including a social media jibe as well as claiming the dad-of-two was paid between '£20-25k per day' for his appearance on the ITV show.

During the final episode, Bullard accused Thomas of being 'abusive, aggressive and intimidating' during an expletive row in the pre-recorded show last year.

Haye also chimed in, after taking fresh swipes at Thomas earlier this week, reigniting their feud.

Following the chaotic scenes, Thomas's wife Caroline has said she is 'horrified' and that 'nice guys don't finish last, they come out on top'.

She wrote: 'What should have been a night of celebration for everyone, turned into a glimpse of a real jungle, watching a pack of vultures attack!

'I have never ever seen anything like the vile display that was demonstrated live on national television last night, on what is supposed to be a loved family show full of laughter and fun!

'Not one bit of that was fun, or "banter", as a wife my heart is breaking and I will forever be horrified at what I had to sit and watch my husband go through.

'Even though Adam, the kindest, most loving person was breaking inside, he somehow found a strength to stay calm, composed and once again stand up for himself.

'So Congratulations my baby…on continuing to stay true to yourself, congratulations on not only winning the show, but winning the hearts of the nation.

'You showed everyone exactly what a real man should be, and the kind of values every parent should aim to raise their children with poise, dignity, empathy, honesty and simply a big heart.'