Jimmy Bullard voted off I’m a Celebrity amid bullying row

Footballer and favourite’s exit following his rant at Jake Quickenden is ‘one of the biggest shocks in show’s history, bookmaker says

 Jimmy Bullard was the bookmaker's favourite to win this year's edition of the jungle reality show. Photograph: Rex Features

The former footballer Jimmy Bullard dropped from surefire favourite to become the first contestant voted off I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! on Monday night as he paid the penalty for suggestions he had bullied a fellow contestant.

Bullard suffered a huge fall from grace after he appeared to have been picking on fellow camper Jake Quickenden, with bookies saying his early exit was one of the show’s biggest ever shocks.

Viewers turned against him after he clashed with former X Factor hopeful Quickenden, asking him: “Why the fuck are you in here? What are you? What sort of skill have you got?”

After his exit, Bullard - who styled himself as the jungle camp’s jester - said his comments had simply been “banter”.

Reflecting on the issue on Tuesday morning, he 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.”

Bullard, 36, was given his marching orders after 17 days in the Australian jungle and said he celebrated his departure with a “fry-up”.

The former Wigan, Fulham and Hull midfielder left the show after losing a public vote against superbike champion Carl Fogarty, television personality Melanie Sykes and rapper Tinchy Stryder.

Bullard admitted he had struggled a bit with a lack of sleep but said being surrounded by people was “a buzz” which reminded him of a football team dressing room during his playing days. “It’s the buzz of the whole thing and definitely the people around me.”

Bullard’s early dismissal was a shock to bookmakers, who said it would have been costly for punters as he had been one of the early favourites to win the whole series. Coral said he was 9-1 to be evicted against 7-2 to win before being sent off.

Spokeswoman Nicola McGeady said Bullard’s eviction had been “one of the biggest shocks in the show’s history” with punters backing Tinchy Stryder to leave.

But Bullard said he was glad he had taken part and made good friends with motorbike racer Fogarty and Quickenden, tipping them both for victory.

He joked: “I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m going to stay mates with all of them – well, unless they all delete my number.”