I'm A Celebrity South Africa star Jimmy Bullard's seven-figure football wages, shock jungle exit, and 'dark times'
Jimmy will be hoping to stay in the show longer this time around!Jimmy Bullard returned to I’m A Celebrity as a series latecomer last night (April 13), hoping for a second shot at victory in ITV’s South Africa spin-off.
But how did footballer Jimmy get on last time? What is he famous for? And what’s his net worth? Read on to find out as he enters the jungle alongside the likes of Ashley Roberts and fellow footballer Harry Redknapp, who is reportedly being paid significantly more than Jimmy…
Who is I’m A Celebrity South Africa star Jimmy Bullard?
Jimmy will be familiar to football fans, thanks to his 15-year-long football career, several of which were spent in the top flight of English football, the Premier League.
Since he retired from the Beautiful Game, he has forged a career in broadcasting.
Between 2017 and 2023, he was a co-host on the Sky Sports hit, Soccer AM. He’s also had stints on ITV sports gameshow, Play to the Whistle, and, of course, I’m A Celebrity.
Where was Jimmy Bullard born?
Jimmy was born in East Ham in London on October 23, 1978. That makes him 47 years old.
He began his professional footballing career with Dartford in 1997, aged 19.
Has Jimmy Bullard got a wife?
Jimmy does not have a wife. However, he has been engaged to his long-term partner, Deirdre, for several years.
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The couple have two children – teenage son Archie and daughter Beau.
What football clubs did Jimmy Bullard play for?
Over the course of his 15-year professional football career, Jimmy played for several clubs in and around the top few flights of English football.
After playing in the West Ham United youth setup, Jimmy moved to amateur side Corinthian in Kent.
In 1997, he landed a move to Dartford, who were playing in the Southern Division One South. After making 26 appearances for them, he joined Gravesend & Northfleet FC in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
He was then signed by his boyhood side, West Ham, for £30,000, but never made an appearance for them in his two years there.
In 2001, he signed for Peterborough United, spending two seasons there before moving to Wigan Athletic, where he helped get them promoted to the Premier League.
Jimmy then moved to Fulham for three years before signing for Hull in 2008. He stayed with them after they were relegated, before moving to Championship side Ipswich.
Why did Jimmy Bullard retire?
In his final season in football, Jimmy played just two games for MK Dons before retiring due to persistent injuries.
Speaking to the BBC, Jimmy said he’d “had enough” of playing and was ready to hang up his boots.
“I had just had enough of it. I spoke to Karl [Robinson, MK Dons manager at the time] and said ‘I’m thinking of calling it a day’,” he said.
“I just wasn’t able to do the things I wanted to do. I spoke to my family and said ‘I’ve only got to take one more whack on my knee and I don’t think it’s going to be able to take it,” he admitted.
Despite being called up to the England squad on three occasions, Jimmy never played for the international side.
What pub does I’m A Celebrity South Africa star Jimmy Bullard own?
Jimmy owns the One Bell pub in Crayford, London. He bought the pub in 2010 using the money he earned playing football, and it’s run by his father!
Where did Jimmy Bullard come in I’m A Celebrity?
Two years after retiring, Jimmy joined the cast of I’m A Celebrity 2014.
The footballer was in the same series as the likes of returnee Gemma Collins, fellow all-stars contestant Craig Charles, Tinchy Stryder and Jake Quickenden. His series was won by Carl “Foggy” Fogarty.
Jimmy’s time in the jungle was brief, however. The footballer was the first to be eliminated by the public; however, he was the third celebrity to leave.
Both Gemma and Craig had pulled out of the show earlier in the series.
Jimmy’s early elimination came as something of a shock, considering he’d been a favourite to win before the show started. Public opinion shifted against him following an incident between him and Jake, when he quizzed the X Factor star on why he was famous. Viewers saw Jimmy’s behaviour as bullying, and swiftly voted him out.
Jimmy Bullard ‘gutted’ over early I’m A Celeb exit
In 2022, Jimmy admitted he was “gutted” about being the first celebrity to be booted off the show. Speaking to The Sun, he said: “I was first out. I went from favourite, what I know now, to first out, so no one was more gutted than me when I found out that. I thought, ‘Oh my god, I ballsed that up’.
“When you first come out, you’re a little bit gutted, but, trust me, being in that hotel, and you’ve got some food with ya, it’s just like it ain’t a bad gig.”
Jimmy also admitted that doing I’m A Celebrity was the “hardest thing I’ve ever done”.
“First of all, it’s still one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, ludicrous, no food. There were a few times when I was like, ‘This is a bit much, I’ve gotta go here. I’ve gotta walk’,” he said.
What has he said about returning?
During his last time on the show, Jimmy only took part in one Bushtucker Trial.
It involved eels, crabs and water pythons. Looking back recently, he said that he’d “never been that scared in all my life”.
“I’m saying it now, but if I was in that scenario again, I’d try and get through it,” he said.
Also opening up about his last time on the show, Jimmy told The Sun: “The camp was as close as I’ve been to a changing room since I left football. I loved it, but there were some dark times.”
‘Beef’ with Harry Redknapp?
Ahead of the series launch, reports in The Sun suggested that Jimmy was none too pleased to discover that he wouldn’t be earning as high a fee as Harry Redknapp for signing up for the show.
Reports suggested he was left “furious” that Harry was getting more money than him to return. He believed that they should both have been paid the same fee by ITV.
Harry won the show back in 2018. “Jimmy expected to be on the same money as Harry. However, Harry is considered one of the biggest names of the South Africa series. He also loves spending time at home with wife Sandra and it would have taken a big fee for him to spend time in South Africa without her.”
For his original stint in the show, it’s believed Jimmy was paid £100k. Harry, meanwhile, reportedly took hom £500k.
At the time, Jimmy said: “I would have come in the jungle for nothing. I would have paid them a little bit of money to get me in there.”
However, it appears he’s changed his tune this time around… We’ve contacted Jimmy’s reps for comment.
However, as well as a pay row with Harry, Jimmy is also reportedly no longer talking to his South Africa co-star Adam Thomas. They reportedly clashed during the filming of a Bushtucker Trial, where Adam allegedly “started screaming at Jimmy”.
A source told The Sun: “Adam totally lost it. It was completely unexpected and deeply shocked the other campmates – including Jimmy, who didn’t see it coming. Adam is intensely competitive and was taking his jungle return very seriously. He was frustrated by what happened in the Bushtucker Trial and lost his temper.”
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What is Jimmy Bullard’s net worth?
There is no official information regarding Jimmy’s net worth available.
However, during an appearance on Joe Marler’s Things People Do podcast, Jimmy revealed he was earning £2.6 million a year during his heyday.
“My biggest contract was £50k-a-week,” he revealed, leaving Marler gobsmacked. However, he pointed out that some of the players these days are on wages as high as £350k-a-week.
What to expect from Jimmy Bullard on I’m A Celebrity South Africa
Jimmy Bullard entered camp last night as one of two latecomers, alongside Harry Redknapp.
During the show, the campmates were informed by Ant and Dec that camp life was about to change. “Over the next few days, you will be competing head-to-head in trials and challenges. Only the winning kingdom will eat dinner. The losers will survive on rice and beans,” they announced.
Ant goes on to explain that the teams will also be competing for pennants, with the group collecting the most earning a safari trip to see South Africa’s wildlife and enjoy a bush banquet. “Every good kingdom needs a king,” Dec adds. “So it’s time to welcome two new campmates…”
The Royal Express then pulled into the platform as Jimmy and Harry stepped off the train and take their places on two thrones. “I give you your new monarchs! Harry, the Lion King, and Jimmy, the Rhino King!” Ant declares.
The new Kings then had to build their tribes, before heading back to Main Camp, that had been divided by a huge wall. Later in the episode, the Kings picked two of their team members to complete in a trial. Ashley and David competed for Harry’s Lions, while Adam and Craig took part for the Rhinos.
As ever, and much to the dismay of viewers, the trial ended on a cliffhanger, with viewers finding out which tribe wins tonight (April 14).
Read more: I’m A Celebrity South Africa: ITV confirms huge schedule twist
