David Haye has confirmed he is planning to pursue legal action against ITV, alleging the broadcaster caused "irreparable damage" to his reputation through its editing of I'm A Celebrity South Africa.
The former heavyweight boxing champion announced his intentions in a video posted to Instagram, which he titled "Suing ITV: David Haye vs Goliath."
"The answer is yes, I am," Mr Haye stated when addressing speculation about the lawsuit.
"I don't like getting pushed around. I don't like people taking advantage."
The 45-year-old accused the programme of being "manipulated heavily" and "directed in a certain narrative for a specific reason."
Mr Haye sparked significant backlash during the all-stars spin-off for his treatment of fellow campmate Adam Thomas, with tensions reaching their peak during the live final.
The boxer dismissed reports suggesting he would be seeking £10 million in damages, insisting the actual figure would be considerably higher.
"I'm hearing this £10 million number bandied around, I don't know where it came from, because the number I'm gonna hit them with is way more than that, trust me," he declared.
The former champion expressed confidence that his case would succeed once all the evidence was examined in court.
"When you're right, and the decision comes down to a judge, I don't think there's a judge in the world, once the tapes have been viewed… once the evidence has been presented, and once they see what the public see, they'll realise this is reality TV man, it's not real," Mr Haye said.
He emphasised his desire for the unedited footage to be scrutinised by the courts.
Mr Haye's time in the South African jungle was marred by several controversial moments that drew criticism from viewers.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Pussycat Dolls axe tour dates after dismal ticket sales as band issues 'heartbroken' statement
- Dolly Parton, 80, shocks fans with candid health update as she's forced to axe Las Vegas residency
- Blake Lively looks all smiles as she steps out Met Gala just hours after Justin Baldoni settlement
During the programme, he described his girlfriend Sian as having "the personality of a proper ugly bird," adding that "ugly girls" need personality and banter to compensate for not being "aesthetically amazing."
His relationship with the series winner, Mr Thomas, proved particularly fractious.
Mr Haye branded the Waterloo Road actor "useless" after Mr Thomas explained that his psoriatic arthritis prevented him from participating in a trial.
When Mr Thomas's health condition was explained to him, the boxer responded that he didn't "give a s**t."
Mr Thomas has since described Mr Haye's behaviour towards him as "bullying," a characterisation the boxer has rejected, dismissing it as banter that the actor could not handle.
Despite his lengthy career in professional boxing, Mr Haye characterised the forthcoming legal battle as among the most significant he has faced.
"I'm ready for this battle; it'll be one of the biggest battles I've ever had. But I'm enjoying the process. I'm excited," he stated.
The former champion revealed he has engaged barrister Callum Reid-Hutchings to represent him, describing him as "the man" who understands the case.
Mr Haye also made a striking claim about the potential consequences for ITV, noting that as a publicly listed company, his evidence could have significant financial implications.
"What I've got up my sleeve is a PLC, it's a publicly listed company, it could significantly move the share price," he alleged.
GB News has contacted ITV for comment.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
