BERNARD Tomic is the first contestant in Australian I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! history to quit the show, bailing after just three nights in the South African jungle.

The controversial tennis hotshot, 25, made the shock decision in scenes aired in tonight’s episode of the show, saying he’d “never felt this bad.”

Viewers witness the moment Tomic reached breaking point.

“I don’t need this now. I’ve never felt this bad in my life. This is the jungle. It’s so different. Not what I expected. I need some peace. This is going to knock me around for a week, two weeks. I’m just not coping. It’s too risky. I don’t know if I can do it. I’d like to speak to someone,” he said in an on-camera confessional.

Bidding farewell to his fellow contestants, Tomic left the camp, and was shown talking to a male producer on the show who made a last-ditch effort to get him to stay before leaving with crew members in a car.

Confirming the news alongside co-host Dr Chris Brown on tonight’s episode of The Project, Julia Morris couldn’t hide her anger. “I’m furious… he’s just a quitter,” she said.

So, is Bernard Tomic our first-ever celeb to utter the words “I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here”? @Ladyjmo and @drchrisbrown give us the scoop! #ImACelebrityAU #TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/VKBQeAQp2A — The Project (@theprojecttv) 30 January 2018

“It came as shock to everyone here. If only psychic Jackie had given us the heads up it could have saved us millions in logistics and marketing expenses,” Brown quipped.

Speaking to Tomic in a live exit interview at the end of the episode, Morris said Australia was divided about his decision to quit - and so were she and her co-host.

While Brown said he respected Tomic’s decision to put his mental wellbeing first, Morris hit him with altogether curlier questions.

“Why did you even bother to go in?” she asked him, and later: “What does this mean for your charity?”

Had Tomic won the show, his chosen charity, would have received $100,000 in prize money.

Responding to Morris’ grilling, Tomic spoke repetitively about realising very quickly that appearing on the show had been a wrong move, and expressing his desire to return to tennis training.

“I thought by coming here it would make me a super happy person... I thought it would change me as soon as I got in,” he said.

Earlier in tonight’s episode, he was soon confiding in fellow campmate, Real Housewives star Jackie Gillies.

Channel Ten has come under fire for its misguided treatment of wayward tennis star

“I thought I’d be super happy, camping for the first time, being around new people ... Half the time during the day, I’m just depressed,” he confessed.

“I’ve never really had time to think about my thoughts. I’ve always had people around, my mobile phone ... everything was so fast-paced. Everything’s slowed down in the last few days.

“I don’t want to spend half my time depressed here, you know? Thinking about how I played last year and where I should be,” he continued, referencing the career regrets he spoke about in last night’s episode.

“It’s kind of my fault, for being so isolated in my career and being so individual, not having the opportunity to grow up and do these sort of things.”

Tomic’s heartfelt confession brought Gillies to tears, and the Newcastle-born psychic told him she’d support him whatever he decided to do. She also made him promise her that he would seek therapy as soon as he leaves the jungle.

Tomic had fared badly in his short stint on the reality show. He tanked his first hair-raising physical challenge, bowing out with nausea — but it was Tomic’s mental state that appeared to take the biggest hit.

Saying goodbye to his fellow campmates, Tomic said he was eager to return home and resume his tennis career.

Jonathon Moran and Bernard Tomic talk about life in the jungle on I'm a Celebrity Jonathon Moran and Bernard Tomic talk about life in the jungle on I'm a Celebrity

If you or someone you know is in need of crisis or suicide prevention support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp