Adam Thomas, the actor known for his roles in Waterloo Road and Emmerdale, has spoken about his resilience following tensions with campmates David Haye and Jimmy Bullard during his time in the I'm A Celebrity jungle. He told The Mirror: "I've obviously had a bit of a year with the jungle and all that stuff. But I've never been better."
Fallout and Complaints
The ITV show, which aired in April, received over 1,000 Ofcom complaints after a dramatic fallout between Adam, 37, and former Fulham footballer Jimmy, 47. Accusations flew, with Jimmy describing Adam's expletive-filled outburst as intimidating, while many complaints cited alleged bullying behaviour towards Adam from former boxer David Haye, 45, and Jimmy. But Adam remains philosophical: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, hey?"
Fitness and Mental Focus
Determined to make the cover of Men's Fitness magazine, Adam has been hitting the gym hard. He explains: "I just wanted to focus on myself, really, and get my head in a great space. This wasn't just physical for me, but mental as well. I'm really proud of myself, and I don't really say that often. At the beginning of the year, I started this vision board. I'd never done a vision board before in my life, and I said I wanted to be on the front cover of a fitness magazine. I ticked that off."
Teacher's Influence
Adam, who lives in Cheshire with his wife Caroline and their children Teddy, 11, and Elsie-Rose, eight, credits his former drama teacher Darren Gordon with giving him the tools for success. Recalling his school days in Manchester, he says: "There were a few times that I could have got expelled. I was a bit of a tearaway, always causing mischief. I wasn't a bad kid but I was always being the class clown, I was always distracting other people."
He also shared a poignant moment with his son: "My son came home from school and was upset. He said, 'the other kids in class are stopping me from learning, Dad.' And I was like, 'Oh my, I was one of those kids!'"
Overcoming Pressure
Adam, who came ninth on Strictly in 2023, initially wanted to be a dancer but was not allowed to take dance at school. He says: "I wanted to do dance, but my school wouldn't let me, because I was the only boy that wanted to do it in school. Maybe I would have won Strictly if I was able to do dance. I'd have had the training."
Drama became his saviour: "The arts meant the world to me, because I just knew that was the one thing that I was good at. One thing my report card did say was 'he's going to be a star. He's going to be on TV.'"
Teacher Impact Report
Adam is an ambassador for the Blue Light Card Teacher Impact Report, a newly released study revealing how teachers shape pupils' lives long after they leave the classroom. In an emotional video for the campaign, he reunites with Darren Gordon, who taught him at Mid Cheshire College, Hartford and Winsford. The report reveals that 63% of Brits believe teachers deserve more recognition, while 53% say they still don't receive the credit they deserve.
Adam says: "Teachers are the unsung heroes of most people's lives. Darren was more than a teacher. He was a friend. He was one of those people that I could talk to about anything and everything. Those teachers are so important - they change and shape lives. Darren certainly did that for me. Darren created a space where I could be who I wanted to be. I felt so safe in those rooms."
Career Journey
With Darren's encouragement, Adam won the part of Donte in Waterloo Road, which he played from 2006 to 2009, then moved to Emmerdale. He left Emmerdale after a conversation with Larry Lamb during I'm a Celebrity in 2016, where he came third. Adam recalls: "It's very difficult to leave a soap and go on to something else. After a time, you get very comfortable, and it becomes like your safety blanket. I left Emmerdale because of the Jungle when I first did it in 2016. I remember having a conversation with Larry Lamb in there, and he was like, 'you need to get out there, you need to do other stuff.'"
However, after handing in his notice, Adam struggled to get acting work: "I left and then nothing happened, and I was like, 'Oh, s*** - this is not how it's supposed to go. Larry lamb what were you thinking?' I started working as an estate agent, working a nine-to-five. I was turning up at viewings, and showing people around houses. They were like, 'what the f*** are you doing here?' It was a very humbling experience."
In 2023, Waterloo Road came knocking again, and Adam reprised his role. When times got tough, he remembered Darren's words: "He always told me to believe in myself. And so I did. I try to teach my kids the same thing. You've got this. You can do it. It will all work out. And I truly believe that it will."
Darren's Perspective
Darren Gordon, now a director, agent and acting coach, says: "I first met Adam as a shy and reserved 14 year old. Brother to a soap star, he also had ambitions of a career as an actor. His polite and enthusiastic manner made him immediately appealing to work with, but as soon as he accessed strong emotion in performance, his work went to another level. He has always been an absorbing and engaging artist, able to access any emotional state with stark authenticity, almost instantly, then drop it on 'cut', as quickly as it appeared. Meeting him again thanks to Blue Light Card brought it all back. Adam is a formidable and irrepressible personality. To be thanked by him and reconnect properly was a truly special moment."
The reunion marks Blue Light Card's Teacher Impact Report, which reveals teachers' lasting influence beyond the school years. Eligible teachers can renew for £4.99, unlocking savings at 15,000+ brands.
