Adam Thomas has been flooded with messages of praise and support after sharing a rare photo of himself on social media, revealing the results of major lifestyle changes. The Manchester-born Waterloo Road star, who has faced health struggles in recent years, posted a picture of himself flexing his muscles alongside his son Teddy.
Health journey and diagnosis
Thomas, now 36, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at age 34, before participating in Strictly Come Dancing in 2023. He described experiencing daily pain throughout his body, starting with his knees and spreading to his wrists, fingers, ankles, and toes. After several blood tests and doctor visits, his diagnosis was later changed to psoriatic arthritis, a long-term condition causing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness according to the NHS.
Since sharing his diagnosis, Thomas has continued to document the highs and lows of his health journey online, seeking ways to reduce or eliminate his pain. While he has not addressed his condition directly recently, his latest post signals personal progress.
Rare shirtless photo and social media reaction
On Instagram, Thomas shared a photo dump featuring himself with his wife, children Teddy and Elsie, and a picture of him flexing his muscles shirtless. He captioned the post: "Life has been full on … from work to everything in between !! Here’s a little photo dump…and yes i have my top off!! Haha." This comes after he previously admitted he would never be seen publicly without a shirt due to insecurities.
The post attracted an outpouring of support. His twin brother Scott commented: "You did it big twin." Former Emmerdale co-star Isabel Hodgins wrote: "You’re so pretty," while Danny Miller added: "Clever cover photo. I’m a huge fan txt bk." Actor Anthony Quinlan said: "Yes looking great mate!" Friend Bradley Howard posted: "Here we fucking go!!! Looking UNBELIEVABLE my mate." Fans also praised his courage, with @cfw24 sharing: "He’s finally done it! Never delete this post/pic shows u how far you’ve come mentally and physically!" jools6000 wrote: "Great to see you so happy. Looking good too," and @mrswoody16 added: "Yessss. Looking insane @adamthomas21. Well done for having the courage! Now time to start believing in yourself."
