I'm A Celebrity winner Adam Thomas took a subtle swipe at his fellow campmates in a heartfelt birthday tribute to his wife Caroline Daly on Saturday, just hours after the show's tense live final. The Emmerdale actor failed to appear on the spin-off show Unpacked following a confrontation with rivals Jimmy Bullard and David Haye during an episode that descended into chaos.
Former footballer Jimmy accused Adam of being "abusive, aggressive and intimidating" during an expletive-laden row in the pre-recorded show last year. Boxer David then claimed Adam was playing the victim. Adam and David had a fractious relationship during their time in the jungle, filmed in September, with David accused of "bullying" after calling the soap star "useless" for excusing himself from a trial due to health reasons.
Taking to Instagram, the actor posted a beaming snap of himself and Caroline, with whom he shares 11-year-old son Teddy and seven-year-old daughter Elsie-Rose. He wrote: "I walked through this journey with my heart first, no matter what came my way… It was not always easy, there were moments that could have broken me, but I stayed true to myself and that is something I will always be proud of."
He continued: "I have realized that when people try to dim your light, it says more about them than it ever will about you. This experience has shown me my strength in ways I never imagined. Not because of any title or recognition, but because I stayed kind, I stayed grounded and I stayed real."
"Family means everything to me, and there is one person who has been my rock through it all. Happy birthday to my beautiful wife, you have stood by me when things were tough and reminded me of my strength when I needed it most. I would not be who I am without you."
Adam added: "To everyone who supported me, who believed in me and showed love, thank you, it means more than I can ever put into words. And to those who doubted me or tried to bring me down, I carry no negativity towards you. I have already won in the ways that matter most. I have love, I have happiness and I have stayed true to myself, and that is something no one can ever take away from me. I hope one day you can do the same."
During the live finale, hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly struggled to control the situation as Gemma Collins and Sinitta stormed off stage in fury. The Geordie duo gave Jimmy the opportunity to speak after Adam allegedly called him the "C-word" in an explosive clash when he pulled the plug on the show early last year. Jimmy admitted he had to leave for personal reasons and that if he didn't say "I'm A Celebrity" in the challenge, he would not have received his full pay.
"Listen, Adam and all of you can be upset with me and I absolutely threw him under the bus, I get it and I'll wear that," Jimmy said. "But what I don't stand on, is someone being abusive, aggressive and intimidating, I don't stand on that." Welcoming Ant and Dec to share their opinion, Jimmy added: "You were there and you didn't show any of that footage. You didn't show any of the C-bombs, it's a liberty."
Ant argued: "The reason we didn't air the C-bomb is because that is unbroadcastable. I was there and I didn't think it was intimidating. I was there Jim." During Adam's opportunity to speak, he said: "I take full responsibility for my actions and yes emotions were definitely running high in that moment. I have nothing but love for Jimmy in that moment. I have apologized to Jimmy on numerous occasions and I do take everything that he is saying into account and the only thing I can do is apologize. That is not how I want to show myself off and I have never shown myself off like that before or after that. I do apologize Jimmy."
Storming off stage, Sinitta yelled at the audience: "Guys, you weren't there, I was there and it was aggressive and abusive, we were shaking." Jimmy shouted in the background: "You can't be aggressive, abusive and intimidating, it doesn't matter if Adam said sorry. I will not take you saying it wasn't aggressive, abusive and intimidating, you can't say that. Show it, let everyone watch it, let's play it now!" Ant and Dec wrapped up: "Right, let's leave it there. We'll agree to disagree Jim."
