Adam Thomas was crowned Jungle Legend in I'm A Celebrity South Africa, but despite the victory, he admits he wouldn't go back and do the show for £10 million after a bullying scandal broke out.
Adam Thomas Opens Up About Camp Feud
The Waterloo Road star, 37, won by a distance in the public vote, but admits antics in camp "broke" him. Despite the ITV show being filmed eight months ago, the series is still having a huge effect on the star, who admitted he is in therapy. Now, the former Emmerdale man has broken his silence and candidly told his side of the camp feud.
Viewers had watched former boxing champion David Haye pick away at Adam in camp. It all came to a head on screen when Adam, who has arthritis, was targeted by David for not volunteering for a trial. Despite David saying his actions were "banter," Adam revealed just how much the moments got to him in a candid chat with his brothers Ryan and Scott Thomas on their latest podcast.
Adam's Account of the Incident
He said: "It started off as banter when we were in the game and I think the tables turned. I know when the tables turned, I knew it and it was my own fault. That's why I sort of blame myself, I'm like 'Why?'
"It didn't get shown but there was a clip in camp where David kept saying 'It's all about winning, it's all about winning, it's a sport mentality.' And I just remember at the end of it going, 'Ah well, I feel pretty bad because I'm always saying to my kids that it's all about taking part.'
Adam claimed that it was from that moment the digs from the ex sports star became far too "personal" to be dismissed as a joke. He went on: "Everyone laughed and that was the end of it. Then I beat him in this trial, and, I don't think it got shown, I said 'I thought you said it was all about winning, David.' And I think that was the moment where I f***** up. Because that's when it was like, 'game time now.' And yes we had a bit of banter going back and forth because we were in a game.
"And listen, I know what banter is. I've grew up with two brothers all my life. I know what banter is. It's a two-way street. It's back and forth. Yeah, we take the p***, but it's all in jest, it's all fun. Everything he was saying to me was personal and it just got to a point where it crossed the line."
Allegations of Manipulation
Adam also admitted David "manipulated" him and faked a mental health check, saying he had been asked by bosses to take a step back. Despite bosses revealing this wasn't the case, David is said to have kept chipping away at his campmate. After the show, Adam asked David why he targeted him. The sportsman allegedly said: "I've never met a nicer guy. I just wanted to break you." Adam went on: "Now if that isn't classed as bullying, I don't know what is."
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