Emily Bashforth
Published April 19, 2026 7:19pm
Updated April 19, 2026 8:13pm
Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook
Comment now
Comments
Adam Thomas has admitted he struggled in I’m A Celebrity, particularly after clashing with David Haye (Picture: Shutterstock/ ITV)
Adam Thomas has reflected on struggling in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! South Africa, particularly after clashing with David Haye.
The Waterloo Road actor, 37, first took part in the gruelling ITV series in 2016, finishing third behind Joel Dommett and winner Scarlett Moffatt.
Gogglebox favourite Scarlett returned to the show with Adam for its second All Stars series, which was pre-filmed last September, with fellow campmates including Gemma Collins, Harry Redknapp, Sir Mo Farah, and Beverley Callard.
So far, the show has really got people talking, with boxing champ David, 45, in particular ruffling feathers and even being called a ‘bully’ for how he behaved towards Adam.
Now, the former Emmerdale star has spoken out amid the backlash, admitting that the heavyweight ‘broke’ him to his lowest during the experience.
Get personalised updates on I'm A Celeb
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
Taking to Instagram this weekend, Adam shared a photo of himself lying in his hammock, looking emotional, a picture he says ‘breaks [his] heart’ since he ‘knows on the inside what [he] was dealing with’.
The soap star says the show was the ‘toughest’ thing he’s been through (Picture: ITV/ Shutterstock)
In a heartfelt caption, he began by confessing he thought the rocky atmosphere in camp was ‘all [his] fault’ at the time, but he’s since realised that wasn’t the case.
‘My time in I’m a Celebrity South Africa was one of the toughest things I’ve ever been through, physically, mentally, and emotionally,’ he penned.
‘Watching it back hasn’t been easy at all. There were moments I felt pushed to my absolute limit, and if I’m honest, times I didn’t even recognise myself.’
The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant then said his psoriatic arthritis also ‘really took its toll’. He was diagnosed with the autoimmune condition that causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness in 2023.
‘Living with arthritis is something I don’t really talk about, as much as I should do…but in there it really took its toll.
‘My biggest fight was pretending to put on a brave face and trying to hide the pain! That can be exhausting within itself. There were days my body just didn’t want to keep going, but I did.’
David called him ‘useless’ when Adam decided to sit out of a trial due to illness (Picture: ITV/ Shutterstock)
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Up Next
Previous Page Next PageOn how he handled himself on the show, he admitted he wasn’t ‘perfect’, now wishing he ‘spoke up for [himself] sooner’ and stood [his] ground instead of trying to keep the peace’.
However, he has now learned that ‘being kind doesn’t mean being weak, and sometimes it takes going through tough moments to find your voice’.
Since filming ended and he’s processed events, Adam is ‘in a much better place’, thankfully, having been able to ‘let go’ of his anger and clear the air with his cast members
‘What I’m most proud of, is at times like this I wanted to walk, I wanted to quit but I didn’t . Even when I wanted to walk away, even when it felt like too much, I never give up! and that means everything to me,’ he said.
On David specifically, he concluded: ‘He broke me in there, he pushed me to my limits, and I’ve told David this and he’s apologised and that’s that! I’ve moved on now, am not one to hold a grudge.’
‘But thank you for all your lovely messages and all the kind words ❤️’, Adam signed off.
They have since cleared the air (Picture: ITV/ Shutterstock)
David’s model girlfriend, Sian Osborne, has also defended him after he called her an ‘ugly duckling’ during filming (Picture: Kate Green/ Getty Images)
He was inundated with further support in the comments, with co-star Ashley Roberts writing: ‘Adam bless you. You have such a big heart. I’m sorry you struggled in there. ♥️🫶🏼’
‘I would like to say i would stick up for you in there but hes not the guy to pick a fight with 🤣🤣🤣 we need to give @tonybellew a call bro 😂’, joked ex-Corrie star brother Ryan Thomas.
Scarlett added that Adam is ‘one of the kindest men’ she knows, sweetly saying she hopes her own son ‘ends up being as caring as [him]’.
Their kind words come after Adam and David made headlines on Friday night, with Adam saying he felt dehydrated and unwell, so he didn’t want to do the Bushtucker Trial.
‘Who gives a s**t?’, said a rattled David when asked if he was going to apologise for his attitude.
After Beverley urged him to have ‘sympathy’, he replied: ‘He’s a grown a*s man.
Pictured here in 2016, Adam finished third in his first I’m A Celeb stint (Picture: ITV/ Shutterstock)
Since then, he’s been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis (Picture: ITV)
‘I don’t like guys when they’re a bit useless. There it is.’
Taking to X, fans said producers should have intervened and ‘chuked [David] out’, calling the scenes ‘hard to watch’ as they crossed a line from ‘banter to bullying’.
Adam and David had, in fact, already butted heads after Adam broke a rule by sneaking chocolate into the camp, leading to a food punishment.
This wasn’t the first time David caused a stir in camp, having also been called out for appearing to ‘fat-shame’ Towie star Gemma after also denying her water.
Comment now Who do you want to win I’m A Celebrity South Africa?Comment NowMeanwhile, his girlfriend, Sian Osborne, was forced to speak out after he compared her to an ‘ugly duckling’ and said she has the personality of ‘a proper ugly bird’. Despite being called ‘sexist’, model Sian, 33, insisted it was a ‘compliment’ to her.
Trending Now
-
Police reveal new details surrounding celebrity arrested for rape after Tyson Fury fight
Channel: Showbiz Showbiz 13 hours ago By Alana Anderson - Christina Applegate 'might not have a tomorrow' claim friends after star's hospitalisation
- Louis Tomlinson and family cut ties with Zayn Malik after punch-up over late mum
- Dragons’ Den’s biggest success story with company worth £30,000,000 reveals ‘deep regret’
Adam is also thought to have had another blazing encounter with a fellow campmate, although the argument is not expected to air.
According to TV sources, he and Jimmy Bullard squabbled after a challenge, which led to the C-word being used and the pair cutting ties after the programme finished.
Although, while viewers may not get to see the drama on their screens, since Adam referred to ‘having the conversations [he] needed to have’ and ‘choosing peace’ in the months since, it can perhaps be assumed that there aren’t any hard feelings anymore.
Deals of the Day
From Superdry to Primark – here's 22 items a shopping expert is buying
Struggling with skincare? This AI tool analyses your skin and tells you what to use
The best Easter gift ideas that go beyond chocolate for every budget
The k‑beauty product from haruharu Wonder that’s going viral for glowing skin
Kate Middleton just backed this Spring shoe trend with her £119 Boden loafers
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! South Africa continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Arrow MORE: Kerry Katona ‘can never appear’ on I’m A Celebrity… South Africa again 22 years after winning
Arrow MORE: David Haye’s famous ex speaks out after ‘throuple’ claim and I’m A Celebrity backlash
Arrow MORE: The first I’m A Celebrity… South Africa exit was a cruel and wasted opportunity
Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source TV NewsletterSign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.
Show Expand Options ? Select All Select All Big Brother Big Brother Britain's Got Talent Britain's Got Talent Celebrity Big Brother Celebrity Big Brother Doctor Who Doctor Who Great British Bake Off Great British Bake Off I'm A Celeb I'm A Celeb Love Island Love Island Netflix Netflix Strictly Come Dancing Strictly Come Dancing The Apprentice The Apprentice The Traitors The Traitors Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign UpThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy