WHEN I was told about Adam Thomas’s explosive clash on I’m A Celebrity after filming wrapped on All Stars last year, my jaw hit the floor.
Adam, like his famous brothers Ryan and Scott, is TV’s typical “Mr Nice Guy”, so he was all set to sail through to the final and pick up a huge paycheck for a scandal-free second stint in the jungle. But after a bullying row and aggressive altercation overshadowed his experience, we unpick Adam’s “damage control” plan following last night’s shocking scenes.
Adam Thomas and Jimmy Bullard got into an almighty row Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
The actor broke down in tears after screaming at Jimmy Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
As predicted, he was a stand-out star from the start – charming fans with his infectious laugh and lovable friendship with Gemma “The GC” Collins, before becoming camp “bully” David Haye‘s “victim”.
It all blew up in Adam’s face, however, when, after believing his co-star Jimmy Bullard had sent him home by shouting “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here”, he lost his temper.
In a wild moment of anger, Adam kicked the set and then screamed, “Are you taking the f***ing piss?” in Jimmy’s face.
The night before a teaser clip of Adam’s confrontation with Jimmy aired, he shared his struggle with fans online – admitting he had been “broken” by the former heavyweight champion.
He also opened up about how his “biggest fight was putting on a brave face” while living with arthritis in the jungle and “trying to hide the pain”.
A TV insider tells me: “It’s important to remember this was filmed many months ago, and everyone involved has had a long time to prepare for how to deal with the fallout.
“As always, 24 hours a day are squeezed into a short nightly episode, and celebrities have no control over what makes it in there.
“There’s no doubt what Adam has opened up about is genuine, but there’s definitely an element of controlling the narrative with hindsight.”
While David has denied bullying allegations, Adam has been vulnerable with his emotions, admitting: “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 added: “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.
“I’ve moved on now and am not one to hold a grudge.
“We all face people and situations that try to break us, but sometimes those moments are what rebuild you stronger than ever. Be kind.”
Meanwhile boxer David was sent home by his campmates in Monday night’s episode and appeared to dismiss Adam’s concerns, telling hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly: “When a grown man tells me that a fun TV show — where we’re being paid handsomely every single day — is the hardest thing he’s ever been through, it’s just not a frequency I recognise.”
Jimmy was also quick to joke he would “carry the torch” for David – by continuing to wind him up on his behalf.
‘Pushed to the brink’
Knowing what is still to air, our insider source believes Adam’s words about “not holding a grudge” and “being kind” are a cryptic swipe at Jimmy, who had joined in with David’s “banter”.
Reflecting on the statement, our insider said: “Adam has shown humility and forgiveness towards David in this statement, and I suspect that’s what he was looking for from Jimmy, but it never came.
“It also manages to perhaps explain why he overreacted in the way he did.
“Not only was he dealing with extreme pain because of his arthritis, but Adam had also been pushed to the brink by David’s ‘bullying’ behaviour.
David Haye has been accused of ‘bullying’ Adam Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Adam shouted at Jimmy for ‘bringing him down with him’ Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
“It helps build a picture of why he exploded at Jimmy – having been pushed over the edge.”
Adam and Jimmy are no longer on speaking terms, and it’s believed the fallout is so bad that the latter has sacrificed 20 per cent of his show fee to boycott the live final on Friday.
Adam was the only star to attend ITV‘s All Stars press launch last month, out of him, Jimmy and David.
Having known Adam in the industry for many years, I was struck by the stark contrast to his usual loud and friendly demeanour.
He cut a sombre figure at the event, only answering his assigned question and keeping out of the group banter on stage.
It was clear to see he was uncomfortable, but was fulfilling his contractual obligation to be there.
There may have been an element of apprehension, worrying whether Jimmy would be making a last-minute appearance after all. He also knew, while standing in a room full of journalists, that he was at the centre of the biggest story of the series.
‘I let go of the anger’
We revealed how Adam was in hot water with his older brother Ryan, a former Coronation Street actor, who feared twins Adam and Scott, best known for being on Love Island, were “damaging the brand” after two separate incidents on reality TV.
News of Adam’s argument came after Scott’s second stint in Love Island in January 2025, when he had to be pulled off Luca Bish during an explosive row about him and his romantic interest, Tina Stinnes.
Scott Thomas was also embroiled in an explosive row on Love Island last year Credit: Eroteme
For Waterloo Star Adam, his recent social media post gave him the chance to directly speak with fans before the incident aired, unlike his twin, Scott.
He wrote: “I won’t sit here and say I handled everything perfectly, because I didn’t.
“I wish I spoke up for myself sooner. I wish I stood my ground instead of trying to keep the peace, but I’ve learned that being kind doesn’t mean being weak, and sometimes it takes going through tough moments to find your voice.”
He and David have spoken since competing in the jungle, and Adam says he has accepted an apology and moved on.
However, his feud with Jimmy continues to rumble on.
It’s not yet clear whether both parties will remain silent about the fallout off-screen, with Adam appearing to try to draw a line under the sorry saga.
He added: “Since coming out, I’ve taken time to process everything, and I’m in a much better place now. I let go of the anger, had the conversations I needed to have, and chose peace.”
The Thomas brothers – Ryan, Adam and Scott Credit: ITV
But in a new episode of Adam’s podcast with his brothers, he opens up about his experience without naming either of the men he fights with.
He does however, explain that the bullying saga is what leads to his outburst with Jimmy.
Adam told The Thomas Bros: “Because of everything that I went through and then they left and I was like ‘oh I’ve been really in on myself, I’ve not really you know had much fun in there’. I thought ‘you know what, I’m gonna just stick it out now and try and get to the final’.
“Well, all hell breaks loose.”
He couldn’t have been more spot on after the most dramatic and exciting series of I’m A Celebrity in years – and there’s still more to come.
