Strictly's Adam Thomas explains Emmerdale exit and devastating health battle

23 September 2023 , 16:00

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Strictly's Adam Thomas explains Emmerdale exit and devastating health battle

Adam Thomas is part of the latest dazzling celebrity line-up donning his dancing shoes for the 2023 Strictly Come Dancing series.

While the star has appeared in classic TV shows including Waterloo Road and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, he is best known for his role as Adam Barton in Emmerdale. The 34-year-old first joined the soap in 2009, with his character tackling a number of storylines including a feud with Cain Dingle, arson, fertility issues, an on-off marriage with Victoria Sugden as well as an iconic bromance with Aaron Dingle - played by Danny Miller.

His character’s time came to an end in the soap when he was seen fleeing the country in 2018 after taking the fall for Emma Barton ’s murder - played by Gillian Kearney - who had been killed by his mum Moira. He was last seen making an exit in a shipping container to start a life anew in France.

Adam Barton in Emmerdale (ITV)

After nine years on the show, Adam said it hadn’t been an easy move to leave, saying: "I’ve had an amazing eight years working on Emmerdale and I've loved every minute of it. It was a really tough decision to leave but I felt that now is the time to move on and challenge myself with some new roles. I'd like to thank everyone at Emmerdale for both giving me the opportunity to work as part of such a great team and for giving my character Adam Barton some great storylines too."

Adam went on to appear on the sixteenth series of I'm a Celeb and finished in third place, before making his stage debut in 2018 in The Hollywood Producer and Nativity! The Musical. Adam then helped co-host I’m a Celebrity Extra Camp before opening a restaurant with his school friend, Scott Graham, named The Spinn - which has since closed down.

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Last month, the star revealed on Instagram that he had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis - a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, usually affecting the hands, feet and wrists. In a post, he wrote: "I’ve been in a lot of pain since January, it started with my knees and then travelled to my wrists, fingers and now ankles and toes. I never knew what was happening and finally after several blood tests and back and forth to doctors and hospitals, I’ve been diagnosed with rheumatoid Arthritis!"

The actor continued: "I thought that was something people, later on in there life get… but that’s not the case, clearly! It’s been a tough old year but finally I’m on the right plan now! Finally getting it under control. For now!” Adam went on to thank his wife Caroline Daly and their children Teddy, eight, and Elsie-Rose, five, for their support through the “challenging and frustrating” times. Adam and Caroline often update their Instagram followers with snaps of the family. The actor joins a host of names including Amanda Abbington, Angela Rippon, Layton Williams, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Eddie Kadi, Angela Scanlon and Zara McDermott, in a bid to win the coveted Glitterball trophy.

Louise Lazell