Adam Thomas has revealed that he’s started seeing a therapist after being “changed” by his time on I’m A Celebrity: South Africa.
The current series of the spin-off has been the most dramatic to date – particularly for Thomas, who was regularly picked on by campmate David Haye before the boxer was eliminated from the competition.
In an episode that aired earlier this week, Thomas furiously shouted at Jimmy Bullard during a trial after the footballer said, “I’m a celebrity, get me out of here,” resulting in both Thomas and himself being eliminated from the competition. Thomas was later allowed to stay in the competition due to the unfair nature of his exit.
Now, the former Emmerdale star has opened up about the toil that his time on the jungle took on his mental health.
Speaking about his experience on the show – which was filmed in September last year – he said on his podcast on Wednesday (22 April): “I’m not the same person as I was.
“It’s changed me and that’s no over-exaggeration,” he told his brothers, Ryan and Scott on At Home With The Thomas Bro’s. “It’s changed me. I’m in therapy now because of it.
“It’s f***ed with me mentally because I just thought, ‘How is this happening? I’m a 37-year-old man - how am I letting some other person do this to me in here?’”
Referring to Haye’s treatment of him on the show, Thomas said: “I think in a different environment, you’d go, ‘He doesn’t like me, I’m going to leave the situation.’ But because you’re in an environment like that, there’s nowhere to hide.
“You just have to grin and bear it. I said to my therapist, ‘Why did I never stick up for myself?’’ adding that he didn’t want to bring any attention to it in camp.
Breaking down in tears, he said that if he’d seen “that happening to anyone else”, he would have stood up for them. “But I couldn’t do it for myself. I just became like a little kid again.”
Later on in the chat, Thomas revealed that another campmate – who he wouldn’t name – made him feel “lonely” on the show.
“There was just something that was niggling me when I was in there and because of this whole experience, I’m not taking s*** anymore,” he said.
“A campmate messaged me this morning and it was a lovely message – lovely guy but there were moments in there where I was like, ‘Nah – I wouldn’t do that to you. Why did you do that to me.’ So I messaged him this morning.”
“He just made me feel a little bit lonely and we were really good mates in the beginning and then all of a sudden, we just didn’t really talk to me anymore,” he continued.
“It hurt my soul a lot because we were mates and then all of a sudden there were new campmates and he just f***ed me off a little bit. I was gutted about that.”
On Sunday, Thomas admitted that Haye “broke” him while they were on the show, after the boxer called him “useless” for not doing a Bushtucker Trial while feeling ill.
In the episode, Haye said about the actor: “Who gives a s*** if he doesn't feel well. He's a grown-ass man. I don't like guys who are... a bit useless. I hate them useless guys.” Thomas revealed that Haye later apologised to him over his behaviour.
Even presenters Ant and Dec spoke about the altercation on the show’s companion podcast, with Dec saying: “It’s kind of crossed the line from banter. I don’t find it comfortable to watch.”
Later in the week, Thomas angrily confronted Bullard after he gave up during a trial, telling him: “You’re taking the p***!” and “If you wanted to go, go – don’t do it on my f**ing watch!”
Bullard has since claimed that the show edited down Thomas’ outburst after fellow campmate Sinitta said that she heard “the c-word” being said.
“Wow thanks @thesinittaofficial shame that wasn't shown! My version will be told Friday! Can't wait to see you all….well some of yous!!” Bullard commented on Instagram.
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