EXCLUSIVE: ‘Ruthless’ Thomas bros’ turbulent life from bankruptcy and addiction to dumping

Following this year’s fiery fall-out from this year’s I’m a Celebrity… South Africa, the focus has turned to the Thomas brothers, Adam, Ryan, and Scott and their lives off screen

They’re the cheeky chappies of television and regulars on reality TV, but behind the scenes, Adam, Ryan and Scott Thomas have trod a turbulent path to the top.

This year’s I’m a Celebrity… South Africa wrapped up with the most dramatic TV showdown of 2026 so far, as winner Adam Thomas clashed with former footballer Jimmy Bullard. In chaotic scenes, likened to “something from Jerry Springer” by one audience member, just as hosts Ant and Dec were preparing to name the winner, former footballer Jimmy Bullard accused the Waterloo Road star of “aggressive, abusive, and intimidating” behaviour.

Adam and Jimmy clashed after the latter bailed out of a trial that would have cost Adam his place in the jungle too. Adam’s campmates were allowed to save him at the last minute, but not before a blow-up row. In a heated exchange with Ant and Dec, Jimmy said: “You were there and you didn’t show any of that footage. You didn’t show any of the C-bombs, it’s a liberty.” Ant then argued back: “The reason we didn’t air the C-bomb is because that is unbroadcastable. I was there and I didn’t think it was intimidating. I was there Jim.”

Adam Thomas and Jimmy Bullard clashed after the latter bailed out of a challenge and jeopardised both their places in the final

David Haye stepped in to back Jimmy and their co-star Sinitta described Adam’s tirade as “uncomfortable and disturbing”.

“It was very explosive, very aggressive. I was so visibly upset and shaken by it. I was saying to anyone who would listen: ‘Why isn’t anyone stopping this? Please make it stop. This is not right.’ I would have liked it to have been broken up sooner,” she told The Sun.

“I’m looking around at everybody like: ‘Somebody do something!’ Screaming F bombs and C bombs repeatedly in an angry and explosive way is abusive and aggressive. I had a good cry later on about it. I was thinking, ‘We’re all going to really regret this if one of them swings a punch and somebody gets hurt. Like, please make it stop.'”

It’s not the first time the brothers have been dragged into drama. There are those who reportedly view the brothers to be ‘untouchable’, pointing to their friendship with Manchester mogul and PrettyLittleThing CEO Umar Kamani. Adam’s agent Madison Lygo is also the daughter of ITV’s director of television, Kevin Lygo.

Adam Thomas found fame on Waterloo Road

Reflecting on the narrative that apparently trails the siblings, PR to the stars, Mayah Riaz, told The Mirror: “In terms of the Thomas brothers’ wider reputation, including Ryan Thomas, there’s always been this dual narrative in the industry. On one hand, they’re known as grafters, very driven, very committed to their careers. On the other hand, that same drive can be interpreted by some as being ruthless or overly competitive. In PR terms, that’s a fine line.

“‘Hardworking’ can easily tip into ‘calculating’ depending on the context and who is telling the story. We know that hard work rarely makes headlines, but conflict always does.”

Sources have claimed that in their native Manchester, the trio have all the right connections. “Their TV personas are all very friendly – they play the game well, they’re good-looking. But in their personal lives, they can be pretty ambitious. When they show up to a bar or a restaurant there’s always a big fuss about them arriving. And some say that clashing with the brothers is not for the faint-hearted.”

“They like to party hard but it never seems to quite touch them in the way it would for other people. Their connections to Umar definitely help, too. He’s one of the richest men in the North West, and they’re extremely close – Ryan was best man at his wedding. They holiday together, too. He’s opened lots of doors for them.”

Ryan played Jason Grimshaw, left, on the soap between 2000 and 2016

The brothers all found fame in their own lanes. Ryan joined Coronation Street at teenager Jason Grimshaw in 2000 and took part in Celebrity Big Brother in 2018 where Roxanne Pallett falsely accused him of punching her. Adam has starred in Doctors, Waterloo Road and Emmerdale while Scott has appeared on Love Island twice.

But they’ve had their fair share of trouble too. Ex Coronation Street star Ryan is arguably the best-known of the three, and his personal life has at times proven as dramatic as any soap. The 41-year-old filed for bankruptcy in 2013 following an unpaid £40,000 tax bill. Then there’s his turbulent relationship with former onscreen love interest Tina O’Brien, who plays Corrie icon, Sarah-Louise Platt.

The exes, who share 16-year-old daughter Scarlett, are understood to not be on shaky terms, with tensions bubbling over in 2022 when Tina was accused of smashing up Ryan’s car with a baseball bat. It was later reported that the argument ensued over their differing opinions on how to raise budding actress Scarlett.

Scott Thomas has appeared on Love Island twice

Sources claimed Tina, 42, was left ‘beyond raging’ after her daughter left her £20,000 per year private school. Tina, who keeps a relatively low social media presence, was reportedly “desperate” for Scarlett to have a “normal upbringing and get an education”, telling the Daily Mail: “She is less flashy than Ryan and did not want Scarlett to rely on their showbiz connections.”

The couple split in 2009, under allegedly devastating circumstances. Tina once claimed Ryan dumped her just one week before Scarlett’s first birthday as she “didn’t do it for him anymore.” She told new! magazine: “He said I didn’t do it for him any more. Those were his words. I was absolutely devastated. He said he didn’t want the responsibility of a relationship with me.”

PR professional and former Love Islander Scott has experienced his own difficulties and previously opened up about his gambling addiction while studying at the University of Manchester. Speaking in 2023, as part of a GambleAware campaign, Scott shared: “At first it was fun, I’d win £40 from £20, and I was buzzing, and I’d walk away from the table. And then I remember this defining moment, I remember it like it was yesterday. I won £1,000 from £20, and from that moment onwards, I just got addicted to that big hit. I wouldn’t ever walk away with anything less than a big win.

Ryan and Tina’s relationship has been rocky sine their split

“It got to the point where I was lying to people about where I was. I lied to my family. I borrowed thousands from my friends and family to the point where I couldn’t borrow any more, and I lost everything. I was in a massive amount of debt with friends and family, and had nowhere else to turn.”

Teetotaller Scott, who is Adam’s twin brother, remembered: “I basically got to the point where I’d be so drunk and stuff as well, that I’d lose everything I had, then sometimes I’d find myself waiting outside the bookies the next morning, on my own. I remember vividly waiting outside Stockport casino in the freezing cold, waiting for it to open to try and get back whatever I’d lost.”

Meanwhile, the fall-out from I’m A Celebrity continues to rage, with ITV facing claims that it edited the show in Adam’s favour – allegations it denies. Shortly after the jaw-dropping finale broke, Doctor Who actor John Barrowman, who appeared on the 2018 series of I’m A Celeb, took to X, writing: “Oh my oh my… another scandalous situation. @itv @imacelebrity @antanddec it seems you have a crisis in your hands. Editing to make someone look good as a winner is really bad form #adamthomas seems like a classic passive-aggressive. I love that the other celebrities were not having it.

Ryan pictured with daughter Scarlett

“Bravo to @sinittaofficial for standing up to it but booooo to @missgemcollins for siding with the passive aggressive as she thinks it will benefit her career. They have all the footage believe me I was in the jungle I know. What are your thoughts everyone????”

Responding, Jackie Flemming, the wife of 2026 campmate Craig Charles, replied: “I love you said that because you know thank you.” In another comment, left under footage of Adam being crowned, Jackie warned: “Oh it will all come out in the end karma.”

Addressing favouritism claims, an ITV spokesperson told the Mirror: “We showed an accurate and fair representation of events. Suggesting ITV favours anyone is an incorrect and harmful accusation. All campmates were invited to the live finale to celebrate the series and to share their thoughts, individually and collectively. Once all campmates were invited on stage, Ant & Dec spoke to Jimmy first; he arguably received the most airtime during this part of the show.” They added: “We showed an accurate and fair representation of events.”

Adam alluded to the row in an Instagram post marking his win, declaring: “I have realised that when people try to dim your light, it says more about them than it ever will about you.” Floods of positive messages poured in, however, in some areas of the web, things have gotten pretty fiery, with some damning predictions about a pending “crisis’.