Ex-Strictly star Adam Thomas bravely opened up about his debilitating battle with arthritis on This Morning.
Speaking with hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, ITV audiences were taken aback as Adam described the intensity of his pain, which at times required his wife’s assistance for him to get dressed.
Dr Zoe Williams acknowledged Adam’s decision to stop medication, emphasising: “With any illness like this, lifestyle first. If people can get themselves better and manage their illness with a lifestyle approach, fantastic.”
As part of his self-management, Adam took up an all-meat diet, which Dr Zoe commented is not advisable for the long-run due to potential nutrient shortfalls.
Even though the former Emmerdale actor’s intensive dietary swap isn’t typically endorsed for extended periods due to risks of nutritional deficits, Dr Zoe admitted that for someone like Adam, who was once dependent on his wife to dress him because of agonising pain and now enjoys gym sessions and freedom of movement thanks to diet, it’d be hard to persuade him to quit.
Adam interrupted, reaffirming his reliance on his wife to deal with pain, during Dr Zoe’s insights. He also divulged how the condition affected his stint on Strictly Come Dancing, reports the Mirror.
Adam took to the dance floor in 2023 with professional dancer Luba Mushtuk, making it through to week seven before bowing out of the BBC spectacle. Reflecting on that period, he confided to the presenters: “I got the diagnosis literally just before I did Strictly. I signed up to do Strictly way before any of this.”
Strictly star Adam Thomas’ wife had to help him get dressed as he details health battle
(Image: ITV)
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The actor opened up about his health struggles, admitting: “So, I just thought the pain would go away, and it didn’t. Doing Strictly, it was very challenging.”
He couldn’t help but laugh when Ben made a light-hearted comment about his dancing skills.
He responded with humour: “You had to go there, didn’t you? ! But, you look back at some of the dances and I don’t do any lifts or any swirls or anything like that. I couldn’t lift her up. But, even after the diagnosis it’s finding the right medication that works for you and every body is different.”
When probed by Ben about potential familial ties to the condition, Adam disclosed that despite the hereditary nature of his ailment, it struck him unexpectedly.
The actor revealed he’s come off of his medication and is doing the carnivore diet
(Image: ITV)
He expressed his concerns: “That’s what worries me the most. My kids might possibly get this one day. So I’m doing everything and anything I can do now to try and find a blueprint, so if it does happen, then I can pass that information on.”
Detailing his treatment, Adam mentioned he participated in a short stint of chemotherapy, which led to nausea and constant fatigue as side effects.
Adam candidly told Ben and Cat about discontinuing his medication and opting for the carnivore diet, an adjustment he credited for his recent improvement, noting the positive changes just before Christmas.
He finished on a positive note: “It’s been a long journey, but I’m starting to see light at the end of the tunnel now, which is good.”