WITH their trademark laugh, huge smiles and lad ‘banter’, the Thomas brothers appear to have the perfect sibling relationship.
But as Adam Thomas heads back into the jungle for I’m A Celebrity All Stars, sources have told us there’s a secret sibling rivalry behind his return to the show that risks ruining their brand forever.
Adam Thomas is taking part in I’m A Celeb All Stars in a bid for the top spot[/caption]
Insiders have told of a sibling rivalry between the three brothers[/caption]
Despite their huge popularity on social media as a trio – where Adam, his twin Scott, and former Coronation Street star Ryan, 41, regularly film skits and pranks with each other and their families – pals say they’re “fiercely competitive” behind the scenes, each one desperate to be the bigger star.
And with Adam, 37, who finished third in the 2016 series, securing a mega bucks deal to head to South Africa for the ITV show, friction between the lads – who all have a history of financial problems – is growing.
Our insider told us: “The brothers are fiercely competitive and extremely determined to succeed.
“They haven’t always seen eye to eye about things, especially when it comes to their careers and even though they all work together, there is still always that sibling drive to one up each other. Underneath all the laughter and their big personalities there is some real tension between them all – three little boys who are still desperate to be the top dog.”
The lads didn’t have the most smoothsailing upbringing -their father, singer Doug James, walked out on them when the twins were just five – and subsequently all three have been determined to do whatever it takes to provide for their families.
For Adam, who has two children, Teddy and Elsie Rose with wife Caroline, securing one of the hottest gigs in television couldn’t have come at a better time. As The Sun reported this week, he’s reeling after accounts showed his hot sauce company, Oh My Glaze, is thousands of pounds in the red.
‘Ryan rules the nest’
But despite the relief of getting a decent paycheck, his new job is likely to irk his brothers, especially Ryan, who has long seen himself as the gatekeeper of their success.
Indeed Adam himself credited Corrie star Ryan, 41, with his own rise to fame, which began when he landed the role of Donte Charles on BBC’s Waterloo Road in 2006. He later went on to star in Emmerdale for nine years.
Earlier this year, Adam said: “Ryan paid for my drama lessons and put the clothes on my back.
“We wouldn’t be where we are, or who we are today, without him. Ryan is always over our shoulder.”
Love Island alum Scott, meanwhile, revealed that as children growing up, they were each given a nickname. While Scott ended up with the charming moniker ‘P**s Boy’ and Adam was labelled ‘Tubs’, Ryan was dubbed ‘The Godfather’ and took it upon himself to be the leader of the pack after their dad left.
“I got really famous really fast and I brought the whole family along with me,” Ryan recalled after landing the role of Jason Grimshaw in Corrie in 2000.
“I used to take Scott and Adam out all the time, even when they were probably too young to be clubbing. All I wanted was to be someone they could look up to and lean on – and that feeling has never stopped.”
The insider added: “It’s no secret they haven’t had the easiest of childhoods and with Ryan taking on a father figure role, he has steered them all to success.”
Money woes and cancelled shows
However, said success has been blighted by a series of financial disasters, which is another reason our mole believes the boys are so desperate to make as much money as possible.
Not only was Ryan declared bankrupt with tax debts in 2013, Adam and Scott lost £205,000 from the collapse of their food firm F4 Thoughts in 2024. Adam’s restaurant business, Gately Bar & Grill went into liquidation in 2023, which saw his food venture The Spinn shut down, and then there was the recent Oh My Glaze debacle.
The boys set up the media firm Thomas Brothers Entertainment in May and are currently running nine other businesses between them in a bid to keep the cash rolling in.
The brothers had a difficult upbringing – without their dad in it and Ryan took the reins[/caption]
Teddy and Scarlett are following in their footsteps and are already stars[/caption]
Adam opened up a restaurant – The Spinn – but was forced to close it[/caption]
But it’s not just their business ventures that aren’t always successful. Earlier this year Adam and Ryan launched a new gameshow – 99 to Beat – to much fanfare, but after just one series it was axed.
Adam lamented: “When I am positive about something, it gets cancelled. Honestly, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.
“Like I did (I’m a Celebrity spin off) Extra Camp presenting, did one series of that, got cancelled.
“The next presenting job I did was with Ryan, 99 To Beat, and that’s got cancelled.”
It’s clear they’re all fiercely ambitious and are now hoping their showbiz success filters down to the next generation of Thomas kids.
Ryan’s 16 year old daughter Scarlett, his only child with actress ex Tina O’Brien, is already expected to make millions as an actress and social media star and his fiancee, Lucy Mecklenburgh, mother to his two youngest kids, Roman and Lilah, herself found fame on TOWIE.
Meanwhile, Adam’s son Teddy, 11, is already proving to be a breakout star on the Thomas Brothers’ TikTok channel and has starred on Waterloo Road.
Ryan and Adam’s new show 99 To Beat was cancelled after just one series[/caption]
Adam – who went on I’m A Celeb in 2016 – also presented the spin off show for a series[/caption]
The boys have now worked on a number of projects toghether[/caption]
Our source confirmed: “You just have to see Scarlett and Teddy on camera to realise how much the brothers have influenced their drive.”
While as a trio the siblings are strong, their individual showbiz careers have often been a sticking point.
Scott has admitted that Adam and Ryan were ‘cautious’ about him entering Love Island in 2016, with him even seeking their permission to sign up for the show.
He said: “ My brothers are like my best mates and obviously they were a little bit cautious.
“They want to be taken seriously as actors. They don’t want the Scotty Special ballooning on reality TV.”
Ryan has also openly admitted to wanting to ‘beat’ his brothers when it came to various competition shows. Adam took part in Strictly in 2023, leaving in week seven. Ryan did Dancing on Ice last year and won.
He said: “I have to do better than both my brothers on any show that they do.”
Now the boys live close to each other in the North West of England, Scott in Manchester and Ryan and Adam in Cheshire, but the sense of sibling rivalry has never gone away. Even from a young age Ryan admitted to being jealous of the twins, but insists it just made him all the more ambitious.
He said.“When these beautiful, curly haired twins came along, all that focus was taken away from me.
“I actually think that’s where all my ambition for performing originates. ‘Look at me, everyone! Please!’ It’s probably the same for my brothers – we were all competing for the spotlight.”
And as Adam gets his second shot at the jungle, will he finally claim top spot? Or will it ignite another popularity contest? Time will tell…
Scott appeared on Love Island – and isn’t an actor like his brothers[/caption]
Adam is best known for playing Adam Barton on Emmerdale[/caption]
Who are the Thomas Brothers?
The three Thomas brothers – Ryan, Adam and Scott have become recognisable faces to TV viewers through their appearances on different shows. Let’s take a look at the trio’s individual journeys.
- Ryan Thomas: The eldest of the brothers, Ryan is perhaps best known for playing Jason Grimshaw in Coronation Street from 2000 to 2016. He has also ventured into reality TV, winning Celebrity Big Brother in 2018 and Dancing On Ice in 2023. Before retiring from acting, Ryan also had a guest role in Australian soap Neighbours in 2018.
- He is engaged to Lucy Mecklenburgh, with the couple having met while taking part in Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls.
- Adam Thomas: Also an actor, Adam is known for playing Donte Charles in Waterloo Road (2006-2009, 2023-present) for the BBC, as well as Adam Barton in Emmerdale from 2009 to 2018.
- Adam has participated in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here (finishing third) and Strictly Come Dancing (finishing ninth). After his I’m A Celebrity stint, Adam later hosted spin-off show Extra Camp for one series in 2019, alongside former campmate Joel Dommett and actress Emily Atack.
- Scott Thomas: Twin brother to Adam, the third Thomas brother, Scott, competed in series two of Love Island in 2016. He eventually coupled up with Kady McDermott, with the pair going on to finish third overall.
- He set up food and business Food4Thoughts during lockdown, with twin Adam putting £100k of his own cash into it. Unfortunately, the business ultimately went bust after it racked up debts of £366,143.
