Adam Thomas had to get used to hammocks and camp beds while on I'm A Celebrity South Africa, but his real home is far more luxurious. And it's one in which he can now fully relax in royal style, after being crowned King of the Jungle in a chaotic live final.
A Mansion Fit for a King
The Waterloo Road star had a tough time in the Bush, locking horns with Jimmy Bullard and struggling to get along with former boxer David Haye – and despite the bulk of the show being filmed last year, these spats still dominated the last episode. It would be understandable for anyone to have felt homesick in that environment, but Adam might have more reason than most. From a bright orangery to a polished kitchen, his Cheshire mansion is where he lives with wife, Caroline Daly, and their two children.
How They Found Their Dream Home
The pair purchased it in 2017 after scrolling through houses on Rightmove idly one evening, not even planning to move. 'Does anyone else go on Rightmove, flicking through houses you can't afford … thinking one day!!' he wrote on social media at the time. 'Well that's what me and @carolinethomas23 do but one day we decided to go and view one, with no intentions of actually buying it haha but we fell in love!!!!'
Caroline runs an Instagram account documenting the renovations to their dream property, with plenty of big open spaces that contrast nicely with cosy candlelit corners. Over the years, they've slowly transformed the home, with Adam previously showing off his driveway-laying skills online.
Luxury Features Galore
Some luxury features include his and hers sinks, floor-to-ceiling bay windows, twin Juliet balconies, and even a piano. Two years ago, Caroline showed off a cosy cinema room, with a U-shaped cream sofa (complete with olive green cushions) surrounding a drop-down projector screen. Even the lobby is grand with a black and white chess board style flooring, below a huge gold chandelier, which was later relocated to another room. The drama doesn't stop there, with a massive fountain taking up the centre of the garden, on a path leading to the orangery.
Throughout most of the home the decor is minimalist with white, cream, brown and beige as the chosen colour palette, projecting quiet luxury. They also have, as any celebrity home should, a private gym complete with his and hers exercise machines facing a sign that reads 'and they ran happily ever after'.
Family Life and Renovations
In an Instagram post in 2021, Caroline wrote: 'Adam, Teddy, Bella and I have lived in our house since 22nd April 2017, we moved in the day before my birthday, in the middle of planning our wedding! We got married in August 2017, then weeks later found out we were pregnant with Elsie-Rose. 2017 was a chaotic year. It's only now we're really starting to finish our home and make it perfect for us, and after living here for 4 years I'm finding my (OUR sorry adam?) taste has already changed. We are wanting to freshen up each room and thought you might like to come along on our home journey. Please don't expect 'Instagram' home perfection, we have washing, mess and kids toys all over, our home isn't perfect but it is perfect to us!'
The couple tied the knot on August 27, 2017, two years after he proposed in Dubai, with his Emmerdale pals amongst the guests. Adam previously told OK!: 'Nothing will ever change between us, we know that we are going to be together forever now, so it does feel more special.'
Behind the Scenes Drama
The TV star's journey to the top was far from smooth, and he found himself embroiled in more than one scandal – most notably entering an explosive row with Jimmy Bullard when he almost lost Adam's place in the jungle. Elsewhere, however, he also struggled with co-star David Haye, who viewers branded a bully for the way he spoke to Adam during the show. In one incident, the heavyweight boxer called guys like him 'useless'.
Speaking on his podcast, At Home With The Thomas Bro's, he shared that the 'hardest bit to navigate' is his switching personality. 'Even after the camp, he told me, "You're the nicest guy I've ever met, and I just wanted to break you." It's cool; he apologised. I moved on. We've had voice messages back and forth; we've just been bantering, having a laugh, and I've just put it all to bed.'
However, he claimed that for stars like David, the show is just a bit of 'entertainment and fun' for them, whereas for himself, he said he's 'not here for anyone else's agenda' but his own, just to 'have, you know, a laugh and enjoy this experience' and he simply wanted to have fun. 'That's the most disturbing bit for me, when I look at David,' he said, pointing to a message he received from him. He continued: 'Even after the show and everything he did, he sent me a voicenote and was like, "Oh mate, what a great show that was. I'm so happy you won, congratulations." I just sent him a message back saying, "Listen, I think this is where I draw the line now. I hope you find happiness, bro, but I'm done now."'
Adam is far from the only contestant making clear their displeasure at how events unfolded. Jimmy is said to be pursuing legal action against ITV, according to sources, having characterised how he was spoken to by Adam in the jungle as 'abusive, aggressive, and intimidating'. Meanwhile, David is also reportedly gearing up to 'sue ITV for £10,000,000 after the channel irreparably damaged his brand'.
