Strictly's Adam Thomas 'limping' ahead of live show after sharing health battle
Strictly Come Dancing star Adam Thomas has worried fans ahead of his next live performance in the BBC dance competition after he was pictured appeared to be 'limping in pain' when leaving his hotel.
The 35-year-old actor, known for his roles as Donte Charles in the BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road and Adam Barton in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, has been partnered with pro dancer Luba Mushtuk for this year's Strictly. After signing up for the show, Adam revealed he had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
In snaps, Adam is seen wearing a white long-sleeved polo top and black trousers as he pushed along a suitcase while leaving a hotel. His facial expression appeared to show the star in pain as he was seen limping while making his depature.
Adam, who is the brother of former Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas, who recently signed up for Dancing on Ice, is due to perform the jive during Strictly's Movie Week with him dancing with Luba to Take On Me from The Super Mario Bros. Movie after receiving some good feedback from judges for last week's tango.
The high-energy jive could be a challenge this time around though as the star was photographed limping on Friday, a month or so after Adam revealed that he had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
Strictly's Molly Rainford and Tyler West fuel romance rumours while on tourThe autoimmune and inflammatory disease can cause inflammation (painful swelling) when the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body by mistake.
The soap star has said that his knees and ankles have been among the most affected parts of his body from the arthritis and he revealed the diagnosis in an Instagram post back in August, in which he said: "I’ve been in a lot of pain since January, it started with my knees and then travelled to my wrists, fingers and now ankles and toes. I never knew what was happening and finally after several blood tests and back and forth to doctors and hospitals, I’ve been diagnosed with rheumatoid Arthritis!
"I thought that was something people, later on in there life get… but that’s not the case, clearly! It’s been a tough old year but …Finally I’m on the right plan now! Finally getting it under control. For now! But some days are better than others and am not going to lie, it’s been hard not being able to train properly, it’s has had a huge knock on effect for me personally, but not only that for my family too!!"
Adam spoke to his fans through a video posted on Instagram earlier this week after a day of filming on Waterloo Road. He was at the training studio with Luba when he took the moment to say: "I was in work together and I was like, 'Luba, can you send me the dance of what were going to be doing on Saturday?'
"She sent it to me and I cried! Baring in mind, I've only got a day to learn it because I'm working all week. And everyone's like, 'Just enjoy the process Adam! Enjoy it!'" The actor then burst into laughter at the thought of the hill he needs to climb before Saturday's live show.