Thomas Brothers ITV War: Exploitation and Blacklist Fears

From to Love Island and , the three Thomas brothers have spent nearly two decades starring on ’s most popular programmes. The Manchester-based trio – twins Adam and Scott, 37, and Ryan, 41 – have become firm favourites in circles over the years.

But the fallout from Adam’s bombshell row on I’m A Celebrity which aired last week has strained the brothers’ once close-knit relationship with ITV. Indeed, I can reveal that relations with the broadcaster appear to be on the rocks after the Thomas brothers hit out at ITV in a scathing podcast episode, while industry insiders tell me there are no plans for Adam to appear on any of the channel’s shows to promote his I’m A Celeb win last Friday.

The trouble started when Adam exploded at campmate Jimmy Bullard in a foul-mouthed rage while they were teamed up in a trial. Jimmy shouted ‘I’m A Celeb’, which means I quit the show, which enraged Adam as it implicated him in the forfeit and he'd have to go too. After the row Adam was allowed to stay after his campmates voted to keep him on the show.

Most shockingly, Jimmy maintains that the worst of the slur splattered rant was edited out by producers.

Just three days after the first row aired, the show’s live final descended into chaos last Friday as former boxer and campmate , 45, confronted Adam about the aggressive exchange. Jimmy, 47, also took aim at Adam, branding his behaviour as ‘abusive, aggressive and intimidating’.

The episode became so heated that co-stars ended up shouting over one another, leading to storm off the stage, claiming she was ‘disgusted and embarrassed’ by the behaviour of her former campmates. Meanwhile, former football manager and participant Harry Redknapp described the finale as a ‘nightmare’.

And now the Thomas brothers have now hit out at ITV on their podcast, At Home With The Thomas Bros, claiming the programme ‘exploited’ Adam.

Scott branded certain ITV reality shows ‘toxic and high risk’, claiming tactical editing was used to negatively represent his brother. Ryan, 41, added: ‘They didn’t show the whole version of Adam’s journey… There’s loads of stuff that didn’t make the edit that, you know, makes Adam accountable for the way he’s reacting.’

Adam, 37, was quick to explain how distressing he had found his time in the jungle, saying: ‘I just felt like I’d just been exploited and I think you can see it at the end of the live show.’

Despite winning with an impressive 51 per cent of public votes, he added: ‘I feel like I sold my soul and you couldn’t pay me £10million to do that experience again. Nothing is worth what I went through in there.’

At one point during the candid podcast chat, Adam broke down in tears, saying: ‘I used to sit down with my kids and watch this show, and now I won’t be able to do that. It will remind me of the experience I went through.’

His protective twin Scott was intent on blaming the broadcaster, insisting: ‘All those campmates were pissed off at ITV. It wasn’t your issue. It is ITV’s issue.

‘In those shows, you get eaten alive, because it is so toxic. This is what is cut-throat about these shows: they are so high-risk. It wasn’t your fault, it was the way ITV played it.’

The brothers’ brutal remarks have certainly provided good exposure for their YouTube channel, which saw a jump from 39,000 to 41,500 followers since the video was published yesterday.

‘It was a clear message,’ says my insider. ‘Adam is furious and he doesn’t want to tell his story anyway near ITV.’

While Adam’s camp mates Sinitta and Scarlett Moffat appeared on several ITV programmes, including Good Morning Britain and Loose Women to discuss the show this week, Adam has kept his distance from the cameras. He was notably absent from the I’m a Celebrity spin off, Unpacked, where stars appear to discuss their time in the jungle.

The I’m A Celeb fallout has prompted a slew of issues for ITV, not least the 1,200 Ofcom complaints the broadcast received. Earlier this week the Daily Mail revealed that ITV currently has no plans for a third series.

ITV was quick to respond to Adam’s fiery remarks on his podcast. A spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘The edit gives a fair and accurate representation of life in camp.

‘The duty of care for our contestants is of the utmost importance to us. We have measures in place to ensure celebrities are supported at every stage of the process. The production team monitors everyone in camp and if at any time we felt someone overstepped the line of acceptable behaviour, then we would intervene.’

One TV insider close to the production added: ‘Despite the drama that unfolded on the show, many of the campmates had a great experience and don’t have an issue with ITV or the way the show was edited’.

While Adam has since described David’s actions in camp as ‘bullying’ and claimed the former boxer left him in an emotionally vulnerable state after ‘getting inside his head’, David is reportedly planning to sue ITV for £10million because of ‘irreparable damage to his brand’ following his feud with Adam.