Strictly’s Adam Thomas opens up about 'good and bad' days of training with arthritis: ‘Every day is a struggle'

Virgin Radio

4 Oct 2023, 12:12

Strictly Come Dancing star Adam Thomas has revealed how he’s managing his rather intense rehearsal regime while also dealing with rheumatoid arthritis. 

The Waterloo Road star announced to fans in August that he’d been diagnosed with the chronic condition, just a few days after he was unveiled as part of the Strictly class of 2023.

Adam admitted at the time that he thought the autoimmune condition was “something people later on in life get” but reassured followers that he’s “on the right plan now.”

For the soap actor, Strictly schedules have proven to be as “intense” as imagined, and while chatting exclusively to virginradio.co.uk, Adam, partnered up with Luba Mushtuk, admitted the road to Strictly glory has been gruelling. 

“It’s been tough,” he explained. “There's been good days and bad days, but we're getting through it.

“Every day is a struggle, especially in the morning, like mornings with my arthritis. It takes a while for me to warm up. Everyone's going through a lot of pain, everyone's going on…a painful journey and everyone's got sores and blisters and aching and I've definitely got mine…I think Luba has got more than me to be honest with you!”

Adam is juggling both Strictly commitments as well as the day job as Donte Charles on Waterloo Road, and confessed that the beloved BBC competition has led to a number of sacrifices. 

“I don't necessarily see the kids," he added. "The wife, I feel like we're passing ships in the night sometimes. I'm up early for work, and then we're training all day. Luba has been amazing. She's been coming to work with me and then any scenes that we've got off, we've just been training in between. But it is a lot, and a lot of travelling as well back and forth. 

“We’ve just got to deal with the cards that we've been dealt and just try and do the best job that we can do. I feel like we are doing that. It is really tough, but you know, we're cracking on!”

Adam and dance partner Luba will hope to keep out of the dreaded dance-off when they take to the ballroom floor again on Saturday (7th October). 

It’s the infamous Movies Week on Strictly, and the pair are taking inspiration from The Super Mario Bros. Movie for their Jive to Take On Me. 

Strictly Come Dancing will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday, 7th October at 6.20pm.