This isn’t the first time one of the Thomas brothers has been caught up in a reality TV show row, with Adam’s eldest brother Ryan getting caught up in controversy in 2018.
19:30, 22 Apr 2026Updated 19:30, 22 Apr 2026
Adam Thomas isn’t the first of his brothers to get into reality TV trouble
I’m a Celebrity star Adam Thomas has really been through the wringer lately, getting into rows with two of his fellow campmates. First with ex-boxer Daye Haye, who accused him of being lazy, and then with former footballer Jimmy Bullard, which resulted in the latter leaving the show.
However, he’s not the first member of his family to be caught up in reality TV controversy.
Back in 2018, his older brother Ryan Thomas found himself at the centre of one of the most talked-about moments in Celebrity Big Brother history, a row that quickly became known as “punchgate”.
Ryan, 41, who had joined the Channel 5 series as a favourite to win, was involved in an incident with fellow housemate Roxanne Pallett during what appeared to be a light-hearted moment in the bedroom.
Adam has got into rows with two of his campmates(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
Footage showed Ryan playfully shadow-boxing, lightly tapping Roxanne’s side. However, things escalated dramatically when former Emmerdale actress Roxanne later accused him of deliberately punching her.
She told Big Brother in the Diary Room she felt “hurt” and “scared”, repeatedly describing the moment as a “punch”, which led to Ryan being formally warned by producers. She broke down in the Diary Room, saying, “This is why women don’t say anything, because it’s turned around.”
Ryan Thomas was accused of ‘punching’ Roxanne Pallett when they appeared on CBB back in 2018
The accusation had a visible impact on Ryan, who broke down in tears as he tried to defend himself, insisting there was no malicious intent behind his actions.
Initially, viewers were divided, but everything changed when the footage was fully aired. Once clips of the incident were shown in full, fans rallied behind Ryan and accusing Roxanne of purposefully trying to paint him as abusive when it wasn’t the case.
Ryan only learned that he was seen as innocent on eviction night, when the live audience erupted into chants of “Get Roxanne out!”
Ryan ended up winning Celebrity Big Brother(Image: Empics Entertainment)
Roxanne sobbed in the CBB diary room(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
When Roxanne herself left, she gave a tense interview with Big Brother host Emma Willis, admitting she had made a “terrible mistake” and lamenting: “I’m the most hated girl in Britain.”
She later admitted her allegations were “massively wrong” and stayed away from social media for a while, with Ofcom having received 25,327 complaints after her worrying claim.
Ryan went on to win the series, with many viewers praising the way he handled the ordeal under intense scrutiny. Years later, he said: “It’s so weird to say this but I actually feel sorry for her because when you’re in a show like that, and everything’s highlighted and it’s public.
Roxanne issued an apology saying she had got it wrong(Image: mirror.co.uk)
“It can be quite a lonely place and it can be quite a scary place when you put in that situation, so, we move on.”
Unlike Adam and Ryan, who found fame starring in soaps, their brother Scott shot to fame when he appeared on Love Island in 2016. He finished in third place with his then girlfriend, Kady McDermott, but the couple split just months later.
Deciding to have another crack at reality TV, Scott went on Love Island: All Stars 2025 and ended up becoming mixed up in one of the series biggest rows.
Following several clashes with fellow Islander Luca Bish, things came to ahead when Scott said he wanted to ask Luca’s partner, Grace Jackson, a question during a game of truth or dare. The two ended up in a heated argument and having to be held apart.
Scott went back into the Love Island villa but things didn’t go to plan
Then, Luca was dared to kiss the person he thought was only in the villa for fame. He laid a smacker on Scott’s cheek, saying: “I think he wants to get far in here and that’s why you’re with Tina and you’re not feeling it.”
Naturally, things got very emotional and Scott ended up quitting the Love Island villa, insisting he left because he hadn’t found a romantic connection with anyone.
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