Actor Adam Thomas has revealed he has been diagnosed with a long-term health condition just days after being announced as the eighth celebrity contestant who will compete in the forthcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing. Sharing a post to Instagram on Friday (11 August) to celebrate his 35 birthday, the Waterloo Road actor told his followers that he has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. “As much as I act like a kid, my body is telling another story…” he wrote. “I’ve been in a lot of pain since January,” he continued. “It started with my knees and then travelled to my wrists, fingers and now ankles and toes.” Thomas explained: “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!” The actor, who is best known for playing Donte Charles in BBC school-based drama, said that he originally thought arthritis was something that people are diagnosed with “later on in life”. Last week, Thomas was announced as the eighth celebrity contestant to appear on Strictly Come Dancing, but has said that he is “up for the challenge”. “The reason I signed up to Strictly is because I just want to be able to move again, get fit and do it, all with a smile on my face!” he wrote. “It really couldn’t have come at a better time I’m a firm believer of everything happening for a reason, and I know the journey I’ve been on was meant to happen, to never take small things in life for granted! …Like going for a run, playing with my kids and just being able to walk with no pain!” “I know it’s going to be tough and I’ve definitely got my work cut out but am up for the challenge and can not wait to get on that dance floor!!” Thomas, who marked his birthday by sharing a picture with his wife, Caroline Daly and their two children, told his followers to “stay positive” and “get the right help where and when you can”. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease and long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. The condition usually affects the hands, feet and wrists and can cause flare-up periods, where symptoms become worse for a period of time. According to the NHS, the condition often stars when a person is between 30 and 50 years old, and women are more likely to be affected than men. Thomas played Adam Barton in ITV soap Emmerdale and also appeared in I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here in 2016, and went on to co-host the spin-off I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp. Speaking in a statement ahead of his Strictly debut, Thomas said he has been a fan of the dance competition “for years”. “I can’t believe I’m actually doing it!” he said. “I can’t dance to save my life but I’m buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dance floor... I can’t wait!" Former Strictly contestants have been sharing their words of encouragement for Thomas as he embarks on the challenging training schedule. “You’re so strong and with your family behind you, you can conquer anything. Can’t wait to see you smash it on Strictly ,” wrote singer and presenter Fleur East, who competed in last year’s competition. TV presenter Angela Scanlon, who will be competing alongside Thomas this year, wrote: “You’ve got this.” Find the full Strictly Come Dancing 2023 lineup here. Read More Husband ‘ruins’ dinner because of his wife’s typo: ‘The worst kind of control freak’ Fan who went into labour at Pink concert names newborn son after her From Angela Scanlon to Zara McDermott: The fashion of this year’s Strictly contestants Linda Evangelista opens up about co-parenting with son’s stepmother Salma Hayek Katharine McPhee reveals she and David Foster suffered a ‘family tragedy’

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Linda Evangelista has made a rare comment about co-parenting with her son Augustin’s stepmother, Salma Hayek. The 58-year-old model spoke candidly about her relationship with her ex, François-Henri Pinault, and his wife, Hayek, during a recent interview with Vogue while appearing on the cover of the magazine’s September issue. She revealed that, during the holidays, her 16-year-old son is usually with his father and stepmother, who share a 15-year-old daughter, Valentina. However, according to Evangelista, there was one holiday celebration where she hadn’t felt well, so Hayek stepped in to take care of her. “I was sick at Thanksgiving,” she explained. “And Salma got on the plane with her daughter, came here, and made Thanksgiving dinner. She asked what I wanted - it was a very eclectic wish list.” She continued: “I wanted her Mexican chicken with truffled potatoes. And she spent the day in the kitchen and cooked it herself. No help. The kids helped her at the end.” She went on to praise Hayek for quickly coming to her aid immediately after she’d said that she was sick. “She made a feast - a beautiful, beautiful meal. I had told her that I wasn’t going to have Thanksgiving; I wasn’t feeling well. And she said: ‘Oh yes you are: I am coming.’ And poof, she was here,’” the model added. In 2011, Evangelista filed court papers to seek child support from Pinault, with the document revealing that he was the father of her son. While the pair had dated for three to four months in 2006, Pinault said that he’d only spent about seven days total with the model. They settled the child support case in 2012. It appears that Evangelista’s son and Hayek have gotten close over the years. In 2021, Hayek took to Instagram to share a rare snap of her and Augustin on a boat during what appeared to be a family vacation. Augustin also made his red carpet debut in April, alongside Hayek and Valentina, as they attended the Time 100 Gala together. Elsewhere in her interview with Vogue, Evangelista opened up about raising her son while in the spotlight. She recalled how, during the early days of her career, Madison Square Garden would call and offer her courtside seats to Knicks games, which she’d go to with her son. However, according to Evangelista, now that those calls have “stopped,” she and her son buy the tickets themselves. “Out of sight, out of mind. Now we buy our tickets and we sit with the fans in nosebleed - we’re fine with that. I wanted to have a very normal upbringing for my child,” she said. Evangelista also said that her son has questioned the benefits of fame, as he’s asked: “Do you think if they recognised you we would have to be standing in this line?” However, she said that she doesn’t hesitate to counter the question, before explaining that she doesn’t want her child to grow up being “entitled”. “What’s wrong with standing in this line? I stand in lines,” she said. “We went to Chanel a couple of weeks ago to get a present and we waited half an hour to get in. He said: ‘Isn’t there someone you could call?’ I do not want an entitled child.” Read More Salma Hayek admits fears over Black Mirror role: ‘Do I really want to do this? Am I going to get in trouble?’ Salma Hayek opens up about embracing her ‘whites hairs and wrinkles’ as she shares new selfie ‘I’m here anyway, why not?’: My non-surgical facelift has got me thinking about more procedures Katharine McPhee reveals she and David Foster suffered a ‘family tragedy’ Gemma Atkinson slams trolls who called her ‘fat’ just three weeks after giving birth Mother diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, anorexia and incurable cancer

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