Ex-Emmerdale actor Adam Thomas signs up for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing

THE first star set to sign up for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing is former Emmerdale actor Adam Thomas.

The 33-year-old brother of Coronation Street favourite Ryan Thomas, 37, is agreeing a deal with the BBC for series 20 of the hit dance show — which will air this autumn.

A source said: “Adam has got what it takes to win and is already practising his moves. And he’s got a big female fanbase.”

The actor, who played Adam Barton in the ITV soap, came third on 2016’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

After leaving Emmerdale in 2018, Adam was announced as a host on I’m A Celeb’s spin-off show Extra Camp in 2019.

He also opened a restaurant and bar called The Spinn, in Stockport, in 2019.

Our source added: “This has been a little while in the making but it’s happening this year.”

The signing comes after Strictly bosses also wanted to sign his brother Ryan, who played Corrie’s Jason Grimshaw for 16 years.

Adam has seven-year-old son Teddy and daughter Elsie-Rose, three, with his dance teacher wife Caroline Daly.

Ryan is expecting a second child with ex-Towie star Lucy Mecklenburgh, 30.