Adam Thomas has reduced his celebrity pals and legion of fans to tears as he shared an emotional video of his son discovering he had landed a role on Waterloo Road. The Manchester actor has recently been seen back on screen as he reprised the role of Donte Charles in the rebooted school drama.
Fans were delighted in 2021 when the BBC announced it would be reviving the show and just days into the new year, Waterloo Road returned to screens for the first time in almost eight years after it was axed. The show, which ran from 2006 to 2015, was first filmed at Hill Top Primary School in Rochdale before relocating to Scotland. And the reboot has seen the team return to Greater Manchester.
Previously speaking about his return to the show, Adam, who is the twin brother of 2016 Love Island contestant Scott Thomas and the younger brother of former Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas, said he felt 'very lucky' to be back playing former bad boy turned doting dad and husband, Donte.
And it's a family affair as not only is Adam's actual son, Teddy, playing his on-screen son, the former Emmerdale star's niece, Scarlett Thomas, is also playing his on-screen daughter. However, Teddy, who Adam shares with wife Caroline, wasn't originally cast in the role of Tommy.
"Originally Teddy didn't get the part," he admitted to the Manchester Evening News, "I think he got down to the last two and then they gave the part to someone else. But unfortunately that kid couldn't do it, so they called me up to the office and I thought 'oh god what have I done, I'm in trouble already', then they said 'we're thinking about giving the part to Teddy now, do you think he'd take it', and I said 'of course yeah'."
Ahead of the second episode of Waterloo Road airing on BBC One, Adam took to Instagram to share the moment he was able to tell Teddy he had got the role after all. Seen in their kitchen, Adam could be heard explaining to Teddy that Waterloo Road had recast the role and that they wanted to offer it to him.
The youngster was clearly gobsmacked as cousin Scarlett, who is the daughter of Adam's brother Ryan and Corrie star Tina O'Brien, then revealed: "Welcome to the Waterloo Road family!" Adam, Scarlett and Caroline then cheered and clapped as Teddy burst into tears.
Their cheers turned into a chorus of awws before Scarlett pulled Teddy into a hug and Caroline grabbed her son's hands and asked: "Are those happy tears?" He nodded before his dad shouted: "You're going to be in Waterloo Road!" and Caroline added: "Scarlett's going to be your sister and daddy's going to be your dad," as she wiped Teddy's tears.
And it appears Adam's twin Scott was filming the special moment as at the end he made everyone laugh by asking: "What about me?" Alongside the clip, Adam, 34, penned a lengthy caption, which started: "The moment we told Teddy… he would be joining the cast of WATERLOO ROAD!!"
He explained: "Teddy auditioned for the role of Tommy and got down to the last two actors, but they went with the other actor and I remember telling Ted, and he burst out crying bless him… But that’s an actors life…some parts you get, some you don’t …a lesson he learnt early in his career.
"However a few weeks later I got a call saying they have had to recast the part of Tommy, and would love to give it to teddy!!! … this time round they were happy tears!! Can’t tell you how special it’s been sharing the screen with not only teddy but with @scarlettjthomas26 who is quite frankly one of the best actresses I’ve ever worked with."
He then rounded off his tear-jerking post: "Well done guys proud dad and uncle and thank you for all the lovely messages and so happy you're all enjoying Waterloo road x."
Former Corrie star Sasha Parkinson was among the first to reply, writing alongside a string of crying emojis: "So proud of you all. What a family. ICONIC." Former Emmerdale star and theatre star Chelsea Halfpenny commented: "Oh my god I can’t cope." Corrie and I'm A Celebrity star Sue Cleaver also replied: "Well that made me cry."
And Sue wasn't the only one. @kelbelb said: "Omg his little face made me cry what an amazing little boy and the way Scarlett is with him what a special bond they have." @dayswithalfie__ commented: "Wow this is so so beautiful. The way Scarlett comforts Ted then starts crying herself so so beautiful. What a lovely family you have... Well deserved by all xx."
@x_tracey24_x_ replied: "Omg im crying , go Teddy!" @allthingswaterlooroad posted: "Awh bless him! I’m crying just watching this!" @katejrobson added: "Wow! This is very emotional to watch! What a superstar- and how wonderful is Scarlet giving him hugs and kisses! Just wonderful."
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