Emmerdale legend Adam Thomas has teased a return to the ITV soap in the wake of on-screen half-brother Matty’s (Ash Palmisciano) stabbing ordeal.

Adam, 35, played alter-ego Adam Barton in the Dales serial for nine years between 2009 and 2018 and recently reprised his role as Donte Charles in BBC One continuing drama Waterloo Road.

This week he teamed up with coffee brand Emmi CAFFÈ LATTE to become their ‘Head Daymaker’, spreading joy on the streets of London to commuters who might need an extra burst of happiness to help them with their day.

As the happiest man in showbiz, Adam was the perfect candidate to get involved and exclusively told Metro.co.uk what he was up to: ‘We were putting a smile on people’s faces, celebrating those small wins in life’ he said.

‘We were out there cheering people on because the morning marathon can sometimes be a bit of a struggle, so we wanted to bring a bit of joy to people’s lives and put a smile on their faces, to ensure they had the best day possible.’

Counting himself as one of the 26% of Brits that struggle to crack a smile in the morning, Adam told us that a recent big win for himself and older brother Ryan, better known to soap fans as Corrie’s Jason Grimshaw, was cause for a ‘much deserved pat on the back’.

‘I just got my own gameshow with my brother’ he told us.

‘I’m very excited to film that very soon. It’s called 99 to Beat for ITV. I’m so excited and it’s been a long time coming. I’m so glad that the news is out there, it’s just a dream come true.’

‘Little wins for me are just making my kids happy. That’s the main thing and my mission in life, making sure they’re happy and putting a smile on their faces.’

The lads, alongside their reality TV star brother Scott, starred in their own travel series called Mancs in Mumbai in 2020. It saw them travel to the Indian city with their dad to find out more about their heritage. Their grandfather emigrated to the UK from South Asia in 1947.

‘Being able to do something like that with my brothers again would be the icing on the cake’ Adam explained. ‘It was odd to count it as a job really, because it was the best experience of our lives.’

Having filmed a new series of Waterloo Road which is due to hit our screens later this year, Adam spoke of the role as ‘the gift that keeps on giving’, after first appearing as troubled schoolboy Donte in the show’s first series in 2006.

Now grown up and supporting his own family, Donte works as the academy’s caretaker – and has had his head turned by canteen worker Nicky Walters (Kym Marsh).

‘I can’t give too much away but there’s a lot happening and the fans of Waterloo Road are going to be loving the new series very soon. We all love a bit of drama don’t we?’ he teased.

After six years away from Emmerdale, the question on every fan’s lips is whether he’d ever consider a return to the quaint Yorkshire village – but it sounds like he may have a bit of catching up to do on the family affairs first.

‘I can’t remember where he went to. I think he went to France? He was on the run’ he said.

He’s right – fictional Adam did a moonlight flit after confessing to the murder of Emma Barton (Gillian Kearney), in a bid to save his mum Moira (Natalie J. Robb) from a lengthy stretch at Her Majesty’s Pleasure.

‘It was such a big part of my life and being able to work with some of my close friends who I’m still in touch with today, that was such a fun job.

‘I’m lucky that I get to do this for a living. I’d like to go back one day, it’ll always hold a special place in my heart.’

‘I was a kid when I joined so I had some amazing memories there and I’d love to go back one day. I think my mum and my family are still in it and they’ve left the door open for me… you never know’ he continued.

Completely unaware that Matty Barton had been locked up for accidentally stabbing Samson Dingle (Sam Hall) in a horrific transphobic attack, Adam chimed: ‘Is he in prison?! No!’

‘I think I need to get back to Emmerdale.’