Soap star brothers Ryan and Adam Thomas launch a brand-new project this weekend as they team up to present new ITV gameshow 99 to Beat.
The fun-loving siblings are on hand to oversee the zany competition, billed by ITV as an “extraordinary game where there is really only one rule – Don’t Come Last”.
99 to Beat kicks off with 100 contestants going head-to-head in a series of hilarious and visually distinctive games.
After each round, the number of players is whittled down until the last one standing wins £25,000.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Ryan and Adam for an exclusive chat about the eight-part gameshow and all things soap, just as Ryan is due to make a return to Coronation Street as his much-loved character Jason Grimshaw.
Hi both – how did your involvement in 99 to Beat come about?
Adam: “Me and my brother have always wanted to work together. We just thought it would be acting together, rather than presenting! We never saw this one coming.
“ITV got in touch and they invited us down to the studio, where they pitched the idea to us. We did a little bit of a demo day with a few of the games. Before we knew it, we got the phone call saying that they’d like us to host it.
“We were over the moon – not only to work together, but also to be able to do something that was brand new. The fact that ITV were trusting us on such a big project like this, it was one of those ‘pinch myself’ moments for both of us. I can’t wait for people to see it on Saturday night.”
How would you describe the show to people?
Adam: “It’s one of the most bonkers shows that we’ve ever seen! A lot of people are comparing it to Squid Game. Obviously no-one dies in it, thank God! (Laughs.)
“It’s just a great, ‘family fun’ game show. I don’t think there has been anything out there like this. I do feel like it’s a perfect game show, because not only can families watch it at home together, they can also play along at home with the show as well.”
Ryan: “It’s a TV show that will come to life on socials too. We live in a world now where that’s a big part for the new generation. People are watching challenges like this on YouTube.
“It’s just great that we get to see it now come to life on ITV. I think they’ve tapped into something that a lot of kids are watching.”
Adam: “Yeah, I feel like they’ve taken stuff from TikTok and YouTube. For kids nowadays, that’s all they ever watch – people playing games and challenges on there. They’ve now put that together and created one big TV show.
“I sat down and watched it with my kids. Not only did we as adults enjoy it, but the kids enjoyed it as well. It’s genuinely a show for everyone.”
The contestants are a diverse group, aren’t they?
Ryan: “Yeah, your grandmas and granddads can play this game, or much younger. There’s not any show that does that.”
Adam: “I think the oldest contestant was in his 70s! The age range was from 18 upwards. It doesn’t matter what you’re necessarily good at. You just don’t know what games are going to be coming next.
“Then also, to throw a spanner in the works, you’ve also got a team game as well. So that throws in a different dynamic to the show completely.”
Does it get competitive?
Ryan: “Yeah, the competitiveness definitely starts to creep in. Money’s at stake. It’s all building – and the drama comes with it!
“It’s just as random, silly, bonkers and wacky as you want. But with that comes tension and drama too. I think that’s what’s great about it.”
Adam: “Although the games are pretty simple, there is £25,000 at stake here. Everyone wants to win it. At the start, everyone’s all happy and really excited about being part of 99 to Beat.
“But you’ll soon realise, as the episodes go on, that it definitely changes. The people that were supporting each other at the beginning of the show, won’t necessarily support each other as they’re getting closer and closer to £25,000!”
Did you get attached to the contestants?
Adam: “Yeah, you go on a journey with these contestants. Everyone’s going to have their favourites in the 100. You’ll be cheering them on throughout and wanting them to do really well. Me and Ryan had our favourites. But then they might leave halfway through the show and then you’ll find someone else that you’re rooting for.”
Are there any games you’re particularly looking forward to the viewers seeing?
Ryan: “There’s a competition where they have to put a frozen t-shirt on! (Laughs.)”
Adam: “When the voice of God came on and explained what the games were, we were just as baffled as the contestants were. We just didn’t think it could get any more bizarre – and it does, in each episode. Each episode gets better and better.”
The format is already a hit in multiple countries. Did you watch any of the international versions?
Adam: “We watched a little bit of the German version. Obviously, they do it a little bit different to us.”
Ryan: “I’m biased, but I feel like we’ve made the best version of it! The edit is really good. The music, the tension, the drama. We’re really proud of it and so are the team. If you’re not hooked by the first episode, then I’ll be very surprised.”
How has it been to work together?
Ryan: It’s been a nightmare! (Laughs.) No, it’s been great. It’s been easy. For a lot of people who do these jobs, they have to find the dynamic and the chemistry. We’ve short-cut that bit because we’ve come from the same womb! We’ve grown up together. We know each other.”
Adam: It’s honestly the dream job for us because this game just represents what me and Ryan are about. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We love having a laugh. When we first heard it, we were like: ‘This show was made for us’.
“Obviously we’ve never really presented before. We’re a little bit out of our comfort zone. But it was a great, great show to be a part of and we’re just excited now for people to see it.”
Ryan, it’s been announced that you’re going back to Coronation Street as Jason Grimshaw. Was that something you were looking to do, or is it purely because your on-screen mum Sue Cleaver (Eileen) is leaving?
Ryan: “It’s nostalgia, it’s the reason I am where I am today. I’m very, very blessed and very lucky to be given the opportunity to go back.
“But it was Sue Cleaver that gave me the phone call and asked whether I’d come back for her exit storyline. I was like: ‘When mother says you’ve got to go back, you’ve got to go back!’
“I’m excited to see everyone. It’s not actually the job I’ve missed – it’s the people. It’s nice to revisit that amazing time of my life with Sue and the Grimshaws.”
You also appeared on Neighbours for a two-month stint in 2018. Were you sad when the news broke recently that the show is ending?
Ryan: “I saw the news for the first time on Stefan Dennis’s post. I didn’t realise until I’d seen that. The show has come back and now it’s going again. These shows are an institution – they’re iconic. No-one wants to see that sort of show disappear. They’re a part of our lives.
“It’s such a shame. When you’re in the show as well, it’s even more beautiful. The people are amazing. The crews are amazing. It’s really sad, but I’ll always have fond memories. There will always be a place in my heart for that show.”
Adam, would you ever go back to Emmerdale as Adam Barton?
Ryan: “They’ve never asked you back, have they? (Laughs.)“
Adam: “You know what? Never say never. I’d love to go back one day. Right now, I’m obviously busy. I love Emmerdale and it was a huge part of my life. I feel like I grew up on that show. I started there when I was 19 or 20 years old. I was there for eight or nine years.
“I’m just very lucky that we get to do what we love to do for a living. Look, if they came calling, it would definitely be something that I’d have to think about.”
Would the two of you ever like to act together?
Adam: “Yeah! The thing that I love to do the most is to work with my family. You see it in Waterloo Road, where I get to work with my son and Ryan’s daughter – my little niece, Scarlett.
“It’s an absolute joy. To be able to do that is just the icing on the cake. I think me and Ryan would definitely love to work together acting-wise. But for now, we’ll take this presenting job all day, every day. And hopefully – fingers crossed. We’ll just have to wait and see what’s down the line.”
𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 “𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒆 & 𝑾𝒆𝒃𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆: 𝒇𝙞𝒍𝙢𝒔𝙥𝒐𝙞𝒍𝙚𝒓𝙨.𝙞𝒏𝙛𝒐” 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧-𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬.
