Ryan Thomas ‘Down to His Last £1’ After ITV Game Show Axed
Former Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas is reportedly facing financial strain after his business accounts revealed just £1 remaining in his company’s bank account. The news follows the cancellation of his prime-time ITV show 99 To Beat, which he co-hosted alongside his brother Adam Thomas.
From Soap Stardom to Business Struggles
Ryan, 41, rose to fame as Jason Grimshaw on Coronation Street before branching out into television presenting, reality shows, and brand work. He runs R James Thomas Ltd, the company that handles income from his TV projects, social media partnerships, and endorsement deals.
According to filings with Companies House, the firm’s cash balance dropped from £41,361 in the previous year to just £1 in the last financial period ending January 2025. When all assets were taken into account, the business still held a bottom-line value of £28,275, but the dramatic dip in available funds has raised eyebrows.
Despite the decline, the company posted a profit large enough to incur a corporation tax bill of £55,062, and still has an outstanding £30,000 Bounce Back Loan from the Covid-19 relief scheme.
ITV Cancels 99 To Beat After One Series
The setback comes months after ITV axed Ryan’s game show 99 To Beat, which saw 100 contestants compete in physical challenges inspired by Squid Game for a £25,000 prize. The show, produced for Saturday night prime time, launched to strong numbers, reaching 12.5 million viewers and more than 4 million streams on ITVX.
However, despite solid engagement, ITV confirmed it would not recommission the show for a second series. “The Thomas brothers are fantastic presenters,” a network spokesperson said. “But unfortunately, at this stage, we will not be recommissioning.”
Adam Thomas spoke candidly about the cancellation on the family’s Mancs on the Mic podcast, joking, “When I’m positive about something, it gets cancelled. I did Extra Camp — one series, cancelled. Then 99 To Beat with Ryan — cancelled again.”
Family and Future Plans
Ryan shares two young children, Roman and Lilah, with fiancée Lucy Mecklenburgh, whom he has been engaged to since 2019. He also co-parents his 16-year-old daughter Scarlett with ex-partner and fellow Coronation Street actress Tina O’Brien.
In addition to his TV work, Ryan co-hosts the At Home with the Thomas Bros podcast with brothers Adam and Scott, and remains a popular figure among British soap fans. He previously won Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
While his financial filings paint a concerning picture, industry insiders suggest Ryan remains in demand and could soon bounce back with new projects. For now, his focus appears to be on family — and finding the next big move in his post-soap career.