Ryan Thomas
Thomas in 2009
Born
Ryan James Thomas

(1984-06-10) 10 June 1984 (age 39)[1]
Manchester, England
OccupationActor
Years active2000–present
TelevisionCoronation Street (2000–2016)
Neighbours (2018)
Celebrity Big Brother (2018)
Partner(s)Tina O'Brien (2003–2009)
Lucy Mecklenburgh (2017–present; engaged)
Children3
RelativesAdam Thomas (brother)
Scott Thomas (brother)

Ryan James Thomas (born 10 June 1984) is an English former actor. He is best known for playing the role of Jason Grimshaw on ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2000 until 2016. In 2018, he played Rafael Humphreys in Australian soap opera Neighbours, and won the twenty-second series of Celebrity Big Brother.

Thomas announced his retirement from acting in 2021, however has continued his work in television and is set to appear as a contestant on the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice in 2024.

Career

Thomas was 16 when he made his on-screen debut as Jason Grimshaw in Coronation Street on 25 December 2000.[2] In 2012, Thomas took part in a documentary called Corrie Goes to Kenya, along with his co-stars Brooke Vincent (Sophie Webster), Sue Cleaver (who plays his on-screen mother Eileen Grimshaw) and Ben Price (Nick Tilsley).[3] Thomas said that his time in Kenya changed him as a person and made him realise how much he has in life.[4]

Thomas left Coronation Street in June 2016, after nearly sixteen years in the role. He told Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy that he wanted "a different experience" and the chance to pursue other roles. His co-star Terence Maynard, who played his on-screen father Tony Stewart, was also a big factor in his decision to leave the soap.[5] He added "It could be stage, it could be TV, or I could disappear and start learning my craft – start from the bottom and do some acting classes again. These are all things that I need to do because I feel like I haven't done them yet."[5]

He made his panto debut in late-2016 as Prince Charming in the Wyvern Theatre production of Cinderella.[6] The following year, he starred as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at Venue Cymru.[7] In 2018, he played the role at the Beck Theatre, Hayes. In 2019 he starred in the role of Dick Whittington at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton.

Thomas joined the cast of Australian television soap opera Neighbours in October 2017 as Rafael Humphreys.[8] He made his on-screen debut during the 60-minute "Hit & Run" special on 12 February 2018.[citation needed]

In August 2018, Thomas took part in the 22nd series of Celebrity Big Brother.[2] During the episode broadcast on 30 August, Thomas was seen play fighting with actress Roxanne Pallett. Pallett then accused him of intentionally punching her, video footage failed to show Thomas had made physical any contact, apart from a brush with his ring finger.[9] Pallett has since apologised to Thomas for what she has described as "an overreaction to what wasn't a malicious act".[10][11] On 10 September 2018, Thomas was announced as the winner of the series.[12]

Thomas appeared as a contestant in Celebrity Masterchef in 2022.[13] In December 2022, Thomas won Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.[14]

In March 2021, Thomas announced he was quitting acting, after having "really lost the bug for it".[15]

In 2024, Thomas is set to appear as a contestant on the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice.[16]

Personal life

Thomas is the brother of Waterloo Road and former Emmerdale actor, Adam Thomas, and Love Island personality, Scott Thomas.[2]

He is of English, Indian and Caribbean ancestry. His paternal grandfather is from Mumbai, India, and emigrated to Manchester, England, in 1947. His paternal great-grandmother was a West Indian who had Caribbean ancestry.[17][18]

In 2013, he filed for bankruptcy following an unpaid tax bill of £40,000.[19] Thomas was arrested in 2015 for being drunk and disorderly in a Lake District nightclub. He was fined £90.[20]

Thomas dated his Coronation Street co-star Tina O'Brien from 2003 until 2009. They have a daughter together.[21] Thomas has been in a relationship with Lucy Mecklenburgh since 2017. They met while taking part in Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls.[2] He became engaged to Mecklenburgh in June 2019.[22][23][24] They have two children together.[25]

Filmography

Television

Year Name Role Notes
2000–2016 Coronation Street Jason Grimshaw Regular role
2018 Neighbours Rafael Humphreys Recurring role
2018 Celebrity Big Brother Housemate Winner; series 22
2020 Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai Himself Main cast; 6 episodes
2022 Celebrity MasterChef Himself Contestant; series 17
2024 Dancing on Ice Himself Contestant; series 16

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result Ref.
2007 British Soap Awards Best On-Screen Partnership (shared with Sue Cleaver) Nominated [26]
2007 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Male Nominated [27]
2007 Inside Soap Awards Best Couple (shared with Tina O'Brien) Nominated [27]
2008 Digital Spy Soap Awards Sexiest Male Nominated [28]
2008 British Soap Awards Sexiest Male Nominated [29]
2008 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Male Nominated [30]
2009 British Soap Awards Sexiest Male Nominated [31]
2009 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Male Nominated [32]
2010 British Soap Awards Sexiest Male Nominated [33]
2010 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Male Nominated [34]
2012 British Soap Awards Sexiest Male Nominated [35]
2012 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Male Nominated [36]
2014 2014 British Soap Awards Sexiest Male Shortlisted [37]
2014 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Male Nominated [38]
2015 Inside Soap Awards Best Affair (shared with Sair Khan) Nominated [39]
2016 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actor Nominated [40]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Happy Birthday Ryan Thomas! The Coronation Street star's hottest moments". Attitude. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Celebrity Big Brother 2018: Who is Ryan Thomas, and what's he famous for?". Radio Times. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  3. ^ Martinovic, Paul (9 June 2012). "Ryan Thomas, Brooke Vincent for 'Corrie Goes To Kenya' documentary". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  4. ^ McLennan, Patrick (13 August 2012). "Corrie's Ryan: 'Kenya changed me as a person'". What's on TV. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  5. ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel (21 June 2016). "Coronation Street's Ryan Thomas sets the record straight on his shock exit and future plans". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  6. ^ Brien, Jeremy (14 December 2016). "Cinderella review at Wyvern Theatre, Swindon – 'short on star quality'". The Stage. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  7. ^ Roberts, Annie (14 June 2017). "Coronation Street star swaps cobbles for Llandudno Peter Pan pantomime". North Wales Pioneer. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  8. ^ Hughes, Johnathon (12 October 2017). "Neighbours: Coronation Street's Ryan Thomas confirmed for new role". Radio Times. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Roxanne Pallett says she 'got it wrong' in Ryan Thomas CBB punch row". ITV News. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Roxanne Pallett: 'I massively apologise to Ryan'". BBC News. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  11. ^ Chipperfield, Daniel (9 October 2018). "The video which shows Ryan Thomas' 'punch' on Roxanne Pallett". BristolLive. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Celebrity Big Brother: Ryan Thomas named winner". BBC News. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Celebrity MasterChef 2022 line-up: Meet the full cast". RadioTimes.
  14. ^ Celebrity Antiques Road Trip - Series 11: Episode 20, retrieved 29 December 2022
  15. ^ "Ryan Thomas quits acting after 'losing the bug for it'". BBC News. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Dancing on Ice completes 2024 line-up with Emmerdale and Coronation Street stars". Digital Spy. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Ryan Thomas: What is his ethnicity? Actor sets out on a trip to India to trace family roots!". 29 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Dougie James death: Follow-up series to Mancs In Mumbai with Thomas brothers?". 28 November 2020.
  19. ^ "Katie Hopkins Hits Out At Coronation Street's Ryan Thomas Over Bankruptcy". The Huffington Post UK. 22 October 2013.
  20. ^ "Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas fined for 'drunken row'". BBC News. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  21. ^ "BBC – Strictly Come Dancing 2010 – Celebrities – Tina O'Brien". BBC Online. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  22. ^ Rodger, James (22 June 2019). "TOWIE and Coronation Street stars announce engagement". birminghammail. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  23. ^ "Ryan Thomas and Lucy Mecklenburgh have gotten engaged and just LOOK at the ring". Her.ie. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  24. ^ "Lucy Mecklenburgh and Ryan Thomas engaged on Italian holiday. Lucy Mecklenburgh is now pregnant with Ryan Thomas's child. - Entertainment News from Xposé – Virgin Media Television". Virgin Media Television | Xposé Entertainment. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  25. ^ Shahid, Sharnaz (31 May 2022). "Lucy Mecklenburgh and Ryan Thomas welcome second baby together - see first photo". Hello. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  26. ^ "The British Soap Awards 2007: The Winners". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  27. ^ a b Green, Kris (3 July 2007). "Inside Soap Awards 2007: The Nominations". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  28. ^ Green, Kris (21 March 2008). "Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  29. ^ "The British Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  30. ^ "Inside Soap Awards 2008 – Nominations". MSN. Microsoft. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  31. ^ Green, Kris; KilKelly, Daniel (10 May 2009). "British Soap Awards 2009: The Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  32. ^ "Inside soap awards nominations". 8 July 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  33. ^ Green, Kris; Kilkelly, Daniel (9 May 2010). "British Soap Awards 2010: The Winners". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  34. ^ Wightman, Catriona (13 July 2010). "In full: Inside Soap Awards 2010 nominees". Digital Spy.
  35. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (27 February 2012). "British Soap Awards 2012 voting opens, nominations revealed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  36. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (19 July 2012). "Inside Soap Awards 2012 - longlist nominees in full". Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  37. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel; Dainty, Sophie (25 May 2014). "British Soap Awards 2014 – winners in full". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  38. ^ Dainty, Sophie (29 July 2014). "Inside Soap Awards 2014 longlist revealed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  39. ^ Dainty, Sophie (14 July 2015). "Inside Soap Awards 2015 longlist revealed: Who's in line for Best Actor, Actress and Newcomer?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  40. ^ "Tv Choice Awards 2016- The Longlist". digitalspy.co.uk. 17 May 2016.

External links

Preceded byShane Jenek / Courtney Act Celebrity Big Brother UK winner Series 22 (2018) Succeeded byNone
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