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Ryan James Thomas (born 10 June 1984) is a British former actor. He is 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 won the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice in 2024.
Thomas left Coronation Street in June 2016, after almost 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. 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."
He made his Pantomime debut in late-2016 as Prince Charming in the Wyvern Theatre production of Cinderella. The following year, he starred as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at Venue Cymru. 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. He made his on-screen debut during the 60-minute "Hit & Run" special on 12 February 2018.
In August 2018, Thomas took part in the 22nd series of Celebrity Big Brother. 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. Pallett has since apologised to Thomas for what she has described as "an overreaction to what wasn't a malicious act". On 10 September 2018, Thomas was announced as the winner of the series.
Thomas appeared as a contestant in Celebrity Masterchef in 2022. In December 2022, Thomas won Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.
In March 2021, Thomas announced he was quitting acting, after having "really lost the bug for it".
In March 2024, he won the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice with dance partner Amani Fancy.
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.
In 2013, he filed for bankruptcy following an unpaid tax bill of £40,000. Thomas was arrested in 2015 for being drunk and disorderly in a Lake District nightclub. He was fined £90.
Thomas dated his Coronation Street co-star Tina O'Brien from 2003 until 2009. They have a daughter together. Thomas has been in a relationship with Lucy Mecklenburgh since 2017. They met while taking part in Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls. He became engaged to Mecklenburgh in June 2019. They have a son and a daughter together.
| 2000 | Hollyoaks | Student | Background extra; 1 episode |
| 2000–2016, 2025 | Coronation Street | Jason Grimshaw | Regular role; 1509 episodes |
| 2018 | Neighbours | Rafael Humphreys | Recurring role; 17 episodes |
| 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 | Winner; series 16 |
| 2025 | 99 To Beat | Co-host | Alongside Adam Thomas |
| 2007 | British Soap Awards | Best On-Screen Partnership (shared with Sue Cleaver) | ||
| 2007 | Inside Soap Awards | Sexiest Male | ||
| 2007 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Couple (shared with Tina O'Brien) | ||
| 2008 | Digital Spy | Sexiest Male | ||
| 2008 | British Soap Awards | Sexiest Male | ||
| 2008 | Inside Soap Awards | Sexiest Male | ||
| 2009 | British Soap Awards | Sexiest Male | ||
| 2009 | Inside Soap Awards | Sexiest Male | ||
| 2010 | British Soap Awards | Sexiest Male | ||
| 2010 | Inside Soap Awards | Sexiest Male | ||
| 2012 | British Soap Awards | Sexiest Male | ||
| 2012 | Inside Soap Awards | Sexiest Male | ||
| 2014 | 2014 British Soap Awards | Sexiest Male | ||
| 2014 | Inside Soap Awards | Sexiest Male | ||
| 2015 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Affair (shared with Sair Khan) | ||
| 2016 | TV Choice | Best Soap Actor |
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