Ryan Thomas
Ryan James Thomas (born 10 June 1984) is an English former actor. He is known for portraying 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 and final series of "Celebrity Big Brother". In March 2021, Thomas announced he was quitting acting, after having "really lost the bug for it". Career. Thomas was 16 when he made his on-screen debut as Jason Grimshaw in "Coronation Street" on 25 December 2000. 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). Thomas said that his time in Kenya changed him as a person and made him realise how much he has in life. 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. 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 panto 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, although footage showed Thomas did not make physical contact. Big  Brother issued Thomas with a warning, leading viewers to make 11,420 complaints to Ofcom about the incident. 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. Personal life. Thomas is the brother of former "Waterloo Road" and "Emmerdale" actor, Adam Thomas, and "Love Island" personality, Scott Thomas. 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 on 22 June 2019. They have one child together.