ITV bosses headhunted Adam Thomas and brother Ryan to be 'new Ant & Dec'

Ryan and Adam Thomas, beloved by UK audiences, appear to be poised to take over the prime-time slot currently occupied by Ant and Dec.

ITV has given the brothers their own gameshow, though an air date is yet to be confirmed. Speaking to the Mirror, Adam, 35, shared details about the new venture, revealing ITV was quick to secure both him and Ryan as hosts for the show.

The programme, titled '99 To Beat', will feature 100 contestants who will compete in various challenges. After each game, those who lose are eliminated until only one contestant remains to claim the grand prize.

The Waterloo Road actor expressed his excitement about the project, saying: "It's our first gig together. I don't think we've ever worked together before so to be doing a show like this called 99 To Beat and to be hosting, is definitely a dream come true. We just can't believe it, it's been a long time coming and it's finally happened."

He continued: "And we get to present a new family gameshow for ITV and yeah, it just doesn't get bigger and better than that. It's a brand new concept, it's not been done before over in the UK and we're just so happy we get to front it. It's going to be a fun one. It's one of those gameshows that anyone can do. Even people at home can get involved, it's that good."

Following their impressive stint into the world of reality dancing competitions - with Ryan reigning supreme in Dancing On Ice, and Adam showcasing his fancy footwork on Strictly Come Dancing, ITV seemingly had a clear choice for hosts for their new show.

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This could potentially lead to them 'dethroning' Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly as the kings of primetime television. Adam shared: "They [ITV] presented it to us to be honest with you. They just said we've got this brand new game show, this amazing concept we'd like to bring to ITV and would we like to do it. And yeah, the rest is history really."

Commenting on working alongside his brother, Adam added: "I'm sure it's going to be a fun one. Me and Ryan are brothers we know each other inside out. We always have that brotherly banter and there's always that bit of brotherly rivalry as well."

The show, already a success internationally, features quirky challenges such as locating a dummy in a vat of jelly or donning a frozen T-shirt. Katie Manley, head of Initial, the production company behind the show, commented: "What's brilliant about it is that anyone has a real shot at winning. Whether you're 18 or 80, players don't need to be experts in one particular skill. Winning is not important – it's not coming last that counts! The human stories that sit alongside the gameplay will provide heart, humour and drama throughout."

Katie Rawcliffe, ITV's entertainment chief, explained over the course of the eight-hour long episodes, likely to be broadcast in a weekend slot, viewers will become acquainted with the contestants. She said: "As the contestants compete they also form tight bonds and as they get to know each other, we get to see who plays well, who buckles under the pressure and who has lasting power."

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