ITV hosts defend ‘demanding’ TV show after 3 stars taken to hospital

The presenters of a gruelling ITV show compared to Squid Game have said ‘accidents happen and are to be expected’ on a large-scale programme after three players were sent to hospital.

Hosted by brothers Ryan and Adam Thomas, 99 To Beat is a new reality TV show in which 100 contestants are whittled down to one after a series of challenges for a cash prize of £25,000.

However, during filming a ‘small number of contestants’ received medical attention after having an adverse reaction to hay used in a game, an ITV spokesperson confirmed to Metro.

They added: ‘Contributor welfare remains our top priority, and this production was assessed and monitored in line with our robust health and safety processes and in consultation with external health and safety advisors.’

Speaking about the medical incidents on 99 To Beat for the first time, Ryan told The Sun: ‘I mean accidents happen and you’ve got to expect it when you’re doing a show with 100 contestants that anything is possible from a game perspective and from an injury perspective, you’re never going to 100 per cent come out of it unscathed.’

The former Coronation Street actor, 40, added: ‘There’s a lot to manage and there’s a lot going on – it’s physical, it’s demanding.’

Ryan said all the contestants – even those who had been injured – continued competing on 99 To Beat until they were eliminated.

He added: ‘It went really really well under the circumstances, we got exactly what we wanted out of it.’

‘It is the first of its kind in this country, so there is a bit of structure that goes into it.

‘Managing 100 contestants, managing the Thomas brothers is another big challenge, probably the biggest challenge at all.

‘But I think overall it couldn’t have gone more perfect.’

In January, player Amir Jardan claimed he was left ‘struggling to breathe’ during a task that involved jumping from ‘a considerable height’ from a haystack to find chopsticks.

Metro understands that the experienced health and safety advisers on the programme did not classify this as a high-risk or dangerous programme and that contributors did not have to jump the 4 to 5ft distance into the haystack.

The fire alarm engineer from Dorset told The Sun: ‘I was so excited to be taking part in a fun TV show, never in a million years did I think I’d nearly lose my life.

‘It’s a dangerous show and it caused my fiancé – who was heavily pregnant at the time – additional stress.’

Talking about the task, he went on: ‘I managed to escape but I couldn’t breathe because I could feel my throat closing up.

‘After that, the whole thing was a blur, but I remember I was put into the recovery position as the ambulance was called.

‘I didn’t think I’d see our children again. I spent six hours waiting in the hospital to get checked over.

‘I haven’t been the same since.’

Amir continued filming after the incident and said he has ‘bonded’ with some of the players over the ‘traumatic event’.

99 To Beat is available to stream on ITVX.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.