99 to Beat (British game show)

99 to Beat is a British game show where 100 contestants are reduced each round until one person wins the cash prize.^[1][2]

The show is hosted by Adam and Ryan Thomas. It was premiered on ITV on 22 March 2025.^[2][3]

The show was cancelled on 7 August 2025, after one series.

99 to Beat is based on the Belgian TV format Homo Universalis, where 100 contestants compete over the course of an entire season, going head-to-head in a series of ability challenges, with the rule that the person that comes last in the challenge is out of the game show.

At the end of the challenge, the player that loses has to leave the competition, which will add money to the pot, counting down from 100 to just 1.

The last contestant remaining wins the prize.

• Games played (7):

1. Game 1: Sit on an exercise ball
   1. (Last three contestants: Charlie H vs Edward vs Paul S)
   2. (Last two contestants: Charlie H vs Edward)
2. Game 2: Slinky on your forehead
   1. (Last three contestants: Dilan vs Janet vs Louis)
   2. (Last two contestants: Dilan vs Janet)
3. Game 3: Balance a drinks can at a 45-degree angle
   1. (Last two contestants: Calvin vs Freddie)
4. Game 4: Ping-pong ball on a spoon in your mouth
   1. (First to drop their ball: Caroline)
5. Game 5: Drainpipe bowling ^[a]
   1. (First four teams):
      1. (Last four teams: Blue Team #1 vs Orange Team #1 vs Purple Team #1 vs Pink Team #1)
      2. (Last three teams: Blue Team #1 vs Orange Team #1 vs Purple Team #1)
      3. (Last two teams: Orange Team #1 vs Purple Team #1)
   2. (Second four teams):
      1. (Last four teams: Blue Team #2 vs Orange Team #2 vs Purple Team #2 vs Pink Team #2)
      2. (Last three teams: Orange Team #2 vs Purple Team #2 vs Pink Team #2)
      3. (Last two teams: Orange Team #2 vs Pink Team #2)
   3. (Elimination head-to-head):
      1. (Last two teams: Pink Team vs Purple Team) ^[d]
6. Game 6: Defrost a frozen T-shirt
   1. (Last four contestants: Bianca vs Janet vs Les vs Louis)
   2. (Last three contestants: Bianca vs Janet vs Les)
   3. (Last two contestants: Bianca vs Les)
   4. (Contestant withdrew: Lisa^[b])
7. Game 7: Extract a £2 coin from a piggy bank
   1. (Last three contestants: Poonam vs Stephen vs Yae)
   2. (Last two contestants: Stephen vs Yae)
   3. (Contestants withdrew: Jodie and Michael^[c])

• Games played (7):

1. Game 8: Guess the weight of a llama
   1. (Last two contestants: Freddie vs Janet)
2. Game 9: Fit sticky tape into a lunchbox
   1. (Last three contestants: Amy vs Finlay vs Tony)
   2. (Last two contestants: Finlay vs Tony)
3. Game 10: Retract a measuring tape between two lines
   1. (Last three contestants: Mike vs Paul M vs Surabhi)
   2. (Last two contestants: Paul M vs Surabhi)
4. Game 11: Loop six penne pasta pieces onto spaghetti in your mouth
   1. (Last three contestants: Derek vs Lewis vs Paul S)
   2. (Last two contestants: Lewis vs Paul S)
5. Game 12: Domino rally ^[a]
   1. (Last six teams: Pink Team vs Red Team vs Purple Team vs Yellow Team vs Blue Team vs Orange Team)
   2. (Last five teams: Red Team vs Purple Team vs Yellow Team vs Blue Team vs Orange Team)
   3. (Last four teams: Purple Team vs Yellow Team vs Blue Team vs Orange Team)
   4. (Last three teams: Purple Team vs Yellow Team vs Blue Team)
   5. (Last two teams: Purple Team vs Yellow Team)
6. Game 13: Hold a flower in secateurs at shoulder height
   1. (First to cut their flower: Paul O)
7. Game 14: Giant volleyball match
   1. (First round):
      1. (Last two teams: Red Team vs Blue Team)
   2. (Second round):
      1. (Last two teams: Red Team vs Blue Team)
   3. (Third round):
      1. (Last two teams: Red Team vs Blue Team)
   4. (Fourth round):
      1. (Last two teams: Red Team vs Blue Team)
   5. (Fifth round):
      1. (Last two teams: Red Team vs Blue Team)
   6. (Final round)
      1. (Last two contestants: Katy vs Stephen)

• Games played (6):

1. Game 15: Knock off a balloon with rubber bands
   1. (Last four contestants: Dexter vs Freddie vs Jess vs Nicola)
   2. (Last three contestants: Dexter vs Freddie vs Jess)
   3. (Last two contestants: Dexter vs Freddie)
2. Game 16: Stack eleven loose nails on top of another nail
   1. (Last four contestants: Ali vs Lewis vs Nicola vs Shane)
   2. (Last three contestants: Ali vs Lewis vs Nicola)
   3. (Last two contestants: Ali vs Lewis)
3. Game 17: Make and throw a paper plane
   1. (Shortest distance: Jeff)
4. Game 18: Flip pancakes down the line^[a]
   1. (Last five teams: Blue Team vs Orange Team vs Yellow Team vs Red Team vs Purple Team)
   2. (Last four teams: Blue Team vs Orange Team vs Yellow Team vs Red Team)
   3. (Last three teams: Blue Team vs Orange Team vs Red Team)
   4. (Last two teams: Blue Team vs Orange Team)
5. Game 19: Guess the number of peas
   1. (Last two contestants: Ashton vs Bianca)
6. Game 20: Light three tealight candles and transfer them to tealight holders
   1. (Last four contestants: Courtney vs Duval vs Joan vs Lewis)
   2. (Last three contestants: Duval vs Joan vs Lewis)
   3. (Last two contestants: Duval vs Lewis)

• Games played (6):

1. Game 21: Find the T-shirt with your name on it
   1. (Last four contestants: Amy vs Duval vs Nikki vs Will M)
   2. (Last three contestants: Duval vs Nikki vs Will M)
   3. (Last two contestants: Nikki vs Will M)
2. Game 22: Find your teammates with the same instruments whilst blindfolded^[a]
   1. (Last four teams: Team Cowbells vs Team Harmonicas vs Team Rubber Chickens vs Team Tambourines)
   2. (Last three teams: Team Cowbells vs Team Harmonicas vs Team Rubber Chickens)
   3. (Last two teams: Team Cowbells vs Team Harmonicas)
3. Game 23: Peel a potato to produce as long a peel as possible
   1. (Last two contestants: Amy vs Mia)
4. Game 24: Push off a scooter without stepping off
   1. (Loser of first heat: Duval)
   2. (Loser of second heat: Joan)
   3. (Loser of third heat: Amir)
   4. (Last three contestants: Amir vs Duval vs Joan)
   5. (Last two contestants: Amir vs Duval)
5. Game 25: Bounce a pencil into a pot
   1. (Last four contestants: Charlie J vs Kieran L vs Lydia vs Mia)
   2. (Last three contestants: Charlie J vs Kieran L vs Mia)
   3. (Last two contestants: Kieran L vs Mia)
6. Game 26: Fire a champagne cork
   1. (Shortest distance: Dexter)

• Games played (6):

1. Game 27: Guess the decade of pop songs
   1. (Last four contestants: Jake vs Kieran L vs Poonam vs Robin)
2. Game 28: Balance an egg on a drinks tray with only your index finger^[a]
   1. (First team to drop their egg: Purple Team)
3. Game 29: Knock down an inflatable skittle with a wheelie bin
   1. (Last four contestants: Huseyin vs Lydia vs Sarah vs William)
   2. (Last two contestants: Lydia vs Sarah)
4. Game 30: Cut a rope at 13.7 metres
   1. (Last two contestants: Charlie J vs Kieran L)
5. Game 31: Thread a drawstring through a pair of shorts and put them on
   1. (Last four contestants: Ashton vs Duval vs Jay vs Poonam)
   2. (Last three contestants: Ashton vs Duval vs Jay)
   3. (Last two contestants: Duval vs Jay)
6. Game 32: Pop two balloons with a cactus
   1. (Last four contestants: Derek vs Nikki vs Poonam vs Sarah)
   2. (Last three contestants: Derek vs Poonam vs Sarah)
   3. (Last two contestants: Derek vs Poonam)

• Games played (6):

1. Game 33: Find a dummy from a jelly whilst blindfolded
   1. (Last four contestants: Derek vs Karl vs Libby vs Sarah)
   2. (Last three contestants: Derek vs Karl vs Sarah)
   3. (Last two contestants: Karl vs Sarah)
2. Game 34: Untangle yourself from your teammates^[a]
   1. (Last five teams: Orange Team vs Blue Team vs Red Team vs Yellow Team vs Pink Team)
   2. (Last four teams: Orange Team vs Blue Team vs Red Team vs Pink Team)
   3. (Last three teams: Blue Team vs Red Team vs Pink Team)
   4. (Last two teams: Blue Team vs Red Team)
3. Game 35: Roll a can using a ball in a pouch
   1. (Last four contestants: Clinton vs Finlay vs Robin vs Sarah)
   2. (Last three contestants: Clinton vs Finlay vs Robin)
   3. (Last two contestants: Finlay vs Robin)^[e]
4. Game 36: Extinguish a candle flame using a syringe of water
   1. (Last four contestants: Ashton vs Nikki vs Ryan vs William)
   2. (Last three contestants: Ashton vs Nikki vs Ryan)
   3. (Last two contestants: Ashton vs Ryan)
5. Game 37: Catch a potato on a fork
   1. (Last four pairs: Courtney and David vs Dani B and Nancy vs Jason and Sarah vs Nicola and Nikki)
   2. (Last three pairs: Courtney and David vs Dani B and Nancy vs Nicola and Nikki)
   3. (Last two pairs: Dani B and Nancy vs Nicola and Nikki)
   4. (Last two contestants: Dani B vs Nancy)^[f]
6. Game 38: Melt ice and blow a whistle
   1. (Last three contestants: David vs Nicola vs Robin)
   2. (Last two contestants: Nicola vs Robin)

• Games played (7):

1. Game 39: Balance a seesaw
   1. (First round):
      1. (Last two teams: Blue Team vs Orange Team)
   2. (Second round):
      1. (Last two teams: Blue Team vs Orange Team)
   3. (Third round):
      1. (Last two teams: Blue Team vs Orange Team)
   4. (Final round):
      1. (Last two contestants: Nancy vs Nikki)
2. Game 40: Lick a gobstopper and fit it into a bottle
   1. (Last four contestants: Courtney vs Jason vs Sarah vs William)
   2. (Last three contestants: Courtney vs Jason vs Sarah)
   3. (Last two contestants: Courtney vs Jason)
3. Game 41: Sleeping bag race across the studio floor
   1. (Last two contestants: Nicola vs Sarah)
4. Game 42: Cut an onion into 42 rings and place them into a grid
   1. (Last five contestants: Charlie J vs Clinton vs David vs Libby vs Nicola)
   2. (Last four contestants: Charlie J vs Clinton vs David vs Libby)
   3. (Last three contestants: Charlie J vs Clinton vs Libby)
   4. (Last two contestants: Charlie J vs Clinton)
5. Game 43: Transfer 50 metres of rope from one partner to the other^[a]
   1. (Last six pairs: Caitlin and David vs Charlie J vs Huseyin vs Grant and Nancy vs Jason and Joan vs Libby and William vs Nicola and Ryan)
   2. (Last five pairs: Caitlin and David vs Charlie J and Huseyin vs Grant and Nancy vs Libby and William vs Nicola and Ryan)
   3. (Last four pairs: Caitlin and David vs Charlie J and Huseyin vs Libby and William vs Nicola and Ryan)
   4. (Last three pairs: Caitlin and David vs Libby and William vs Nicola and Ryan)
   5. (Last two pairs: Libby and William vs Nicola and Ryan)
6. Game 44: Fold and pack up a collapsible tent
   1. (Last four contestants: Charlie J vs Grant vs Huseyin vs Nancy)
   2. (Last three contestants: Charlie J vs Huseyin vs Nancy)
   3. (Last two contestants: Huseyin vs Nancy)
7. Game 45: Push a vacuum cleaner onto a target
   1. (Last nine contestants: Caitlin vs Charlie J vs David vs Grant vs Jason vs Joan vs Libby vs Nancy vs William)
   2. (Last eight contestants: Caitlin vs Charlie J vs David vs Grant vs Jason vs Joan vs Libby vs Nancy)
   3. (Last seven contestants: Caitlin vs Charlie J vs David vs Grant vs Jason vs Libby vs Nancy)
   4. (Last six contestants: Caitlin vs Charlie J vs Grant vs Jason vs Libby vs Nancy)
   5. (Last five contestants: Caitlin vs Charlie J vs Jason vs Libby vs Nancy)
   6. (Last four contestants: Caitlin vs Charlie J vs Jason vs Libby)
   7. (Last three contestants: Charlie J vs Jason vs Libby)
   8. (Last two contestants: Charlie J vs Libby)

• Games played (7):

1. Game 46: Catch a paper butterfly in a net
   1. (Last eight contestants: Caitlin vs David vs Grant vs Jason vs Joan vs Libby vs Nancy vs William)
   2. (Last seven contestants: David vs Grant vs Jason vs Joan vs Libby vs Nancy vs William)
   3. (Last six contestants: David vs Grant vs Jason vs Libby vs Nancy vs William)
   4. (Last five contestants: David vs Grant vs Jason vs Nancy vs William)
   5. (Last four contestants: David vs Grant vs Nancy vs William)
   6. (Last three contestants: David vs Grant vs Nancy)
   7. (Last two contestants: David vs Nancy)
2. Game 47: Stack boxes
   1. (Last seven contestants: Caitlin vs Grant vs Jason vs Joan vs Libby vs Nancy vs William)
   2. (Last four contestants: Joan vs Libby vs Nancy vs William)
3. Game 48: Sharpen two bicolour pencils
   1. (Last six contestants: Caitlin vs Grant vs Jason vs Joan vs Nancy vs William)
   2. (Last five contestants: Grant vs Jason vs Joan vs Nancy vs William)
   3. (Last four contestants: Grant vs Joan vs Nancy vs William)
   4. (Last three contestants: Grant vs Nancy vs William)
   5. (Last two contestants: Grant vs William)
4. Game 49: Transfer a ping-pong ball on a hairdryer through an obstacle course
   1. (Last five contestants: Caitlin vs Jason vs Joan vs Nancy vs William)
   2. (Last four contestants: Caitlin vs Joan vs Nancy vs William)
   3. (Last three contestants: Caitlin vs Joan vs Nancy)
   4. (Last two contestants: Joan vs Nancy)
5. Game 50: Flip a traffic cone and land it onto another
   1. (Last four contestants: Caitlin vs Jason vs Joan vs William)
   2. (Last three contestants: Caitlin vs Joan vs William)
   3. (Last two contestants: Joan vs William)
6. Game 51: Perform a three-point turn in a golf buggy
   1. (Last three contestants: Caitlin vs Jason vs William)
   2. (Last two contestants: Caitlin vs Jason)
7. Game 52: Knock down 12 cans with a swinging ball
   1. (Last two contestants: Caitlin vs William)
      1. (Final score: Caitlin 12-9 William)

• 99 to Beat

• 99 to Beat (British game show) at itv.com
• 99 to Beat at IMDb