We know who’s heading into the arena! (Picture: BBC)
Gladiators, ready! The line-up of contestants for the BBC’s revival of the hit competition is slowly getting revealed, and we can’t wait.
After more than two decades off our screens, the gameshow is officially returning, with a brand new generation of superhuman Gladiators as they compete against a brave set of contenders in the ultimate test of speed, skill, stamina and strength.
The original programme first aired in 1992 and was broadcast on ITV, lasting for eight seasons until 2000.
After an announcement that father-son duo Bradley Walsh and Barney Walsh will be fronting the programme, all that’s left to do is meet the contenders.
Here’s everything we know about our new Gladiators so far…
Fury
Exeter Chiefs rugby player Jodie Ounsley is Fury (Picture: INSTAGRAM @jodieounsley)
One of the first contenders to be revealed, Fury has been named after her power and passion for competition.
The professional Exeter Chiefs rugby player, whose real name is Jodie Ounsley, is a former England Women’s Rugby Seven’s player, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu British Champion and five times World Coal Carrying champion.
As if her accolades weren’t enough, Jodie, who won the title of Deaf Sports Personality of The Year in 2020, even has Gladiators in her blood, as her father was a contender on the show in 2008, and she has been training to outdo him ever since.
Fury said: ‘Watching Gladiators growing up I was always in awe of their strength and power and now I am one! I hope contenders are ready to feel the Fury.’
Steel
Steel was named the UK’s fittest man (Picture: BBC)
Next up, is the UK’s fittest man, Zack George, who won that title in 2020.
The fitness fanatic has ranked number 26 out of a whopping 126,461 on the global CrossFit leader board, leading to his unbreakable strength earning his new name.
Zack was motivated to help people with their fitness after undertaking his own personal fitness journey as a teenager, and as Steel, he hopes that he can inspire a new, young generation of fans to get into fitness as well.
Steel said: ‘I was inspired by the Gladiators as a child, but never imagined I’d be physically fit enough to be considered a “superhuman”!
‘I hope a new generation of fans will look up to me as their new strong, unbreakable hero, Steel.’
Giant
Giant is heading into the arena (Picture: PA)
Jamie Christian Johal is behind the moniker Giant, a former firefighter turned bodybuilder who measures at 6’5”, making history as one of the tallest bodybuilders of all time.
Speaking ahead of his debut on Gladiators, Giant said: ‘I feel like everything in life has lead me here.
‘I’m honoured to be part of this iconic show that I watched as a child.
‘I’ll be bringing my Giant stature and personality so contenders better come prepared!’
Fire
Ex-Olympian Montell Douglas is Fire (Picture: PA)
Montell Douglas will be playing by the name of Fire, a former Team GB Sprinter and Olympic bobsledder.
The athlete held the British woman’s record for fastest 100m sprint at 11.05 seconds, smashing a record which had previously been unbeaten for almost three decades.
Being a Gladiator has been a ‘secret lifelong dream of mine,’ Fire admitted, elsewhere saying she’s ‘fun, fearless, and a bit of a fire-cracker.’
‘It’s going to be really difficult to put me out!’
She added: ‘As a strong and powerful woman, I’m living proof that you can achieve your dreams, no matter what age or background, if you believe and keep pushing.
‘I’m ready to light up the competition!’
Legend
Legend is bringing all the confidence (Picture: PA)
Announced on This Morning alongside Fire and Giant, Legend is former international athlete Matt Morsia.
He’s a former Championship bronze medal-winning long and triple jumper, and silver medal-winning powerlifter.
‘I’m a confident guy, and ultimately I’m just extremely good at doing stuff,’ he said on the ITV daytime show.
While Legend admitted he’d been ‘training like a beast for the show,’ he added that he ‘realistically didn’t need to’.
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‘I could’ve spent the last two months eating doughnuts and playing Dungeons & Dragons and I’d still be better than everyone else,’ he boasted.
‘I’m called Legend for a reason! I can only apologise for the irreparable damage I’m about to do to the contenders.
‘Actually, that’s a lie, I’m not sorry at all. I’m actively looking forward to it.’
Gladiators returns to BBC later this year.
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