Gemma Atkinson is reportedly in discussions to join the BBC’s Celebrity Gladiators Special. The fitness enthusiast, aged 39, instructed her team to reach out to casting directors upon learning about the spin-off.
Expressing her eagerness to participate, Gemma revealed that the original show was her childhood favorite in the 1990s. A source revealed,
“Gemma heard that a celebrity special was in the pipeline, and said to her agent she would love to be involved.
Gladiators was Gemma’s favorite show as a kid, and, because she’s so into fitness now, it would be her dream gig. Talks are ongoing – the show team are thrilled that she is so keen.”
In 2018, Gemma, a former Strictly star, credited Gladiator Jet for igniting her passion for fitness. The radio DJ and former Hollyoaks actress, who shares two children with Strictly dance pro Gorka Marquez, shared on Instagram:
“This lady here (Jet) was the reason I started going to the gym and training. I used to love Gladiators.”
The reboot of the iconic TV series, which originally aired from 1992 to 2000, garnered massive success upon its relaunch in January.
Hosted by Bradley and Barney Walsh, the show introduced new Gladiators including Viper, Sabre, Fury, Giant, and Apollo, attracting an audience of 8.7 million viewers and marking the biggest launch of an entertainment show in the UK since 2017. It has since been renewed for a second series.
Dan Baldwin, the managing director of Hungry Bear Media and producer of the show, confirmed the plans for a celebrity spin-off during a BBC Radio 4 interview earlier this month. He stated,
“I can reveal we are going to do a celebrity special. You always look at old shows no longer on television. You are always coming up with new ways of bringing back a show.
There’s nothing wrong with that because those shows were great for a reason. We’ve always got an eye on what could come back and be a hit like Gladiators is.”
A spokesperson for Gladiators declined to comment.
