Former Newcastle Falcons star Alex Gray is swapping a rugby ball for a pugil stick as he becomes a Gladiator for the iconic 90s show's big TV comeback.
The BBC announced last year that the programme that made household names of the likes of Jet, Hunter, Lightning and Wolf three decades ago, was making a shock return, with it originally airing on ITV, before a not as successful 00s reboot appeared on Sky One.
Confirming the news, Kate Phillips, the BBC’s director of unscripted, said: “Gladiators is back and a whole new generation of viewers can now look forward to watching a Saturday night spectacle like no other."
The identities of the new Gladiators are now being revealed and one of them is Alex, who signed a two-year first-team contract with the Falcons at the age of just 17, but only went onto appear nine times at senior level, before leaving for London Irish in 2011.
He also played for bath, being making the switch to American football, to play for Atlanta Falcons.
The now 32-year-old has become Apollo for the new series of Gladiators and talking about joining the cast, he said: "Words really can’t describe this feeling. From being inspired by this show as a kid and dreaming of being a Gladiator one day, being totally amazed by the games, the arena and the original Gladiators, to now being chosen as one of them, it’s unbelievable.
“I’ve done some cool stuff in my life but this is absolutely the greatest. Never ever give up on yourself! Dig deep, keep the stars in your eyes, the fire in your heart and keep on believing.
Named after the Greek God of Sun. I can’t wait to get out there and dish out the greatest ass-whooping Saturday night TV has ever seen… and to also win this years’ sexiest man in spandex award.”
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