Gladiators super fan Damo Cosgrove loves the hit TV show so much he amassed a memorabilia haul costing over £10,000. And such was his love of the TV show that it inspired him to become a PE teacher.
The 42-year-old became obsessed with the cult fitness show as an 11-year-old. Now he has amassed a huge haul of Gladiators gear, including two pugil sticks, which were used in the show's Duel event.
Damo, from Egham, Surrey, has also met some of the stars, including Scorpio and Lightning. He said: "Gladiators is childhood for me. It sparked the initial reaction that sport was great and then I pursued sports and exercise science at university and became a PE teacher."
Damo started collecting merchandise as child living in Cavan, Ireland. He is now the proud owner of a collection worth an estimated £10,000. Damo owns all manner of items, including 12 of the original Gladiator costumes - some of which are worth £1,200. He said: "Some costumes came from the actual Gladiators themselves.
"I got to know them by name and meet them as a teenager in 1994 and 1996. My collection is probably 25-35 litre containers full of stuff.
"From pictures, medals, signed programmes, souvenirs, posters, 3D glasses, clocks, tables, unopened rolls of wallpaper, headboards, Kellogg's Rice Krispies boxes, curtains, duvet and pillow sets. I recently went onto eBay and saw a coin sitting there for £9.99. My heart nearly jumped out of my mouth it was from 1993 and worth £200."
Damo said his favourite Gladiator is Lightning - real name Kim Betts. He has also met Nikki Diamond - better known as Scorpio.
Damo said: "[Lightning] is the epitome of what it is to be a Gladiator. She was an absolute beauty - she still has the costume to this day and looks fantastic in it. She's charismatic on camera, she's a stunning lady and has a Miss Universe title."
Damo loves the show so much he has even watched the Swedish and Finnish version without subtitles. And he is excited about this year's BBC reboot.
Filming is due to take place in May and June, reports say. Damo added: "I am ecstatic at the prospect of the gladiators returning. But there's an err of caution to make sure they do it justice."
Gladiators ran from 1992 until 2000. Presenters included Ulrika Jonsson, John Fashanu and Jeremy Guscott.
