Fury and Steel named as the first of the new Gladiators!

Gladiators ready!

The One Show last night had a special announcement (Wednesday, May 3rd): Fury and Steel, two superhuman contenders, will be the first to wield their pugil sticks and battle it out in one of the most iconic and thrilling sports entertainment game shows. This highly anticipated show will be available on both BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Fury

Professional Exeter Chiefs Rugby Player, Jodie Ounsley, is named 'Fury' thanks to her power and passion for competition. A former England Women's Rugby Seven's player, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu British Champion and five times World Coal Carrying champion, she won the title of Deaf Sports Personality of The Year in 2020.

Jodie has Gladiators in her blood, her father was a contender on the show in 2008, and she has been training to outdo him ever since. When she was younger, she even dressed up as a Gladiator and practiced the games in her living room! Contenders beware, when that game starts, you'll feel the wrath of 'Fury'.

Steel

UK CrossFit star, Zack George, won the title of the UK's Fittest Man in 2020, and also ranked number 26 out of a whopping 126,461 on the global CrossFit leader board! His unbreakable strength has earned him the name 'Steel'.

Zack was motivated to help people with their fitness after undertaking his own personal fitness journey as a teenager. As Steel, he hopes that he can inspire a new, young generation of fans to get into fitness as well. Like Steel he's strong, tough and nothing will break him, including those contenders!

Fury (AKA Jodie Ounsley) says: "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 (AKA Zack George) says: "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."

Hungry Bear Media and MGM Alternative UK have collaborated to produce an 11-part series featuring a new generation of superhuman Gladiators who will go head-to-head against a fearless group of contenders in a test of speed and strength. The series will feature a mix of classic challenges and brand-new games, leading up to the fan-favourite event, The Eliminator.