TV presenter Rob Beckett has said his friends and family “laughed in my face” when he told them he was signing up for the Gladiators Celebrity Special.
The New Year’s Day episode will see the 38-year-old former I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! NOW! presenter compete against comedian Joel Dommett, TV presenter Louise Minchin and Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor, along with the show’s gladiators.
Speaking about telling his family he would be on the show, Beckett said: “They laughed, laughed in my face. The kids were excited, but they laughed, everyone laughed.”
He added: “The kids love it, I was coming up to watch the show with them when I was asked if I’d like to take part and I thought might as well.
“I am trying to challenge myself a bit more on the things I’m scared of, like heights.
“By doing these challenges I feel like it’ll help me get over those fears and it’s a good example for my kids as well, to give it a go and show that you’re not scared and you can conquer your own fears.”
His friend Dommett, 39, said appearing on the show had been “like getting a ticket for a Taylor Swift concert” and “a dream come true”, adding that he felt Beckett would surprise viewers.
He explained: “Rob is an unbelievable contender and a wonderful adversary, he’s so powerful.
“You might look at Rob and think, ‘he’s not going to be good at this thing’, but he’s unbelievable.
“He’s got strength in his legs, it’s like he’s got 10cm long legs and 10cm teeth.
“His leg strength gives him a good base and he can be just so explosive in the events whereas I’m like a ballerina, exactly the wrong build for power events.
“But if there was an event to see who could run 20km the quickest then I could be in with a chance.”
Minchin, 56, who said she had watched the show since its original 1990s run, said her family had also mocked her when she announced she was to be a contestant.
She said: “When I told my friends and family, I was doing Gladiators they all laughed out loud.
“They laughed out loud for two reasons.
“One, that it’s totally ridiculous that I should be doing Gladiators at my age, and number two, they absolutely know that it’s my idea of heaven.
“I accept that my idea of fun is not everybody’s, but I love taking on an adventure or a challenge that makes me a little bit scared, hopefully getting through it, and then being overwhelmed by the rush of adrenaline afterwards.
“The buzz you get from succeeding in something that is physically challenging is irreplaceable.”
Taylor, 41, said her family thought she was “insane” to join the show, but that she wanted to do it to represent new mothers.
She explained: “I used to watch it as a kid, and now my little girl is also a big fan. It’s come full circle.
“Also, I had a baby a few months ago and I feel like it’s a great chance to represent new mums who feel a bit wibbly wobbly in every sense of the word.
“It’s so empowering to feel physically strong and to reclaim my body a bit.”
Hosted by Bradley Walsh and his son Barney, Gladiators sees four contenders take on the resident gladiators in a series of physical challenges before facing the Eliminator, an obstacle course spanning the length of the arena.
Gladiators Celebrity Special will air on BBC One on New Year’s Day at 6pm, and will also be available on iPlayer.
