Sunderland gym owner fulfils 'childhood dream' on Gladiators
2025-01-20
Category: entertainment

A gym owner has said it was a "childhood dream come true" to be selected for the new series of Gladiators.Nathan Bland, from Silksworth in Sunderland, was chosen to be an opponent, known as a "contender", in the second series of the show on the BBC.The 23-year-old, who runs the SR1 Gym along with his 18-year-old brother Josh, managed to take out gladiator, Apollo, in the first heat."My whole body just went shaky, jittery and I felt I couldn't stand up. I just wanted to scream," he said speaking about his appearance.
Mr Bland spent months training for his first appearance in the programme, which originally aired in 1992 on ITV.He practiced for several hours each day, six days a week, and worked with his brother to simulate what type of challenges he might face.
He said: "I watched the re-runs as a kid and when I got that phone call that I got on, it was mint."From the second stepped foot into the area - the crowd and the people - it was amazing. There was a buzz."I had my game plan in my head, what I was going to do, how I was going to execute it and it went to plan."In the first episode, Mr Bland successfully navigates a series of challenges and secures a place in the quarter final.
'Did Sunderland proud'
His father, Eddy Bland previously applied for Gladiators but said it was a special moment to watch his son perform.He said: "Having your boy doing so well, being there watching it, you just can't ask for more."Colleen Bland, added: "He did the whole of Sunderland proud, even the people who don't know him were all watching him... saying how well he had done."
Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.