Comedians Rob Beckett, Joel Dommett and Ellie Taylor are to take on the Gladiators in a new celebrity special. 

And they will be joiend by TV presenter Louise Minchin in the hour-long special.

Crossfit fan Dommett has been described as the fittest comedian in the UK and has his own gym at home. He said: ‘I can’t believe I’m taking part in Gladiators! It’s always been my dream to be on that travelator.

‘I’ve been illegally running up escalators backwards all my life in preparation and now it’s happening for real. Super excited to be up against all my favourite muscly people in leotards and have some fun!’

 

 

 

 

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Beckett said: ‘I can’t wait to be absolutely crushed by the Gladiators in front my wife and children in spandex whilst I watch Joel Dommett and his six-pack sprint past me on the travelator.

‘This is going to be a catastrophic humiliation in front of the nation. I’ve got no idea why I agreed to this. Is it too late to pull out?’

Meanwhile, Taylor – who once made a Radio 4 programme about why exercise should be banned – will be up against Minchin, who as well as her TV work is one of the UK’s leading triathletes in her age group. 

 Taylor said: ‘Me being on Celeb Gladiators is the answer to the question, "What’s the most elaborate thing you’d do to get your 5-year-old a foam finger?"

‘We all love the show in my house and I'm so excited to take part! I can’t wait to get chased by athletic goddesses and ask Viper about his childhood.’

The BBC revived Gladiators this year, 24 years after the original series ended, with Bradley and Barney Walsh as host. In total, almost 10 million people tuned into the season premiere within 28 days of its broadcast.

The show is returning for a full second season next year. Broadcast details of this and the celebrity special are yet to be announced.