Chaos has erupted behind the scenes of the upcoming series of Gladiators as cast members reportedly unite to fight for the return of axed star Giant, real name Jamie Bigg. The 40-year-old was dropped from the BBC show in April after bosses allegedly disapproved of his relationship with OnlyFans model Taylor Ryan, 25. Now, with filming for series 4 just weeks away, multiple Gladiators are lobbying producers to give him a second chance, according to a source speaking to The Sun.
Cast Members Rally Behind Giant
“A number of the Gladiators cast are really unhappy about what’s happened to Jamie,” the insider revealed. “They feel like he was thrown to the wolves and made an example of when he was just following his heart.” The source added that colleagues “strongly believe” Jamie’s recent breakup with Taylor—confirmed last month—should work in his favour as he now focuses on self-improvement. “A few of them have even privately discussed banding together and speaking to the show bosses about it en masse.”
Filming for the new series kicks off in a couple of weeks, and the source noted that “text messages and DMs between those closest to Jamie in the cast” have been exchanged about potential actions. “They’re convinced it will probably fall on deaf ears, but they feel out of loyalty to Jamie, they need to back him.”
Precedent Concerns and Double Standards
Beyond loyalty, the cast believes Jamie’s firing “sets a scary precedent,” putting them on edge in case “anything from their own private lives and relationships could be used against them in the workplace.” Defending Jamie’s romance, they argued it’s “not like he was appearing on OnlyFans himself.” The source continued: “Of course, they all appreciate that Gladiators is a family show, but they don’t think any of the kids who watch the show will even know anything about what happened in his personal life. Besides, back in the day, lots of the original Gladiators stars had colourful love lives and didn’t get fired for it. Ace dated Katie Price, who was on Page Three at the time, while Hunter was in a relationship with the show’s former host, Ulrika Jonsson. Many of the cast believe he has been treated unfairly, and it’s a big injustice. They don’t think Jamie has done anything to bring the show into disrepute and that instead it was all a bit of an overreaction by panicked execs.”
Giant’s Side of the Story
Jamie, a fan favourite who appeared on Gladiators for three seasons, initially announced he wouldn’t return for a fourth run, making it clear it was “not his decision.” He later told the Daily Mail that his relationship with Taylor led to his exit: “I made it clear that I was planning to go public with my relationship, including the fact my partner works as an OnlyFans creator, and shortly after that, I was told I wouldn’t be continuing on Gladiators. It wasn’t something I expected, especially given the commitment I’ve shown to the role.” He added, “I’ve always taken being in the public eye seriously, and I believe being a role model is about honesty as well as professionalism. For me, that means not hiding parts of who I am or the people I care about.”
Taylor, who reportedly earned £25,000 a month from her OnlyFans content, was defended by Jamie as an “incredible person.” However, in June, Jamie announced their split, saying he was focusing on “growth” and becoming the “best version” of himself. Taylor later hinted at “betrayal” in a vlog and mentioned discussing the separation in therapy. A source suggested they “haven’t ruled out getting back together in the future.”
Replacement Already Announced
Despite the cast’s campaign, Jamie’s replacement has already been confirmed: 37-year-old fitness instructor Ahmad Rabus, a dad-of-one and former Mr Universe. It remains unknown whether Jamie would consider a comeback as part of his “soul-searching” era. The BBC has been contacted for comment. The new series of Gladiators is set to air next year.
Support for Jamie has also appeared online, with fellow Gladiators Diamond, Sabre, Steel, Viper, and Bionic praising him in Instagram comments. The poll accompanying this article asks viewers whether Giant should be brought back to the show, with options for yes or no.
