Gladiators star Nitro has praised bosses for making the right decisions for the show. In recent weeks, the BBC programme has undergone a huge shake-up, with four stars vanishing from the line-up and four more taking their place.
But for Nitro, whose real name is Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, 37, he's avoided the drama of the ongoing shake-up. But instead, he believes that those behind the scenes make the decisions they believe are best for the programme's progression. Earlier this year, Giant, whose real name is Jamie Bigg, was axed from the line-up, and it was later reported that Cyclone, Bionic and Athena had also been cut.
Cyclone, whose real name is Lystus Ebosele, later confirmed she had stepped away from the show. Speaking of keeping the show fresh, he said it was "hard to say" whether this was important, before explaining: "I think the production and the people involved, they've just got to do what they think is best for the show.
Nitro on the Gladiators shake-up
"Then we're just here to do our best job, in being the Gladiators that we are." Speaking of the challenges he faces on the show, Harry commented: "The thing with Gladiators, it's just an adult playground, and I just love every part of it. It's not something that you get to do every day. So you appreciate anything you get to do on it."
But while the Gladiators have bold personalities, away from the cameras, Harry says that the group are "pretty chill." There is, however, an "exciting" part of the new series for Harry – the addition of former rugby ace and Celebrity Traitors star, Joe Marler.
Joe, 36, is set to make his debut this year as the first-ever famous Gladiator. He'll be stepping into Sheffield's Utilita Arena as his alter ego Mauler, as he makes his Gladiators debut. "I think it's a great addition," Harry said, adding: "I'm just excited to see what everyone else thinks of it, to be fair."
Harry's favourite moment and role model status
And despite being pumped with adrenaline after filming the show, Harry admits that he and his co-stars take a step back to appreciate what they have. "It's a gift that keeps on giving," he said, adding: "You've got to meet all these other superheroes – behind the camera, we're just people that want to have a good time."
"It's kind of in the moment that we just have to appreciate what's happening. We're already four series in – just appreciate where you are." While taking on the challenges may be a highlight for most, Harry says that his favourite moment of filming is walking out onto the arena floor in Attercliffe.
Speaking with a huge smile across his face, he said: "That's probably the best moment of the day. You've got 4,000 kids who have just waited, however long, to come and see their favourite Gladiators. It's truly something so special. It's a fleeting moment 'cause you're doing it, you can't appreciate it in that moment, but it doesn't get any better than that."
Inspiring the next generation and drain care
Growing up, Harry was obsessed with the original edition of Gladiators, especially Jet, whose real name is Diane Youdale. So much so that he still can't wrap his head around the fact he's on the programme. "It's a bit surreal," Harry beamed, adding: "I grew up with it. I was obsessed with Jet.
"It's a bit crazy to think that I'm in that bracket with those people that I idolised. I'm just honoured, massively honoured." His role is also important to Harry, as it allows him to inspire thousands of children each week, including his young daughter. "People, once they get to a certain age, they stop dreaming," he said, adding: "They stop thinking about enjoying life and thinking that they have to accept life."
"I think my daughter seeing me do anything that I'm doing at the moment, it's not even that I'm achieving, it's just that I'm doing. It's giving her confidence to be able to feel that she belongs somewhere, and she can do anything that she wants, and she can, you know, live up to something that she can set a target for."
He went on to add that it was "important" to be a role model for the younger generation to have role models who are "slightly bigger than life," but also "within reach." Crediting those around him, Harry said that everybody involved with Gladiators has "achieved something" in their lives before the show and will "continue to do that."
He went on to say: "I think it's nice that these kids can look into who we are and what we do and potentially come away from it feeling like they can become Olympic athletes and, you know, they can become whatever they fancy." Despite his huge persona on screens, Harry's disciplined nature in his career runs through his household too.
"I sort of govern my household, I'm quite the maternal man," he laughed, adding: "I'm cleaning, I'm cooking, I'm helping and looking after my daughter. I'm doing the majority of things that most people would do nowadays. I just structure it the same way: the way that I pass on information, the way I structure my day."
However, he knows not every day will be smooth, but he finds ways to work through those days and make the most of what's around him. "Once you start, you don't stop," he said, going on to add: "It's just about making a start to the day rather than putting things by."
Harry, who initially found fame as an Olympic and Commonwealth sprinter, has teamed up with HomeServe as their first-ever Personal Drainer after discovering research showing that 47 per cent of Brits have experienced drain or sewage issues, costing the nation around £1.5bn per year.
"My understanding around what shouldn't go down the drains has improved," he laughed, adding: "I treat my drains quite well! I think most of my mum's sort of teachings in the kitchen and house habits went down quite well."
"I learned that my drains like a bit of bicarb, lemon, and a little bit of Fairy going down there. But half the things that most people wouldn't be aware of are just little things, rice, pasta, coffee grounds." He went on to explain that rice and pasta continue to swell in drains, causing blockages that most people would be unaware of.
Harry said: "I'm an athlete, I'm a sprinter. The synergy I have, obviously, is with understanding that if you can make a difference with the 1 per cent, it makes a big difference overall. With me, it's all about prevention. I do my Pilates, I do my training, I do my stretching, I do a lot of things to prevent injury because once I'm injured, it takes me out for some time. Um, and that's the same with our drains.
"The fact that, you know, so much money is spent on call-outs, you're talking about £1.5 billion a year on bad habits that could be prevented."
