Gladiators Star Jet's Estranged Wife Condemns BBC Over 'Domestic Abuser' Casting Decision
The estranged wife of Gladiators icon Jet has launched a scathing attack on the BBC, branding the decision to allow the "self-confessed domestic abuser" to appear in a live show as "horrifying." Zoe Gilbert, 51, has spoken exclusively about her traumatic 18-month marriage to Diane Youdale, the 54-year-old former Nineties pin-up known as Jet, which ended in acrimony last July.
Shocking Allegations and Police Involvement
Zoe revealed she was left with PTSD from the relationship and detailed multiple violent incidents. In October 2023, neighbours intervened after hearing cries for help as Jet allegedly pinned Zoe down, causing "knife-like" wounds on her back. Police were called, and Diane was advised to leave their semi-detached home in Stockton-on-Tees, though Zoe initially declined to press charges.
"The walls of the house were spattered with blood," Zoe recounted. "I was left with all kinds of injuries, although I was so frightened I could not remember clearly what happened." She later requested a case review in December 2023, submitting photographic evidence, but officers stated the Crown Prosecution Service was unlikely to pursue charges due to time elapsed and her initial reluctance.
Jet's Admissions and Counterclaims
Diane Youdale has openly admitted to developing an alcohol problem and attacking Zoe, claiming she felt bullied. In a police statement, she described an incident where "she fell over the back of the sofa. I pressed on her chest three times firmly and I said, 'stop this now.'" She was arrested that night and later felt suicidal, but has since stopped drinking entirely, stating, "I haven't touched a drop since 2024."
However, Diane dismissed Zoe's claims as "ridiculous," labelling her a "fantasist" and "self-harmer" who bullied her about her past. "It was impossible to live with her," Diane asserted. "I felt like I'd been stalked, hoodwinked and set up. A horrible time of my life that needs to stay in the past."
Emotional Manipulation and Disturbing Incidents
Zoe alleged further psychological abuse, claiming Diane "gas-lighted and manipulated" her throughout the marriage. In a particularly distressing episode, Zoe returned home to find Diane had cut up treasured family photos of her three brothers, who all died tragically young, to make a collage without permission. When Zoe complained, Diane allegedly threw a commemorative glass at a patio door, shattering it.
Zoe also described threatening behaviour, including a November 2023 phone call where Diane allegedly threatened to kill her. "I was extremely glad I was nowhere near her at that moment," Zoe said, "because I know what she's capable of when there is that kind of rage in her voice."
Controversial Return to Gladiators
Zoe expressed outrage that Diane is participating in the Gladiators Experience, a live show running from May until August at Birmingham's NEC, alongside original stars Hunter, Saracen, and Lightning. "I was shocked to discover that Diane is being allowed back into the Gladiators show," Zoe stated. "If this was a man who had behaved in the way that she has, there would be outrage and they would be allowed nowhere near a family show like Gladiators."
Diane continues to host the Gladiators' GladPod podcast and runs a psychotherapy practice, charging £65 for first appointments. She is believed to be living in the Scottish borders and has reportedly moved on with a new man, which Zoe claims felt like taunting while they were still technically married.
Relationship History and Public Perception
The couple's relationship surprised fans when Diane publicly revealed it in July 2023, as many had assumed the former Gladiator was straight. She was previously married to TV exec George Mayhew and dated fellow Gladiator Hunter during the show's heyday. Their meeting in a supermarket was portrayed as a sweet chance encounter on ITV's Lorraine, but Diane now claims it was contrived, likening it to being pursued by a "wolf."
Zoe vehemently denies this: "How could I research a thing like that? It was exactly what it seemed, a chance meeting." Despite the turmoil, Diane is preparing for the Gladiators event, stating she is "proud" of her sobriety and determined to move forward, while Zoe continues to grapple with the aftermath of what she describes as a "disastrous" marriage.
