Diane Youdale, known to millions as Jet from the original 1990s series of Gladiators, has spoken about the injury that ended her time on the show as the BBC prepares to launch a reboot. The 26-year-old described hearing a 'pop' after rugby-tackling a contestant at height during a non-televised event at Wembley Arena in 1996. She was stretchered out and later decided to bow out, fearing she was 'one step too close' to breaking her neck.
Youdale, who moved from Teesside to London to study dance, initially thought she was auditioning as a contestant and feared being 'beaten up' by the strong US-style competitors. At 5ft 6ins and 9st 6lbs, she said the UK production team took years to find functional athletes, noting that bodybuilders of the era were not suited to the arena. Her place was secured by completing an Army assault course at Woolwich Barracks in early 1992.
First broadcast on ITV in October 1992, Gladiators became a Saturday-night phenomenon. Director Jonathan Glazier described it as 'a panto' with something for all the family, but noted that financial pressures were intense as channels fought for audiences. Early shows had empty seats, requiring creative editing to hide them.
Television critic Ian Hyland said the show's success lay in audiences loving or hating the characters, and rooting for members of the public at a time when ordinary people on TV were still unusual. Youdale, who performed backflips and hair flicks as 'Gladiators' very own Wonder Woman', says she is proud of the show's legacy as a 'Saturday-night ritual'.
