Vogue Williams Left 'In Bits' and Unable to Walk After BBC Gladiators Appearance
Irish presenter and podcaster Vogue Williams has revealed that a BBC television show left her 'in bits' and unable to walk properly for an entire week. The 40-year-old, known for her competitive spirit on screen, described the experience as making her 'feel old' despite maintaining a rigorous fitness routine.
A History of Television Challenges
Williams is no stranger to pushing her physical limits on television. She first gained attention by winning the inaugural series of Bear Grylls: Mission Survive in 2015, where she outlasted competitors like England rugby star Mike Tindall and Olympian Kelly Holmes during a grueling 12-day survival mission.
Her television career has included several high-profile appearances:
- Withdrawing from Channel 4's The Jump in 2017 after rupturing her ACL during ski-cross training, where she met her future husband Spencer Matthews
- Finishing in 10th place on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2025
- Participating in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special
The Gladiators Experience That Tested Her Limits
Speaking on Katherine Ryan's What's My Age Again podcast, Williams identified BBC's Gladiators: Celebrity Special as the program that truly challenged her. 'The only time I felt old was when I did Gladiators,' she confessed. 'That's a different kind of fitness and I was literally like, 'I am old and battered.''
Williams admitted she didn't train specifically for the Gladiators appearance, explaining: 'You can't really train to be a Gladiator. I didn't [train] and I got battered. I really enjoyed it and I would do it, 10 out of 10.'
Victory and Controversy on Gladiators
Despite her physical struggles, Williams emerged victorious in the Christmas special, defeating Olympic gold medalist boxer Nicola Adams by just two-hundredths of a second in a nail-biting final. After her win, she expressed disbelief: 'I honestly cannot believe it, I've had the best day ever. The crowd when I was doing so badly were so nice to me so thank you.'
Her victory wasn't without controversy, however. Some viewers criticized producers for allowing Williams to use a ladder to avoid a difficult rope climb during the Eliminator challenge.
A Regular Fitness Regime
Despite not training for Gladiators specifically, Williams maintains an impressive fitness routine that includes:
- 30-minute weight training sessions four or five times weekly
- Running 3K approximately three times per week
- Walking her children to school and cycling her son Otto to nursery
'I count that as exercise,' she said of her active parenting routine.
Personal Life and Future Plans
Williams shares three children - Theodore, Otto, and Gigi - with husband Spencer Matthews. The couple recently announced they're expecting their fourth child, having experienced two miscarriages before this pregnancy. In a YouTube video, Williams acknowledged the mixed emotions: 'I know I'm very happy that we are pregnant again, but as I said, the nerves will kind of always be there.'
Despite the physical toll of her Gladiators experience, Williams remains positive about the challenge, rating it '10 out of 10' and expressing willingness to participate again, proving her resilience extends beyond television competitions into her personal life as well.
