Filming of the BBC's revived series Gladiators was temporarily halted after contestant Bionic, real name Matty Campbell, suffered an arm injury during the Hang Tough event. The incident occurred as he tackled contender Finn, leaving the 30-year-old athlete visibly in pain on the mat.
Paramedics rushed to treat Bionic, who remained on his back before eventually getting to his feet and gesturing to the camera as he exited. Finn later commented: "It's nice to get the 10 points, but what isn't nice is to see an athlete go out like that. At the end of the day he's just got to recover. He's a great guy."
Viewers expressed concern on social media, with one writing on X: "I hope Bionic's OK," while another said: "Shame to see Bionic injured. Hope next season they pad the roster a bit." Others noted the absence of Gladiator Athena and praised Comet's performance this series.
Matty previously revealed on The One Show that a car accident derailed his football career, leaving him with a punctured lung, broken ribs and a badly broken ankle. His rehabilitation led him to the gym, where footage of his training caught the attention of Gladiators producers. He secured the role of Bionic in the reboot, which first aired in January 2024 and has since been renewed for a second series in early 2025, with a third due to begin this weekend.
