Fitness coach and television personality Joe Wicks has opened up about a frightening injury he sustained while filming the upcoming Celebrity Gladiators Christmas special for BBC One.
A Dizzying Blow from a Gladiator
The 40-year-old father-of-four described being left feeling 'dizzy' and 'fuzzy' after taking a heavy blow to the head from resident 'villain' Gladiator Viper. The incident occurred during a duel, where Viper struck Joe just before the whistle. Wicks recounted the moment to The Sun, stating, 'I got a full whack to the head and I couldn't recover. I got dizzy, everything flipped upside down.'
He explained that Viper hit him again, causing him to fall and, crucially, land on his head. 'To top it off, I landed on my head. I didn't want to look bad, but I could have laid there for a couple of minutes!' Wicks admitted. His quick recovery was motivated by his family watching from the sidelines, adding, 'My mum and boys were right there so I quickly got up, but I was fuzzy.' As a result of the illegal hit, Viper was disqualified from the bout.
Christmas Day Showdown on the BBC
The special episode is scheduled to air on BBC One on Christmas Day and will be available to stream on iPlayer. Joe Wicks is joined by a star-studded line-up of celebrities taking on the iconic Gladiators. Fellow contestants include former boxer Nicola Adams, 43, media personality Vogue Williams, 40, and reality TV star Sam Thompson, 33.
The show is hosted by father-and-son duo Bradley Walsh, 65, and Barney Walsh, 28. This follows the successful reboot of the classic series, which returned to screens in January 2024, and a previous celebrity special aired last Christmas featuring comedians and presenters.
Vogue Williams Shows Off Formidable Fitness
Meanwhile, newly released images from the special highlight Vogue Williams's impressive physical prowess. The fitness fanatic and recent I'm A Celebrity... contestant was seen tackling the brutal monkey bars, showcasing her toned arms and defined abs in a blue and white sports set.
Other snaps capture the mum-of-three in action with a pugil stick and smiling alongside presenter Barney Walsh. Sam Thompson and Nicola Adams are also featured in the preview images, with Nicola seen being pulled from the Gladiators' challenge wall.
With a mix of dramatic injuries and impressive athletic displays, the Celebrity Gladiators special promises to be a must-watch event this festive season.
