Gladiators star Jodie Ounsley, known as Fury on the hit BBC show, has spoken of her determination to continue her father's legacy following his sudden and tragic death last year.
A Father's Inspiration and a Heartbreaking Loss
Jodie's father, Phil Ounsley, a former police inspector, collapsed and died while hiking on Pen-y-ghent in North Yorkshire in November 2025. He was just 56 years old. The devastating news came just weeks before Christmas, while Jodie was deep in rehearsals for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.
The 25-year-old athlete, a former England rugby professional and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu British Champion, described being "heartbroken" by the loss. Her father had a direct connection to the Gladiators arena, having appeared as a contender on the show back in 2008, fuelling Jodie's own competitive fire.
Finding Strength in the Arena and on the Dancefloor
Supported by her professional dance partner, Neil Jones, who had recently lost his own father, Jodie made the courageous decision to continue with the Strictly special. "Mum was the first person to be like, 'Jodie, Dad would’ve wanted you to do this because he was so excited about it'," she recalled. She channelled her grief into her performance, feeling her father's presence in the room.
Jodie, who was born profoundly deaf and received a cochlear implant at just 14 months old, considers her disability a "superpower". She takes immense pride in being a role model, showing children that differences are strengths. "Kids might see someone in their class with an implant and think, 'That’s what Fury’s got.' It’s just about normalising it," she said.
"Be More Phil": A Motto for Living
Jodie has now adopted a powerful personal motto: "be more Phil". To her, this means embracing life with the same zeal and adventurous spirit her father embodied. She is currently training to hike up Pen-y-ghent herself in April 2026, a journey she believes will bring her closer to him.
"My dad would be the first one out of the door. If it was sunny, he’d suggest going for a walk or a dip in the sea," Jodie shared. "There are times when I don’t want to do something, but then I think, 'be more Dad'. When I saw a sunrise last week, I knew he would’ve loved it."
This new perspective has even opened her mind to the possibility of joining Strictly Come Dancing as a full-time contestant in the future, something she would have dismissed months ago. For now, her focus is on the new series of Gladiators, which she compares to going into "battle", and honouring the man who inspired her fight.
Gladiators returns to BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 17th January at 5.45pm.
