Gladiators winner Finlay Anderson reveals the real reason he signed up for revamped BBC show
Finlay credited his military career for instilling the toughness that helped him triumph
GLADIATORS champ Major Finlay Anderson says being a soldier gave him a mental edge over his opponents, adding: “You fight until the mission is done.”
His victory was watched by 4.6million viewers on Saturday night.
They tuned in to BBC One to see the 35-year-old Scot battle to victory over civil servant and wrestler Wesley Male in the grand final.
Talking from the Middle East, where he is currently deployed, Finlay credited his military career for instilling the toughness that helped him triumph in the climax to the rebooted series.
He said: “I think one thing I will take away from the whole military career, which I felt during Gladiators, is the mental health and mental resilience you gain.
“I really noticed I was the most calm under pressure.
“Not because I’ve spent lots of time on TV or I was doing Gladiators before, or knew what I was doing.
“It’s just because I have the ability to see the bigger picture and take a step back.
“I think I really noticed that when compared to civilian counterparts.”
Finlay, who has spent 14 years in the Army, added: “You know, you keep going. You fight until the mission is done.”
The Beeb has brought back the contest that became a favourite on ITV in the Nineties.
Finlay, who was a Gladiators fan as a boy, said his wife urged him to apply for the show.
And he has even “ordered” his fellow soldiers to sign up to the next series, to start a “tradition” of Scots officers on it.
His comrades crowded round the TV to watch him win the final from the base where they are deployed.
Finlay is so proud of his win that he has even taken his trophy out to the Middle East with him.
He said with a laugh: “I hope it’s promoted into somewhere at least a little more important.
“I’ll see what my wife says.”
The soldier was praised by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps after his epic win.
Mr Shapps said: “Well done. Most of all thank you very much for what you’ve been doing on behalf of the nation in the Middle East, for the United Kingdom, for which we are all deeply grateful.”
I previously told how the hit show will return for a second series, with controversial Gladiator Giant returning to the show.
The Sun revealed the 6ft 5in colossus had admitted using steroids before appearing on the series.
Tom’s back on strike
IT’S a thumbs-up from Tom Burke during filming for new episodes of Strike.
Creators of the BBC One crime drama took over a street in central London for the sixth series, which is expected to air at the end of this year or early in 2025.
Tom, who plays private detective Cormoran Strike, was seen packing his bags with co-star, Holliday Grainger, who plays Robin Ellacott.
They found themselves in the thick of the action, surrounded by police and fire engines in a cordoned-off road.
The BBC hit, which first aired in 2017 and is based on the Cormoran Strike books by JK Rowling, has not been on our screens since 2022.
Simon is single minded
SIMON GREGSON hopes his Corrie character Steve McDonald has a full midlife crisis – so it forces him to make changes in his own life.
Steve is suddenly single after wife Tracy’s affair with Tommy Orpington and he will soon be on the dating scene.
Simon, who has been in the soap since 1989, said: “Steve having to go down the route of speed dating, online dating, maybe being single for a while . . . he could have a full-on midlife crisis.
“Maybe we could see him losing weight, changing his appearance, going to the gym.
“It could be a lot of fun and also a great excuse for me to make some changes in real life with him.”
But Simon has not got high hopes for Steve’s love life.
He added: “At this point in his life he’d be lucky to have anybody.
“If she’s got a pulse and can make a sandwich, I think Steve would be happy.”
JONATHAN ROSS reckons that celebrity guests are given a less challenging time on ITV’s Tipping Point, which helps them raise more money for charity.
He said on the Parenting Hell podcast: “They always make it easier when the celebs are on, the questions are always a little bit easier.”
Chefs in year to savour
THINGS are hotting up in the MasterChef kitchen ahead of its 20th series launch on BBC One tonight.
Judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace have hinted that the anniversary will see the hardest culinary trials yet, including cooking in Michel Roux Jr’s London restaurant.
Gregg said: “We are putting the cooks through the most extraordinary challenges we’ve ever seen.”
John added: “Michel allowed our contestants to do a service at Le Gavroche before that historic restaurant closed.
“It’s an incredible thing to say.”
The judging duo have no plans to stop after reaching the anniversary milestone.
John added: “It’s a great year, but there’s going to be many, many more great years to come.”
Fryers: Air we go again
ARE air fryers a fast food fad or real culinary revolution that’s here to stay?
Bosses at Channel 5 obviously believe it is the latter, as they unveil what feels like their 20th series on the kitchen gadget.
The four-parter called Air Fryers Made Easy will take in Sunday lunch, entertaining, takeaways and batch cooking when it begins on Wednesday at 8pm.
Host Alexis Conran is joined by celebrity fryer fans including Sherrie Hewson, John Partridge and Rustie Lee for the hour-long specials.
To be fair, Air Fryers: Do You Know What You’re Missing? reportedly had 1.6million viewers in January, while the channel also showed Air Fryers vs Microwaves: Which is Better?, and the Christmas special, Air Fryers: Christmas Made Easy.
But it is not just Channel 5 that is obsessed with them.
Channel 4 got in on the act, with Denise Van Outen’s Air Fryers: Are They Worth It?
All we need now is Air Fryers: Sofa Suppers and I might just be sold.