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May the Gladiator force be with Ian!
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| Ian at Southampton Sports Centre. |
CAN you feel the force of the Gladiators? One Hampshire man certainly has.
Super-fit schoolteacher Ian Deeth beat off competition from more than 20,000 entrants to become one of 32 contestants in the new version of the 90s TV show.
During his interviews for the show the 28-year-old athletics champion from Totton passed a number of gruelling fitness tests before taking on the bicep-bulging TV stars earlier this year.
Ian had more than a dozen pupils from his Year 4 class at Abbotswood School along with family and friends to help cheer him on in a bid to win the £50,000 prize.
Ian, who teaches PE at the junior school, said: "I'm very pleased I did it. It was a big opportunity and I absolutely loved it. But the thing that made it most special was having my friends, family and class with me. My class absolutely loved it and said it was the most incredible day of their lives."
Ian, who currently competes for the Belgrave Harriers in the British League Premier Division, decided to join up after spotting the advert in a national newspaper.
He said: "I have been a 400m Great Britain Under 23 runner and have always loved athletics, this just seemed like a new and exciting challenge.
"It was different to how I imagined it was going to be. You don't get a chance to practise what events you are going to do beforehand which is a bit annoying.
"But I think the new Gladiators are an awesome bunch of athletes."
It's been eight years since the series last appeared on UK screens but the show has now returned to Sky One this month with 12 new gladiators and the original legendary referee John Anderson.
Although Ian can't tell us if he won, as it hasn't yet appeared on TV he said he was one of the fastest on the strength sapping Travelator-the final stage of The Eliminator.
Gladiators is on Sky One on Sunday night.
7:30am Saturday 17th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Denzil, Chilworth on 9:27am Sat 17 May 08
"Ian at Southampton Sports Centre"
Yep, I recognise that tree to his left.
"Ian at Southampton Sports Centre"
Yep, I recognise that tree to his left.
Posted by: emma, chilworth on 10:04am Sat 17 May 08
no its the tree in thornhill next to the police station
no its the tree in thornhill next to the police station
Posted by: Camera person on 10:08am Sat 17 May 08
[quote][bold]emma[/bold] wrote:
no its the tree in thornhill next to the police station[/quote] Sorry Emma that tree is near the Cowheards on the Common.
emma wrote:
no its the tree in thornhill next to the police station
Sorry Emma that tree is near the Cowheards on the Common.
Posted by: the Truth Master, in the Real World on 12:24pm Sat 17 May 08
No, its definitely the Sports Centre, I recognise the sky behind him, it was there when I went a couple of days ago.
No, its definitely the Sports Centre, I recognise the sky behind him, it was there when I went a couple of days ago.
Posted by: Chicken Little on 6:26pm Sat 17 May 08
[quote][bold]the Truth Master[/bold] wrote:
No, its definitely the Sports Centre, I recognise the sky behind him, it was there when I went a couple of days ago.[/quote] There is something wrong - that sky was not there this afternoon.
the Truth Master wrote:
No, its definitely the Sports Centre, I recognise the sky behind him, it was there when I went a couple of days ago.
There is something wrong - that sky was not there this afternoon.
Posted by: Wills on 9:57am Sun 18 May 08
Paying Sky to watch 20 minutes of adverts in every hour and this garbage as well. not a chance !
Paying Sky to watch 20 minutes of adverts in every hour and this garbage as well. not a chance !
Posted by: Matt on 7:30am Tue 3 Jun 08
Ian Used to teach me in abbotswood two years ago. Unlucky Mr Deeth u did well mate!
Ian Used to teach me in abbotswood two years ago. Unlucky Mr Deeth u did well mate!
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