Gladiators: Meet Dynamite the Manchester athlete taking part in return of iconic BBC sports game show

It was on our screens for eight years, and now after a near 25 year absence the hit sports entertainment show 'Gladiators' is coming back. With the show returning this weekend, we now know that Manchester will be represented amongst the first group of new Gladiators. 

Emily Steele, Gladiator name ‘Dynamite’, will be hoping to make her mark when the show begins on Saturday January 13 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.  Dynamite is 5 ft 5 inches and can lift 160 kg in weight, roughly the amount of 6.5 bags of cement in one go. 

At 20-years-old, Dynamite is the youngest Gladiator in the current line-up. She recently competed  internationally at one of the largest fitness festivals in the world and became an under 23's weightlifting British record holder.

Talking ahead of the show, she said: "I'm too young to remember the original Gladiators, but my parents loved it and suggested I try out. Dynamite really does represent who I am and I'm excited to showcase what I can do in the games.

“As a young athlete I felt like it was an opportunity to inspire young girls and make them think, ‘oh, I can go to the gym, I can train and be just as strong’. I’ve done sports all my life, so I felt like it was giving me an opportunity to showcase my sporting talents and hopefully inspire others too."

Giving an insight into the challenges on the new show, Dynamite added: “The Edge, that's very cool. It’s so high up in the sky with a net underneath and you’re literally playing cat and mouse up on this maze, until the Gladiator pushes the contender off the Edge into the net. Collision, that’s a very fun one. I felt like a little kid on a playground. That’s where the contenders run across the bridge and we swing in from the trapeze to knock them off. I loved just swinging at someone, it was so fun.”

Dynamite will be one of 16 Gladiators battling out over a series filled with challenges old and new. Fan favourite ‘The Eliminator’ is one of those set to return. You can see how she gets on by tuning into BBC One on Saturday at 5.50pm, or by catching the show on BBC iPlayer.