Gladiators was 'life-changing', firefighter says

A firefighter who reached the semi-finals of the BBC TV show Gladiators has described the experience as "life-changing".

Millie Margetts, 29, from Cleethorpes, lost out to Emily Bell, from Croydon, during Saturday night's show, but said she would love to do it all again.

"It was absolutely unreal," she said.

Margetts also praised the support she had received from the show's resident elite athletes, the Gladiators, adding: "The message that is being put out there is if you don't succeed at something the first time, just keep going at it."

Speaking to Kofi Smiles on BBC Radio Humberside, Margetts added: "I went into it feeling really, really strong, but I don't know if you saw - when I fell off the bridge - I really injured my leg to the point I had to have it glued."

However, she said she "absolutely loved the experience", and encouraged anyone thinking about taking on a challenge to "go for it".

"Whether it's your job, or on TV, you literally live once," she added.

As for the Gladiators, Margetts said "they don't want to get beat".

"It's their reputation that's at stake," she said.

Margetts said her favourite was Cyclone.

"She is just brilliant, the way she portrays herself, the way she acts, and how good she is at different events.

"That is to me a true gladiator," she added.

The Gladiators 2026 final will be shown on BBC 1 at 17:45 GMT on Saturday 28 March.

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