be a Gladiator
■ Jamie Christian, 38, otherwise known as Giant, stands at 6ft 5in, weighs 20 stone and is one of eight male Gladiators in the BBC’s reboot.
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST I have vivid memories of watching Gladiators as a child and being in awe — they were our superheroes and role models. It inspired me to get into training, and it’s amazing to live out a childhood dream! It was a rigorous application process. I was invited to Lee Valley Athletics Centre in London, where I was up against 50 to 100 people, with tests including rope climbing, heavy sled pushes and a wrestling event. I waited four months to hear the news and then we filmed for ten days in Sheffield.
A GIANT APPETITE I used to be a fireman and then a professional bodybuilder. At the time, my calories were up to 10,000 a day to grow as much muscle as possible. Now, I eat about 5,000 calories and six meals a day, involving whole foods, chicken, fish, carbohydrates and healthy fats. I always make chicken, banana and almond butter bagels — salty and sweet!
BIG GAINS To avoid injuries and stay loose during filming, I go for a walk every morning at 5.30am. Then I do half an hour of stretching. Weight training is key to stimulate muscles to keep their size and shape — I can bench-press 140/160kg, squat the s
