Nicola Adams Lives a Childhood Dream on Gladiators Christmas Special
Nicola Adams has revealed that stepping onto the Gladiators stage was far more than just another TV appearance for her — it was the fulfilment of a childhood dream. The Olympic gold medallist is set to appear in the Gladiators Christmas Special, and by her own admission, the experience was everything she had hoped for and more.
The iconic BBC game show, hosted by Bradley Walsh and his son Barney, brings together celebrity contenders who face off against the show’s powerful, larger-than-life Gladiators in a series of demanding physical challenges. For Adams, now 43, the chance to be part of that world felt surreal. She has said that watching Gladiators growing up made the opportunity even more special, and when the call came, it was embraced without hesitation.
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Speaking openly about the experience, Adams explained that she loved every minute of it. As a former elite athlete and professional boxer, fear was not something she felt walking into the arena. In fact, it was made clear to the Gladiators backstage that no special treatment was wanted. She reportedly told them not to take it easy on her, a comment that perfectly sums up her competitive mindset and confidence.
Adams will be joined in the festive episode by fitness coach Joe Wicks, reality TV personality Sam Thompson, and TV presenter Vogue Williams. Together, the group will tackle the Gladiators in what promises to be a high-energy Christmas Day showdown. According to Adams, entering the Gladiators arena was actually less intimidating than stepping into a boxing ring, a comparison that highlights just how tough her sporting career had been.
Her boxing legacy remains remarkable. Adams competed professionally for 12 years and retired in 2019 with an undefeated record. She made history at the London 2012 Olympics by becoming the first woman to win Olympic gold in boxing, a feat she successfully repeated in Rio four years later. Her impact on British sport was further recognised in 2016, when she was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.
Television audiences will also remember Adams from Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, where she formed part of the show’s first same-sex pairing alongside Katya Jones. Interestingly, Adams has described Strictly as being harder than Gladiators, admitting that dancing pushed her far outside her comfort zone in ways sport never had.
Now, with Gladiators: Celebrity Special airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day, Adams’ appearance feels like a celebration of both nostalgia and resilience — a childhood dream realised by someone who has never shied away from a challenge.
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