Gladiators star Giant was on the verge of breaking down in tears as he revealed that he had been forced to pull out of the rest of the series following a recent injury.
The musclebound star – real name Jamie Christian-Johal – suffered an injury during a game of Powerball three weeks ago.
Briefly returning to the BBC show this week, Giant joined hosts Bradley and Barney Walsh with an update on his recovery – and the news wasn’t good.
‘So, in a game of Powerball I felt a pull in my bicep. Unfortunately, that’s going to take me out for the rest of series,’ he revealed.
As he spoke, fans in the arena chanted his name while waving banners – causing the big man to grow emotional.
As he spoke, he did so with a hitch in his voice, describing the fans’ reaction as ‘the hard thing’ about his injury and subsequent time out from the show.
‘They love you man,’ Bradley remarked as the fans reacted with audible disappointment to Giant’s absence from the rest of the series.
‘I know, and that’s what the hard thing is, right?’ Giant said, taking pause to breathe. ‘You know? I see all these… these Giant banners and they’re the guys that make me want to do this.’
‘But the fact that I’ve still got one great arm, two amazing legs and a cracking set of teeth, can’t go wrong with that,’ he added.
Viewers on social media were also quick to wish the Gladiator well, with TheMadMidlander writing on X: ‘Great to have an update from Giant – I would like to wish him well.’
‘Giant nearly crying 😭😭😭’ sobbed michellepryde.
‘No more Giant this series. Booo!’ bemoaned GavinWi79234383.
‘Gonna miss that Giant piece of hunk! He is such a sweet gentle giant. Volunteering to massage his biceps better,’ said thetalentguru.
Elsewhere in the episode, Giant’s old nemesis Nathan returned, having previously survived their bout in a game of Duel.
‘That was my favourite point of the show,’ Nathan recalled, when Bradley asked what it had been like to go the distance with Giant. ‘Managing to go the full 30 seconds.’
‘Another five seconds as well, you never know what might’ve happened. I did have him wobbled at the end, but it was absolutely amazing.’
He managed to beat out former paratrooper Andy for a place in the semifinals, setting a new Eliminator record of 59 seconds.
Giant’s injury comes only weeks after one competitor sustained a particularly ‘gnarly’ in The Ring, pulling a hamstring as he tussled with Apollo – and going on to complete the eliminator regardless.
Gladiators airs Saturdays at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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