I could beat new Gladiators, claims Wolf

BODYBUILDER Michael Van Wijk, known as Wolf on the original Gladiators, has said he “100 per cent” could beat the rebooted show’s BBC cast.

The 71-year-old was one of the most famous members of the cast on the original sports entertainment show, which aired on ITV from 1992 to 2000, and featured across all eight series.

On Jan 13, a new generation of 16 “superhumans” will test their speed and strength against the contenders on BBC One.

Van Wijk said it was a “shame” he is not taking part in the new series and said the production company “did not bother coming back” to him about taking part.

He said: “I think they decided from the get-go that they would have nothing to do with the old show or nothing to do with any of the people, it was just [going to be a] completely new format, completely their way of doing it.

“I suppose because [it is airing on] the BBC and it was ITV, they just want to be completely separate. That’s just my personal opinion.”

When asked if he could take on the contenders in the current Gladiators series, who include Montell Douglas, the Team GB sprinter and Olympic bobsledder, and Sheli Mccoy, the Crossfit champion, Van Wijk replied: “Absolutely, 100 per cent, I wouldn’t even worry about it.”

Mumbai-born Van Wijk, who played the villain on the original series, said the new cast should try to “make your character so strong that it stands out”.

Van Wijk, who also featured on the Sky revival in 2008 and 2009, said: “When we did the very first photo shoot, I said to myself, ‘I’m surrounded by these good-looking, super-fit athletes, if I want longevity on this show, I’ve got to do something that makes me stand out from these guys’.”

He added: “And when they gave me the name Wolf [that] was marvellous for me, because they gave me a chance to become the baddie and stand out from the rest of the crowd.”

The BBC series, hosted by presenter Bradley Walsh and his son Barney, was filmed in Sheffield last year.

Gladiators will launch on BBC One on Saturday at 5.50pm and will be available on BBC iplayer.

‘I think they decided from the get-go that they would have nothing to do with the old show’