I played Eliminator as a kid... now I’m lifting the real deal
●Fin and Marie win Gladiators ●He dreamed of victory for 29yrs
AS Gladiators champ Finlay Anderson held his trophy high, he fulfilled a dream he’d held from the tender age of five.
The Army officer, 34, was hooked on the show in its 90s heyday and as a kid, practised his moves in the events at his grandmother’s house. Finlay and personal trainer Marie-louise Nicholson, 28, were crowned the show’s victors last night.
Millions tuned in to watch the grand final on BBC One, which saw admin assistant Wesley Male, 35, and firefighter Bronte Jones, 24, named runners-up. Clutching his trophy, Finlay, who is deployed overseas, told host Bradley Walsh: “This is definitely the most surreal moment ever, from five-year-old me playing the Eliminator in my granny’s living room to lifting the real deal. This is unbelievable.”
Mindset
The company commander, from Edinburgh, admitted he expected to be heckled by his colleagues in 2 Scots regiment as they watched the final.
He previously said his “military mindset” helped him get through tough events like Duel, Gauntlet and The Wall.
Finlay had lost to Wesley, from Leeds, in the quarterfinals after an injury to his ribs – but he made it through to the finals for being the fastest runner-up.
And Dublin-born Marielouise was crowned women’s champ after beating Bronte from Sheffield, South Yorks.
Marie-louise said: “Bronte was on my tail the whole time. What a competitor to go up against. We’re both winners in my eyes.”
Gladiators originally aired on ITV from 1992 until 2000, but a reboot by Sky in 2008 and 2009 was a flop.
The show returned in January with father-and-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh presenting, and a new set of Gladiators including Giant, Nitro and Legend.
Bosses this week announced that Gladiators will return for a second series after the debut episode pulled in 6.4million viewers.
That made it the UK’S biggest entertainment launch since 2017.