The winners of Gladiators: Celebrity Special have been crowned after tackling a series of gruelling physical challenges on New Year’s Day. Comedians Joel Dommett, 39, and Ellie Taylor, 41, have won the BBC spin-off after beating off competition from Rob Beckett, 39, and former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin, 56.
Image Credit: Metro [EMBARGOED TO 1900 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 1 For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of Joel Dommett who has been crowned winner of the Gladiators celebrity special. Joel beat off competition from Rob Beckett in the game which sees contenders take on resident gladiators in a series of physical challenges before facing obstacle course, the Eliminator. Issue date: Wednesday January 1, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Gladiators . Photo credit should read: BBC/Graeme Hunter/Hungry Bear Media Ltd/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.]
Upon winning, Ellie told co-host Bradley Walsh: ‘I can’t believe I’ve just done that.’. ‘I’ve had such a wonderful time with Louise, it’s been brilliant, I’m really proud of myself’, the Ted Lasso actor added. At the beginning of the show, Ellie, who gave birth to her second child in November 2023, said she wanted to show mothers with babies that ‘we can do hard things’.
Image Credit: Metro [For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of Rob Beckett as he appears in BBC's Gladiators Celebrity Special. Issue date: Monday December 30, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Gladiators . Photo credit should read: Graeme Hunter/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.]
Speaking to co-host Barney Walsh after his win Joel said: ‘It was so tough, I knew Rob was there the entire time. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video. Up Next.
Image Credit: Metro [Gladiators Celebrity Special,01-01-2025,Celebrity Special ,1,Louise Minchin,*** UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 00:00:01 10-12-2024 ***,? Hungry Bear Media Ltd,Graeme Hunter]
‘We’ve been so scared all day of that cargo net we’re both absolutely petrified of heights, the fact that I did that, I just feel like we’ve overcome something really amazing.’. The Masked Singer host continued: ‘I’ve dreamed of going up that travelator since I was about nine years old and hearing the crowd roar and going up that travelator, it’s like genuinely a dream come true. So thank you so much for having me, it’s been a pleasure.’.
![[EMBARGOED TO 1900 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 1 For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of Joel Dommett who has been crowned winner of the Gladiators celebrity special. Joel beat off competition from Rob Beckett in the game which sees contenders take on resident gladiators in a series of physical challenges before facing obstacle course, the Eliminator. Issue date: Wednesday January 1, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Gladiators . Photo credit should read: BBC/Graeme Hunter/Hungry Bear Media Ltd/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_234695490-5f9d.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of Rob Beckett as he appears in BBC's Gladiators Celebrity Special. Issue date: Monday December 30, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Gladiators . Photo credit should read: Graeme Hunter/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_234537957-788b.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[Gladiators Celebrity Special,01-01-2025,Celebrity Special ,1,Louise Minchin,*** UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 00:00:01 10-12-2024 ***,? Hungry Bear Media Ltd,Graeme Hunter]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234186787-d8c2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
