Louise Minchin: ‘Doing Gladiators at my age is terrifying – I was really worried’
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Former BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin has revealed how ‘terrifying’ her experience on Celebrity Gladiators was. The presenter, 56, is taking part in the gruelling reality competition alongside Joel Dommett, comedian Rob Beckett and actress Ellie Taylor.
![[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-fad7-e1735295617363.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
It’s her latest adrenaline-filled challenge after the I’m A Celebrity star, who left the BBC in 2021 after 20 years before confirming a shock return, took on several triathlons in recent years, leaving fans ‘inspired’ as she broke down barriers.
![[Gladiators Celebrity Special,01-01-2025,Celebrity Special ,1,Rob Beckett, Ellie Taylor, Bradley Walsh, Barney Walsh, Louise Minchin, Joel Dommett,*** UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 00:00:01 26-11-2024 ***,? Hungry Bear Media Ltd,Graeme Hunter]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_231230187-a69d.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Recalling her time filming the programme, which comes after the BBC revived Gladiators last year, Louise told Metro: ‘It was the most fun I think I’ve ever had when I’m supposedly working. It was absolutely hilarious, terrifying, and utterly brilliant. I loved every single moment of it.’.
![[Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock (14712510an) Louise Minchin 'Lorraine' TV show, London, UK - 11 Sep 2024]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_221086947-fca7.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
She went on: ‘I was really worried, because the Gladiators are like made of steel, they’re so strong and they’re so good at all the different games. ‘I was 55 when I did it, I was really worried, I’ve got really bad knees and all sorts of things. I was kind of worried going into it that I would fall over or twist my knee, hurt my ankle, so yeah I was really worried.’.
![[LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Louise Minchin reacts after competing during the 2023 TCS London Marathon on April 23, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_153119737-2817.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
She added that though the four celebrities had ‘a bit of warning’, they’d not had months to train like the contestants on the amateur series. ‘So yeah I was absolutely terrified that I was going to hurt myself. The next day, I was in agony, because you are properly put through your paces in lots of different ways, bashed around and falling over, so the next day I could hardly walk but it was all worth it.’.
![[NAMIB DESERT, NAMIBIA - FEBRUARY 25: Louise Minchin walks across the sand on Day 2 of the Sport Relief challenge: The Heat is On, as the team sets off on February 25, 2020 in the Namib Desert, Namibia. They are teaming up for Sport Relief to take on a 100-mile desert expedition over four days in which they will attempt to traverse the Namib desert in Namibia, Africa by foot, bike and ski (on sand) to reach a shipwreck on the notorious skeleton Coast. (Photo by Leo Francis/Comic Relief via Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PRI_142417332-3e70.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
