Gladiator Bionic's life off screen includes an accident that derailed his dreams

BBC One's Gladiators features a line-up of 16 new strong men and women. We take a closer look at the life of Matty Campbell, Gladiator Bionic, who once had ambitions to become a footballer

The smash hit telly contest from the '90s is back and 16 new superhumans have been selected as Gladiators. They include Bionic, the childhood footballer turned bodybuilder who can't wait to take on new event Collision.

Matty Campbell, born in Middlesbrough, excelled at both sprinting and football as a child but his main passion was the beautiful game. Reaching Academy level due to his talent, he dreamed of becoming a football professional player until a car accident curtailed his hopes.

Matty turned to the gym to rehabilitate and, finding an aptitude for training, instead became a bodybuilder. He can deadlift an impressive 300kg in weight, which is the same as lifting 66 PS5 games consoles. Lining up alongside weightlifting champions and Olympians in the new team of male and female Gladiators, the bodybuilder couldn't be happier.

"Never in a million years did I expect to get the call to be a Gladiator, it's a feeling that'll never sink in," he said. "I'm just a normal lad from Teesside! All the training and hard work has finally paid off for me, I can’t wait to get started."

"Bionic is a machine," added the fitness addict of his Gladiator persona. "As soon as that game starts, he’s in the zone. he’s got to get the job done. When that whistle goes, that's it, he’s into competitive mode."

Bionic stands 6ft 6ins tall and he thinks events Duel and Gauntlet will suit his "strength and power", saying: "I already knew that I'd be good at Duel, it was Gauntlet that I wanted to master. Whilst I'm really big and quite intimidating, you also need to be quick and good foot placement is important playing Gauntlet.”

The bodybuilder believes he will excel at new event Collision too, which sees contenders cross a bridge while Gladiators swing like wrecking balls. "I think people will be surprised when they watch me on Collision," he said. "I'm more than just a big brute who will knock you off a podium but I will do that too."

Matty enjoyed a lighthearted rivalry with one of the show's referees, former professional football Mark Clattenburg, during filming. “Me and Mark have a fun, love hate relationship because he's a Newcastle lad and I'm from Middlesbrough," said Matty. "The whole football rivalry, especially with him being a former ref. We're always messing about backstage."

Watch Gladiators on Saturdays at 5.50pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer