One of the stars of the original iteration of Gladiators has admitted how he was forced to ‘sign on the dole’ after filming his first stint on the show.
52-year-old James Crossley, aka Hunter, appeared on the sports entertainment series from 1993 to 2000, before it was rebooted by the BBC in 2024 with father-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh at the helm.
Joining the series at the age of 19 – back when it still aired on ITV – Hunter was the show’s youngest UK Gladiator.
When the show ended in January 2000, he subsequently found work as a musician and sound healer, specialising in the handpan, gongs and other percussion instruments.
However, it took James some time to find his feet, especially during the show’s second series.
Appearing on the Remember Me? podcast with Maisie Adam and Scott Bryan, James shared how he spent six months on the dole after filming had wrapped in the ’90s.
Talking about what he’d done after filming on the show’s second series wrapped (his first as Gladiator Hunter), James described how he and fellow Gladiators Lightning, Jet and Trojan had travelled to Los Angeles together.
He continued: ‘We thought we’d go on holiday, so we all went on holiday and went to Gold’s gym and all the things in LA… because we were all into that stuff.
‘And then I came back, and I basically had no money left, and I couldn’t work because I was doing [Gladiators], so I remember signing on the dole when I’d finished the filming.
‘I signed on for about five or six months, and then I started getting the appearances.’
The money then started rolling in as he attended fan events and signings in character as Hunter.
(Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
This comes days after the announcement that Hunter will join co-stars Jet, Lightning and Saracen at a special reunion event.
With the third series of the BBC reboot underway, the four original Gladiators will appear live for Gladiators Experience at the NEC in Birmingham.
This will give viewers a chance to come face-to-face with some of the show’s (literally and figuratively) biggest heroes in a series of challenges and photo opportunities.
Hunter described the experience as ‘brilliant,’ describing the show as a ‘huge part of his life.’
‘I was lucky enough to spend many years in my twenties having an incredible time competing on those iconic games,’ he said.
‘To see that viewers are now getting the chance to step into that world and have a go themselves is really exciting.’
Co-star Saracen said: ‘I never imagined that I would still be a gladiator over 30 years after the original show aired on TV.
‘This shows the popularity and influence the show has on the public and how important health and fitness has been, and I am extremely proud to have contributed to this. This event is the next chapter of the Gladiator’s story, and this will extend into the future.’
Jet also added: ‘It gives me “gladiatorially” great pleasure to be hosting, supporting, and encouraging all abilities in our iconic show.
‘Proving you’ve the speed, the strength, and the heart to be winners.’
The Gladiators Experience will open from May 1 until August 31 at the NEC Birmingham.
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