Gladiator's Giant says gameshow's success is 'madness'

The show has made Jamie Christian, from Ilkeston in Derbyshire, a big star

Derbyshire's gargantuan Gladiator Giant says he cannot imagine Saturday nights without the show.

The final four contenders - Finlay Anderson, Wesley Male, Bronte Jones, and Marie-Louise Nicholson - will take to Sheffield's Utilita Arena for this Saturday's showdown.

In the past 10 weeks, the show has become a Saturday night must-view for legions of fans old and new.

Some 9.8m viewers watched the relaunch of the show back in January.

Since then, the series has been averaging 8.3m viewers to date.

The figures made it the BBC's biggest entertainment launch in seven years - and it has gone from strength to strength since.

And 6ft 5in (1.95m) Giant - also known as Jamie Christian, from Ilkeston - has told BBC Radio Derby that the show becoming a family affair is key to its success.

Saturday nights and Gladiators have become intrinsically linked

Giant, who eats more than 10,000 calories a day to maintain his physique, said: "The best thing, for me, it's got my kids and every other parent's kids that I've spoken to in public out of the bedrooms, off the iPads and on the sofa with the family on Saturday night. That's the best thing that could have happened.

"We've got to thank the mums and dads that watched it back in the day. They've brought their kids into it.

"We've had to do a good job because they were watching it for nostalgic reasons and if they hadn't liked it, the kids wouldn't have come down from upstairs to watch it too.

"It just takes you back, for me that's been the most rewarding part of the whole thing. It's been madness.

"I'm still around the area, I've still got my gym in Ilkeston, but I can't go to my local Costa without having a few photos.

"But it's all good. I'm loving it."

The show's success has led Giant - who boasts 20.4in (52cm) biceps - to think season two will be just as popular.

Gladiator Giant says he feels "strangely comfortable" in his attire

On Thursday, the BBC confirmed a second season had been commissioned.

He said: "It's very positive news, the show's gone down to be a huge success, viewing ratings are fantastic."

But before then, there is still the small matter of this year's champions to be crowned.

Giant said: "The final has come around quick. The events themselves are one take but for the contenders it's their FA Cup final every single event, they've got their friends and families there, it's their moment to shine and they're giving it some beans.

"As gladiators we're expected to win at the end of the day, we've got to give it back 100%, it's very testing.

"With the final, as they say the best is yet to come. Everyone's going to be in for a great event.

"The two contestants for both male and female are fantastic in so many ways.

"They do give it all in the final, and the Gladiators step up as well. It's going to be a great one."

Gladiators - The Grand Final takes place on Saturday from 17:50 GMT on BBC One and iPlayer.