Diane Youdale, better known as Jet, was one of the most prominent competitors in the original ITV show Gladiators, which aired between 1992 and 2000.
She was introduced as the show’s “very own Wonder Woman.” During her time on the show, she survived a near-death experience that almost broke her neck.
The accident occurred during a Gladiators event at Wembley Arena in north London in 1996, though it was not shown live on TV. Diane, 26 at the time of that ordeal, had initially won her place on the show after ‘blitzing’ an Army assault course at Woolwich Barracks in south-east London.
She was stretchered out of the arena and taken to an ambulance in agony, where she thought she was going to roll away while her limbs still worked. She decided to bow out of the show after four years.
Jet’s Life After Gladiators
Jet has since been working as a psychotherapist, spending time between her native north-east England and Surrey. She has almost 20,000 Twitter followers and hosts podcasts and YouTube fitness videos.
Diane previously spoke on ITV’s morning show Lorraine last August about her engagement to teacher Zoe Gilbert after they first met at her local supermarket. In another interview with the Chillin’ With Ice podcast, she told of being approached by a ‘gorgeous lady’ in Tesco.
Diane – who now has almost 20,000 Twitter followers and hosts podcasts and YouTube fitness videos – was earlier in a relationship with ex-Gladiators co-star Hunter James Crossley. She has since been a psychotherapist, spending time between her native north-east England and Surrey.
Diane described Zoe as her first same-sex partner – although a former Miss England contestant, Sonia Strong, subsequently disputed that. The pair have shared photos on Instagram of their relationship after meeting in a supermarket.
Gladiators Reboot
The show that made Jet’s name is about to get a Saturday night primetime reboot on the BBC. The series, hosted by Bradley Walsh and son Barney, has competitors including deaf jiu-jitsu champ and rugby player Jodie Ounsley as Fury, weightlifting champion Sheli McCoy as Sabre, and former GB bobsleigh team member Toby Olubi as Phantom.
The new 11-episode reboot has been accused of going ‘woke’ after axing both cheerleaders and specific ‘skimpy’ costumes. The BBC has promised a new crop of ‘superhumans’ competing against contestants in the new Gladiators showcase dubbed the ‘ultimate test of speed and strength’.
