³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

It was Saturday night TV heaven: muscle-bound athletes taking on the well-exercised man in the street in nail-biting events like Hang Tough, Duel and The Wall.

Gladiators was axed after an eight-year run on ITV in 2000 after ratings dropped, but now the show has been revived for Sky One and one of its stars hails from Docking in north-west Norfolk.

His new screen name of Oblivion may sound rather mighty, but to his friends and family he's known as Nick Aldis.

Presenter Kirsty Gallacher with Oblivion

The 21-year-old is winning an army of fans after some impressive displays of power on the series, which goes out at 6pm on Saturdays and is presented by former footballer Ian Wright and Kirsty Gallacher.

Youngest Gladiator

Nick, who is the youngest Gladiator on the new team, landed the dream job after carving out a reputation as a professional wrestler, after attending Smithdon High School and sixth form in Hunstanton.

Winning a coveted place in the Gladiators star team came at the right moment for Nick, who was concentrating on saving the money he was earning from wrestling to fund acting classes - and it seems he was a find for the show's producers too.

"I think they approached me as they saw somebody who was athletic," said Nick.

"I think what they saw in me was that I break a lot of stereotypes.

"I'm articulate, more educated and I've got an acting background. I think they thought there's somebody who lends himself to Gladiators."

Hopeful for second series

Filming for the first series at Shepperton studios in Middlesex has now wrapped up, but Nick and his fellow Gladiators are hoping that the show will be picked up for a second run after scoring highly in the ratings for the digital satellite channel.

While Nick waits to find out the show's future, he's heading back to the gym after losing a stone while taking part in the show's calorie-draining games.

Oblivion celebrates another triumph

"It's back onto full-on training now," said Nick.

"During the five weeks of training and filming we really couldn't get into the gym and keep up our normal routines, it was all games-specific training."

As one of the stars of a prime time show, Nick is getting used to the attention that fame brings, which his girlfriend, Vicki, of two years has been understanding about.

"Of all the Gladiators I'm not going to be the main pin-up," he said, "but it goes with the territory that you're going to get a bit of attention.

"I've actually had as much attention from the gay community as I have from women."

While Nick's on-screen persona of Oblivion is enjoying pitting his wits and might against a string of well-honed contenders, he's already aware that it's a career he won't be able to sustain forever.

Hollywood ambition

"What I want it to do is open doors to acting," said Nick.

Nick Aldis shows off his strength

"At 30 I want to be in Hollywood or doing whatever so I can make good money and still have a great life and not put my body at risk.

"I've seen what happens to people who stay at it too long. I don't want to be in a wheelchair when I'm 50, I want to be healthy and happy," he added.

While in the Gladiators' spotlight though, Nick hopes he can be a good role model for children by encouraging them to get involved in more unusual sports.

"Not everybody is going to be great at football, or cricket or tennis, but the problem is there's a lot of emphasis on football," he said.

"Rock-climbing is something I've gone mad for as we spent two weeks going rock-climbing every day training for the wall.

"The amount of emphasis that should be put on gymnastics to develop you as an all-round athlete should be way more."