BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin's new career move announced after show exit

Broadcaster Louise Minchin, TV presenter Joel Dommett, comedian Rob Beckett and actress Ellie Taylor are gearing up for a celebrity special of Gladiators.

The quartet of stars will be put through their paces as they face off against the "superhuman" Gladiators in a series of gruelling challenges.

Their mettle will be further tested as they compete against each other in the punishing obstacle course known as the Eliminator.

Former BBC Breakfast host and accomplished triathlete Minchin expressed her excitement about participating in the show, which she has watched for years and described as "terrifying fun".

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The 55-year-old took up endurance sports after taking part in a festive cycling challenge for the BBC in 2012 and has since represented the GB triathlon team internationally in her age group.

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Ellie Taylor (Yui Mok/PA) (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Comedian and host of Survivor and Masked Singer, Dommett, confessed that it had always been his dream to tackle the show's infamous travelator.

"I've been illegally running up escalators backwards all my life in preparation and now it's happening for real," he quipped.

"Super excited to be up against all my favourite muscley people in leotards and have some fun."

Earlier this year, he completed the London Marathon donned in the Piranha costume from The Masked Singer, weighing around 8kg, to raise funds for the charity Shooting Star Children's Hospices.

Ted Lasso and ex-Strictly contestant Taylor revealed her decision to join the show, saying: "What's the most elaborate thing you'd do to get your five year old a foam finger? " She enthused, "We all love the show in my house and I'm so excited to take part."

Rob Beckett (Ian West/PA) (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

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"I can't wait to get chased by athletic goddesses and ask Viper about his childhood."

Taylor previously danced with Johannes Radebe on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, but the duo were knocked out just shy of the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, comedian and '8 Out Of 10 Cats' skipper Beckett exclaimed: "I can't wait to be absolutely crushed by the Gladiators in front of my wife and children in Spandex whilst I watch Joel Dommett and his six-pack sprint past me on the travelator."

In his usual self-deprecating style, he jested, "This is going to be a catastrophic humiliation in front of the nation. I've got no idea why I agreed to this. Is it too late to pull out?"

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'Gladiators', the cult-classic competition series that originally aired from 1992 until 2000, made a comeback earlier this year with a fresh lineup of 16 "superhumans" - including Olympic athletes and bodybuilding titans.

Bradley Walsh, popular for hosting The Chase, together with his son Barney presented the new 11-episode revival which culminated with Marie-Louise Nicholson and Finlay Anderson taking the winning titles.

The BBC has given the green light for a second season of this muscular melee.

Fans can look forward to tuning into the high-octane one-hour special on BBC One and catch-up on iPlayer.

BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin's new career move announced after show exit

BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin's new career move announced after show exit

BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin's new career move announced after show exit

BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin's new career move announced after show exit

BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin's new career move announced after show exit