Who is Gladiators star Bionic?

The BBC show's towering Gladiator is a former footballer - here's all you need to know.

Gladiators welcomes Bionic back to the arena. (BBC)
Gladiators welcomes Bionic back to the arena. (BBC)

Gladiators has welcomed Bionic back to the arena for a second series on the BBC reboot - but who is the towering star, and what qualified him to become a Gladiator?

Standing at a huge 6ft 6in, fan favourite Bionic looks made to be a Gladiator and made his debut in the 2024 revived version of the show. Added to his disciplined attitude to training and resilient nature, he's a perfect fit for the new generation cast.

Here's all you need to know about Bionic's background in sport and life outside of TV as he takes on another series of contenders.

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Gladiators at The Trafford Centre, Manchester.  PIC shows L-R: Diamond (Livi Sheldon),  Bionic (Matty Campbell) and Dynamite (Emily Steel).
Bionic's real name is Matty Campbell. (PA Images)

The Gladiator's real name is Matty Campbell and he's a fitness enthusiast from Middlesborough who stands at an impressive 6ft 6in.

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Campbell started out as a sprinter and Academy-level footballer who was hoping to make a career from his sport.

But he was involved in a serious car crash that ended his footballing dreams and led to him taking up bodybuilding as he worked through rehabilitation after his accident.

The results of Campbell's time in the gym have more than paid off as he was cast as a Gladiator for the BBC reboot. Posing alongside some of his castmates in December 2023 ahead of the launch, he predicted how huge a hit the show would become as he posted: "Wild day yesterday at the BBC, start of something special with this lot…"

Campbell's newfound stardom has also allowed him to get back into his first love, football, from time to time. He took part in a charity football match for Great Ormond Street Hospital in summer 2024.

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He posted a photo of himself holding the trophy on Instagram and wrote: "Surreal day yesterday at the @goals4gosh charity match. Met some amazing people, just an overall mad experience! Was a pleasure to play for such an amazing charity."

Like many of his co-stars, he has found plenty of new best friends in the cast and often shares photos on social media of them training together or enjoying nights out. Last year, he was in the audience at Strictly Come Dancing to support Montell Douglas, aka Fire.

Bionic loves to banter with Mark Clattenburg (left). (BBC)
Bionic loves to banter with Mark Clattenburg (left). (BBC)

Bionic has thrown himself into life in the arena and shared which of the games were his favourites.

He said: "Duel and Gauntlet. They require a lot of strength and power, but I think people will be surprised when they watch me on Collision. I'm more than just a big brute who will knock you off a podium....but I will do that too.

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"I already knew that I'd be good at Duel. It was Gauntlet that I wanted to master. Whilst I'm really big and quite intimidating, you also need to be quick and good foot placement is important playing Gauntlet."

Bionic is certainly intimidating for contenders, but one person who refuses to be daunted by him is referee Mark Clattenburg.

He said: "Me and Mark have a fun, love hate relationship because he's a Newcastle lad and I'm from Middlesbrough and the whole football rivalry, especially with him being a former ref. We're always messing about backstage."

Gladiators continues on BBC One at 5:50pm on Saturdays.