Radzi battles back in TV torment

Millions of TV viewers will tomorrow see a Wolverhampton student become the second Black Country contender to take on the fearsome new Gladiators for a shot at the revived cult show's £50,000 jackpot.

Long jumper and karate expert Radzi Chinyanganya's had a disastrous four events and started the final Eliminator assault course with a huge time gap to make up on his opponent.

But the 21-year-old, who at 10st 5lb and 5ft 8in is one of the smallest contestants in the series, clawed his way back into the race to be involved in one of the most dramatic finishes in the history of Gladiators.

Ex-Hednesford Town footballer Tom Ward appeared in the opening episode last Sunday and won a place in the quarter-finals.

Picture courtesy of Sky One/Andi Southamnextpage

Although Radzi, who is studying economics at Loughborough University, is sworn to secrecy over whether he triumphed in tomorrow's second episode, he said that both he and his fellow contender, an ex-rugby player and boxer from Cumbria, failed to make it up the Travelator - an uphill treadmill just before the finish - at the first attempt.

Picture courtesy of Sky One/Justin Downingnextpage

"I knew I had to make up a big time deficit in the Eliminator, but strangely, instead of being focussed on my start, all I could think about at that point was having steak and chips," said Radzi, from Claregate, Wolverhampton.

"When the referee blew the whistle for me to go, I forgot to take a breath before diving into the water and under the flames, but I had a really good cargo net and started to catch up."

Picture courtesy of Sky One/Andi Southamnextpage

"As I got to the top of the Travelator at the end, my legs went from beneath me and I went back down head-first. I felt like such a muppet. The other contender also failed to make it up first time, so I had another go.

"A few people on the show told me it was one of the most dramatic ever finishes to an Eliminator."

The Arsenal fan said meeting his hero, ex-footballer and Gladiators host Ian Wright, was a huge thrill.

Gladiators is on Sky One at 6pm tomorrow.

Picture courtesy of Sky One/Andi Southam