Teesside’s very own Gladiator Matty Campbell from Middlesbrough may now be known as Bionic but his journey to stardom has been anything but smooth.
Appearing on BBC’s The One Show this evening (February 5), Matty opened up about a traumatic car crash when he was 17 that ended his dreams of becoming a professional footballer.
After coming out with a punctured lung, broken ribs, badly broken ankle, Matty revealed he “couldn’t walk” but rehab saw him develop his love for the gym, leading him to life as a Gladiator.
“Gladiators has changed my life but getting here hasn’t been easy,” the 6ft 6in bodybuilder begun.
Reminiscing on the crash, Matty’s mum Caroline said: “It was probably one of the worst nights of my life.
In the segment, Matty opened up about his mental health struggles and also paid a visit to James Cook University Hospital and spoke to a young patient who reminded him of his young self.
Speaking of rehab, he admitted that “everything has led to where I am now”.
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He added: “There have been some tough moments along the way but it is great to be involved in something that makes me and my family proud.”
Gladiators was filmed in Sheffield last year, and launched on BBC One on January 13.
The Chase presenter Bradley Walsh and his son Barney host the 11-episode series, which has seen the Gladiators take on contenders in new and old games, culminating with classic challenge The Eliminator.
As well as bodybuilders, among the Gladiators line-up are Olympians and weightlifting champions.
