GLADIATORS fans have spotted a major shake-up to the show after a series of horrifying injuries.
Nikki Billingham, a wedding celebrant from West Yorkshire was competing against gym owner Keeva from Belfast in the physically challenging game show.
Some fans have spotted a major shake-up to prevent the number of contestant injuries[/caption]
Nikki Billingham was forced off the show during The Edge challenge[/caption]
However, Nikki was injured during the third event, The Edge, a criss-cross grid and was forced off the show – leaving her with a painful injury and a month long recovery.
Some eagle-eyed viewers have now noticed that producers appear to be putting new measures in place to “safeguard” the contestants.
One pointed out: “You can see when they fall now they grab the net to stop themselves rolling and colliding.”
While someone else said : “I never want to see anyone get injured but I hope the Gladiators are not being told to go easy. I do fear someone being pushed so hard off The Edge that they miss the net altogether. There have been a few falls that were scarily close to the side of the net.”
This person replied: “I’ve thought that too! I hope it’s a matter of perspective and the close calls aren’t as close as they look!”
While someone else said the net appears to be bigger compared to series one.
They wrote: “The net looks wider now in series 2 than it did in the first series.”
Some fans pointed out the various injuries that have happened on the show since the reboot.
And this fan said: “”They look like they’re actively trying to avoid it [dangerous games] for that very reason.”
Forced off
Nikki was badly injured during The Edge, The Edge, a criss-cross grid in the air that contestants have to run across while gladiators try to push them off.
Dynamite, a weightlifter called Emily Steel, pushed Nikki off the rail and she fell on the safety net below in the TV show The Gladiators.
However, as Dynamite checked in on her, Nikki winced in pain and the commentator said: “There’s some concern from Dynamite, Nikki looks like she’s got herself injured.”
As the clip replayed, the commentator added: “Well it looks like there was something in the landing, let’s hope Nikki is okay.”
Shockingly, Host Bradley Walsh was then forced to halt the show and he urged Nikki to get medical help.
Dynamite then expressed how absolutely amazing Nikki had done so far in the game and said: “No matter what happened up there and how she’s feeling right now, she (has) done so well to come this far, and she should be really proud of herself”.
Later in the show Bradley announced: “Earlier on we saw Nikki sustain an injury on ‘The Edge’.”
His son and co-host Barney added: “She’s been checked over by our brilliant medical team but unfortunately she will not be able to compete in the Eliminator.”
Now, Nikki has explained how bad her injuries were and that it took a while for her to feel better again.
Taking to social media after her elimination, Nikki began by explaining that being on the show was a childhood dream and that she’d had the best experience.
She explained: “You know what you are letting yourself in for and potential risks involved and unfortunately I did sustain an injury.
“When @dynamite_thegladiator did exactly what she was supposed to do and tackled me off the edge unfortunately when we landed, we landed together and my neck and arm took the brunt of it.
“I lost feeling in my arms, compression of my spine and it took a few weeks to come back and a few months to get fully back to where I was.”
But Nikki explained that she’s now back to full strength after hard work and gym sessions.
“Obviously I am gutted I didn’t get to do the eliminator, the most iconic part of the show!!
“I loved Gladiators as a kid growing up and to get on the show literally is a dream come true!.”
She praised the Gladiators in the show as super inspirational and amazing role models before finally thanking everyone.
“Thank you to everyone for your support and all the messages I have received. What a show!!” she said.
Nikki is not the only contestant to be injured.
Games have had to be paused a number of times for medics to rush to assist an injured contestant, with some being forced to withdraw.
Nikki spent a month recovering[/caption]
The celebrant said she ‘gutted’ she ‘didn’t get to do the eliminaton’[/caption]
Games have had to be paused a number of times for medics to rush to assist[/caption]
