Viewers are nostalgic about the original Gladiators series, screened on ITV between 1992 and 2000 (Image: ITV)
Could James Crossley be a contender for the title of worst injuries ever incurred on , after dislocating his shoulder a whopping five times?
The competitive bodybuilder, who performed as Hunter and famously dated show host , not only endured the pain, but refused to exit the scene of the combat, even when in agony. On one occasion, he claimed his entire shoulder was almost torn off.
“I dislocated my shoulder five times on Gladiators,” he confirmed to the , before admitting: “The pain is terrible – it’s like being shot.” He elaborated: “The first time it happened, I dropped to my knees and I remember being carried off the show, gritting my teeth and thinking to myself, ‘Keep smiling’, because I didn’t want the audience to see I was in agony.”
On the “very last show”, he dislocated it again on the first event, signalling that he’d begun to develop a weak spot from the repetitive injuries. He revealed: “The producers wanted to pull me out of filming completely, but I refused.
“Looking back, it was crazy – I ended up going straight to hospital after the show, but I’d won so it was worth it.” His attitude of going to extreme odds to ensure he triumphed paid off, as he became one of the nation’s best-known bodybuilders – but at what cost?
: [HEALTH FEARS]
Gladiators star James Crossley, who performed as Hunter (Image: ITV)
He’s since had two further operations, and in 2017 – despite having exited the hit show decades earlier – his shoulder was nearly “torn off” again.
His doctor subsequently warned him against taking part in any Strongman competitions – advice which he stated at the time would mark his final year of competing.
While in his early years he vowed that he’d sooner have “died” than get taken off the stage, it seems he has now toned down his physical exploits at the age of 51.
However, he’s unlikely to be withdrawing altogether from the public eye, as James has a secret weapon few who know of him from his Gladiators days are aware of – a talent for music.
He played guitar for almost 30 years and was a proud member of a band called The Watch, while he’s now active as a handpan player.
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Gladiators’ James Crossley as he looks nowadays (Image: GETTY)
When he first joined Gladiators in 1992, he had seven years of intensive bodybuilding training already under his belt, with rippling muscles and an impressive 19-inch arm circumference.
Incredibly, he claimed once that he was never a “natural” athlete or especially strong, but achieved what he did through the sheer power of focus and determination.
He was just 19 when he first appeared on the show, only for it to end when he was still in his 20s, but he continued to break world records for his feats of endurance for many years afterwards.
Unsurprisingly, James has claimed he’s a seasoned pro when it comes to pain management.
These days, he has a relatively modest following of just 50,000 people – and he’s virtually unrecognisable as he shows off his talents as a handpan player, even performing at festivals.