Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey has revealed his mindset shift since becoming a father, admitting he used to be ‘selfish’.
The TV personality is best known now for appearing as Nitro on the BBC revival of the game show.
Harry, 37, also reached a new audience last year when he was eliminated sixth on Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with professional dancer Karen Hauer.
But before his glittering showbiz era of bright studio lights and mixing with huge celebs, Harry had a successful sporting career as a sprinter, and participated in the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.
In 2023, he decided it was time to hang up his running shoes and gold medals, opting to transition to television so he could spend more time with his wife, Lauren, and their daughter, Aubreé-Isla.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the athlete reflected on ‘compromises’ he’s made in raising his five-year-old, saying his daughter is his ‘entire world’.
‘I selfishly did a lot of things for myself as a sprinter, as an Olympic athlete,’ he confessed. ‘You compromise and sacrifice on a lot of things around life. But the moment you have a child…
‘I was sad when she was born because I was like, “She won’t know me as a sprinter and having won X amount of medals.” But that was so selfish of me.’
Harry added that he’s now actually been ‘given an even greater gift’, as his daughter can watch him on Gladiators and shows like MasterChef, which he appeared on in 2024, because they will teach her ‘different things about life’.
‘I can’t even get a chopping board out without her being next to me after MasterChef. She cooks with me all the time,’ he said sweetly, noting that Strictly also made the little one keen to dance.
As a result, Harry took her to a performing arts school, suggesting she could also be destined for a future in the public eye.
‘And Gladiators is teaching her to be the best version of herself and to be confident, to be proud,’ he continued, joking that Aubreé-Isla will ask her friends if they ‘want to meet Nitro’.
‘She really appreciates the role that I play and me and my wife we definitely support her in a way that allows us to try and have an essence of normality within the house.’
Harry has said he chose Nitro as his Gladiator name because he’s a ‘form of energy’ himself.
He was announced as a Gladiator three years ago when the iconic programme was rebooted, with his character becoming one of the most popular among viewers.
Filming for the next season is now underway, which is what Harry is focused on.
But Strictly isn’t the only BBC show undergoing a switch-up this year, as Gladiators is introducing new faces as well, replacing those who have been axed. Earlier this year, Giant was sensationally let go, allegedly because bosses didn’t approve of his romance with an OnlyFans model, from whom he’s since split.
It then emerged that Bionic and Athena have suffered injuries, meaning they must sit out of the next outing of the Bradley and Barney Walsh-hosted show.
Finally, Cyclone, who made history as the first Irish Gladiator, will not be returning either and has removed all traces of the show from her social media. Insiders have suggested she’s ‘not happy’ about being given the chop, although the reasons why remain unclear.
According to reports, Olympic champion skeleton racer Tabby Stoecker is one of the replacements for the departed Gladiators, joining fitness influencer and weightlifter Florence Wong, who’ll perform as Huntress.
World’s Strongest Man Tom Stoltman, who hails from the Scottish Highlands, has also been confirmed, calling the casting a ‘dream opportunity’ and one he’s ‘incredibly proud’ of.
‘I’ve spent my life pushing myself to see what I can achieve, and joining this incredible show is the next challenge,’ he said.
‘I’m excited to bring my strength, determination and personality to the arena, but, most importantly, I want people watching to feel inspired to believe in themselves and take on their own challenges.’
The muscle man was hired to replace Giant (Jamie Bigg), despite reports of behind-the-scenes uproar over the Gladiator’s firing and co-stars vowing to ‘band together’ to get him back.
Fans will have to wait until 2027 to catch the newbies in action in the regular series, but there’s the celebrity version to look forward to in the meantime.
It’s been announced that the upcoming Celebrity Special will see Big Brother presenter AJ Odudu alongside comedians Chris Ramsey and Sara Pascoe and influencer George Clarke.
The four stars will face the challenges of Powerball, Unleash, and Duel, and, of course, the final gruelling eliminator.
Gladiators returns to the BBC later this year.