Former Gladiators star Giant has opened up about the long-term impact of his steroid use.
The bodybuilder, whose name is Jamie Bigg, joined the BBC revival of Gladiators in 2024 and revealed in April this year that he wouldn’t be returning for the fourth series, claiming he’d been ‘axed’.
Weeks of headlines followed, as Jamie alleged that he had been dropped due to his girlfriend, Taylor Ryan, from whom he’s now split, being an OnlyFans creator.
In the aftermath, Jamie wrote on social media that he’s been doing some ‘soul-searching’ to be the ‘best version’ of himself, which has involved speaking candidly about his health.
Appearing on the Men’s Health podcast, Jamie, 40, revealed that he took steroids ‘for the best part of 10 years’ in his quest for a super buff physique.
But as a result, he was left infertile.
‘Steroids basically make you infertile if you don’t do certain things, and I took steroids for the best part of 10 years,’ he began.
‘I just wondered, at 40 years old, “Where is my sperm count? Am I fertile?”
‘So, I had a check in January and zero. Absolutely nothing.
‘And that was definitely, 100%, down to steroid usage.’
Jamie then explained that he ‘went on a fertility protocol for three months’ and then had a retest of his sperm count.
‘And I got my sperm back. So hooray! 40 years old, and I’m fertile,’ he declared.
Do steroids cause infertility?
‘Regularly taking anabolic steroids can lead to physical and psychological changes in both men and women, as well as potentially dangerous medical conditions,’ says the NHS.
They list infertility as a possible physical effect for men.
Steroid use can lead to sharp drops in sperm count, or sperm production can stop entirely. It can also cause shrunken testicles.
For many, fertility returns after stopping the drugs, but it can take several months, sometimes a year, for things to return to normal.
Long-term or heavy misuse increases the risk of permanent damage.
‘But the point is, steroids can essentially mean that you can’t have children.’
He went on to stress that ‘taking steroids is life-changing’, which is a message he believes is important to teach 16- and 17-year-olds going to the gym and being offered them.
‘And I think that children have access to social media, and what’s looking back at them is a 16-year-old lad with abs. 16-year-old lad who has got a big bicep or a big tricep.
‘Then they’re perhaps looking at that correlation between them getting girls.
‘So there is a lot of pressure for people to say, “Oh, how do I get there? And how do I get there as fast as I can?”‘
‘Everybody is in a rush now. It’s like instant gratification. We’re looking for admiration,’ Jamie admitted, adding that people are constantly seeking ‘likes, comments, and follows’.
‘If people see a shortcut with seemingly no risk, because people aren’t going to discuss the risk with them, then they are going to take it.’
Jamie has two children with his ex-wife, Katie, whom he was with for 11 years.
The couple split late last year, unfollowing each other and deleting all pictures together on Instagram.
At the time, Jamie said he ‘became busier’, and the demands of his work put pressure on his home life.
Several months later, Jamie’s new romance with adult content creator Taylor became public, leading to him being dropped from Gladiators.
When he announced that he wouldn’t be returning, Jamie made it clear it was ‘not his decision’, while BBC bosses simply issued the statement: ‘After three formidable series, Giant is leaving Gladiators. We’d like to thank him for everything he has contributed to the show and wish him well for the future.’
He later told the Daily Mail: ‘I made it clear that I was planning to go public with my relationship, including the fact my partner works as an OnlyFans creator, and shortly after that, I was told I wouldn’t be continuing on Gladiators.
‘It wasn’t something I expected, especially given the commitment I’ve shown to the role.
‘I’ve always taken being in the public eye seriously, and I believe being a role model is about honesty as well as professionalism.
‘For me, that means not hiding parts of who I am or the people I care about.’
Numerous co-stars supported Jamie via social media likes and comments, with reports claiming many were plotting to ‘band together’ behind the scenes to campaign for his return.
Jamie and Taylor split in June, but sources said they ‘haven’t ruled out getting back together in the future’.
While Jamie is now on his ‘growth’ journey, Taylor has been throwing shade, hinting at being ‘betrayed’ by her ex and revealing she’s been in therapy.