Couple take on TV's Gladiators together

An episode of BBC TV show Gladiators became a real family affair for one couple.

Lewis and Toni Prothero from Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, said competing in the show against other athletes had been an "incredible" experience.

Although they were each beaten by fellow contestants in their final obstacle course race, they've been told they're the first couple to compete together in the show.

Hair extension technician and firefighter Toni, 35, who works out daily, said she remembers watching the original show live as a 10-year-old and was proud their children, Mali, also 10, and Bodhi, four, could cheer on her and Lewis, 38, a former rugby player who now coaches.

Toni said it was "amazing and the best two weeks of our lives" even though they both needed ice baths to ease their sore bodies due to the rigours of the competition.

During the show, viewers watched as they attempted to dodge gladiators trying to tackle them in range of events, like climbing a wall, before battling it out with fellow competitors Mus, a youth worker from East London, and Amanda, a gym owner from Warrington, who both won their heats to go through to the next round.

Toni, who is now preparing for an Ironman endurance race in September, said: "I swim, bike run on repeat at the minute.

"I think I've bitten off more than I can chew with the amount of training that it needs but we will go for it."