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'My supermarket shop can now take three hours'

Kacper Misiarz/BBC Giant - real name Jamie Christian-Johal from Ilkeston stood with a inflatable pugil stick in front of a sign which reads: BBC RADIO Derby. He is wearing a lycra body suit flexing his right bicep which is exceptionally large. Kacper Misiarz/BBC
Giant said it was "magical" to be one of the 18 Gladiators on the BBC show

"I struggle to blend in - going to Sainsbury's is like a meet and greet."

With his huge frame, Jamie Christian-Johal has always been difficult to miss - but now popping out to buy bread and milk regularly sees him mobbed by adoring admirers.

The former professional bodybuilder and firefighter has become a firm fan favourite since making his debut as Giant in the BBC reboot of Gladiators.

But the 6ft 5in (1.96m) star, from Ilkeston in Derbyshire, is taking it all in his stride, telling BBC Radio Derby he feels "very fortunate" to have been given the opportunity.

Giant - real name Jamie Christian-Johal being interviewed by co-presenter Barney Walsh during the show's filming at Sheffield Arena.
Giant said the new season of Gladiators was bigger and better than ever

A self-professed fan of the 1990s original, Giant said being able to introduce his children to the show, which returns this weekend, felt special.

"It's been that Saturday night TV moment where everyone can sit on the sofa together that we hoped for - because season one was a hope that it goes well," he said.

"It smashed everyone's expectations and when the new season airs you'll see it's levelled up again.

"I was eight years old when the first Gladiators came out and I watched it with my parents.

"I have kids myself and I want to bring something to them that was part of my childhood and it's magical.

"I think about it sometimes - what are the chances [I'm on the show]? I feel very fortunate to be a Gladiator."

Giant - real name Jamie Christian-Johal - with two other Gladiators during filiming series one of the show. The three Gladiators have chest guards on.
Giant and his fellow Gladiators will take on a new series of contenders

Giant - who has 52cm biceps and eats 10,000 calories a day to maintain his physique - admits his new-found fame has taken some getting used to.

"I struggle to blend in - going to Sainsbury's is like a meet-and-greet," he said.

"Sometimes I can get in and get out and it's not too much hassle but then sometimes my shop will take three hours and the missus ends up being the photographer.

"I've got families coming up to me, husbands or wives taking pictures for their kids.

"I don't want to say no, you couldn't say no, and it's a pleasure because it means the show is doing so well and we're all doing what we signed up to do in making this show iconic."

Giant with protective clothing inside the Atlasphere - a massive metal hamster ball. He is shouting.
The show's producers have brought back a classic game from the 1990s for the new series

Giant said he was excited by the return of Atlaspheres from the original ITV series in the new season.

The game features contenders and Gladiators battling it out inside huge metal hamster balls.

The contestants have to roll over set markers in the arena to score points, with the Gladiators working to knock them off course.

Giant said he was also excited to see a new male and female Gladiator joining the cast for the new season.

Gladiators returns on BBC One at 17:50 GMT on Saturday or you can watch it on the BBC iPlayer.

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