The classic 90s TV show Gladiators is back with a brand new series on BBC1, and it’s set to be bigger and better than ever. With a whole new team of Gladiators to get to know, we’re taking a look at all the new faces that are gearing up to take on the contenders. This time we’re digging into everything you need to know about Bionic.
Bionic, whose real name is Matty Campbell, is a bodybuilder and personal trainer from Teesside, and standing at a towering 6’ 6” tall he’s set to be a force to be reckoned with in the Gladiators arena. And he’s definitely up for the challenge of taking on the contenders, writing in his official Gladiators bio, “All the training and hard work has finally paid off for me, I can’t wait to get started”.
And Matty is a guy who really has worked hard to get to where he is today. He’s always been sporty, enjoying sprinting and football at Academy level as a kid, but any career aspirations he might have had in those areas were stopped in their tracks when he was injured in a car accident.
Instead of just giving up though, Matty found a real love for the gym through his rehabilitation, and then discovered a natural talent for bodybuilding. Since he started he’s completely transformed his physique, building an insane amount of muscle and well and truly bulking up. Seriously, this is one Gladiator any contender will feel intimidated going up against. I mean, Bionic really is a machine, able to deadlift an insane 300kg!
You can see the man in action over on his personal Insta @matty___campbell where he shares videos of his hardcore workouts in the gym, as well as promoting brands like PrepKitchen who he’s an ambassador for. And for all things Gladiators you can follow his official account @bionicthegladiator which is where he shares promo shots and behind the scenes info.
One bit of gossip Matty’s shared from the show is about the friendly rivalry that he’s got going on with Gladiators Ref Mark Clattenburg. Turns out that, with Matty being a Middlersbrough native and Mark being from Newcastle, there’s been a fair bit of banter between the guys about their rival football teams. It’s all in good fun though, with Matty describing the pair as having a “fun, love-hate relationship”.
So there you have it – the lowdown on Matty ‘Bionic’ Campbell. This is one Gladiator you’ll want to look out for, and at 6’ 6” and built the way he is, he’ll be hard to miss!
Learn more about other gladiators: Everything You Need To Know About Viper From Gladiators and 5 Facts About Gladiators Star Sheli ‘Sabre’ McCoy.
