Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, known to viewers as the Gladiator Nitro, has shared his positive experiences working alongside veteran presenter Bradley Walsh on the revived Gladiators series. Walsh, who hosts the show with his son Barney, has earned significant praise from Aikines-Aryeetey for his professionalism and character.
Praise for Bradley Walsh’s Career and Demeanor
Aikines-Aryeetey, a former sprinter who now competes as Nitro, described Walsh as a “great guy.” He highlighted the impressive breadth of Walsh’s career and his versatility, stating that it commands respect. “You’ve got nothing but respect for him and you listen when he talks and try to be a part of anything that he does,” Aikines-Aryeetey remarked.
Navigating Injuries: Athletics vs. Gladiators
The conversation also touched upon Aikines-Aryeetey’s personal experiences with injury. After the first season of Gladiators, he sustained a knee injury that prevented him from participating in the second season. This experience drew a contrast with the injuries he faced during his athletics career, which he found far more devastating.
Aikines-Aryeetey explained the profound difference in how injuries are perceived and managed in different professional contexts. “This world is slightly different in the sense that you get appreciated differently,” he noted. He recalled the intense pressure of his athletics career, where years of preparation could be undone by a single injury. “When I was in the pomp of my athletics career, it was so much worse. I had ruptured hamstrings, back braces and all sorts of injuries, and there’s no worse feeling than preparing for something for four years and not being able to do it.”
In contrast, his injury on Gladiators was met with considerable concern from others involved in the show. “Whereas I’m very fortunate that in the job that I have now as a gladiator, I’ve never had so many people be concerned over my knee,” he said. He described the knee injury as potentially “career-threatening” but expressed pride in his recovery and current position.
The Different Worlds of Elite Sport and Television
Aikines-Aryeetey elaborated on the distinct pressures within athletics compared to his role on Gladiators. “The worlds are just so different. We’re talking about Olympics and world championships. In athletics, you can’t have a hair out of line but the moment you’re out for a season, it’s like your world falls apart.” He contrasted this with his experience on the TV show, where the impact of his absence felt less catastrophic. “But I haven’t felt like that with this show and I’m very fortunate for that. I appreciate the world that we’re in right now.”
A Privilege to Be Part of Gladiators
The former Commonwealth sprinter views his involvement in the rebooted Gladiators as a significant privilege, especially given the show’s nostalgic importance for many viewers who grew up with the original series in the 1990s.
“When you’ve got such a big thing that translates into so many people’s houses and homes, I grew up with it and being a part of it for me is just an honour,” he shared. He feels the current cast and crew are honouring the legacy of the show. “We’re giving it the love and the service that it deserves and hoping that it has a very good reflective point once it’s out there. It’s doing its thing which I’m really proud of.” Aikines-Aryeetey expressed a desire to continue contributing to the show, believing he is well-suited to the role. “Hopefully I can keep doing more and let people continue enjoying the show. There’s a lot that I can keep giving. I think I was born to be a gladiator and they found me. There’s some things that just make sense and that was one of them.”
New Role as ‘Personal Drainer’ for HomeServe
Beyond his Gladiators commitments, Aikines-Aryeetey has taken on a new public role as a “Personal Drainer” for HomeServe, a campaign focused on educating the public about plumbing and drain maintenance. This initiative aims to raise awareness about proper drain etiquette and prevent common household issues.
“Everyone’s heard of a personal trainer but I’m here to act as HomeServe’s person drainer,” he explained. “I want to try and look after everyone’s pipes and making sure that your etiquette around what you’re throwing down your drains is of the right nature.” He emphasized the value of HomeServe’s expertise, gained from experienced engineers, in informing the public. “HomeServe’s got an abundance of knowledge and understanding from engineers that I’ve been able to learn from myself. We’re trying to make sure that people become more aware of the dos and don’ts when it comes to drains because it’s better to have an understanding before things go wrong.”
Preventing Drain Blockages: Key Advice
Aikines-Aryeetey stressed the critical importance of public education regarding what should and should not be disposed of down drains and toilets. He warned that seemingly innocuous items can lead to significant plumbing problems.
“Education is massive around it,” he stated. “Little things like people will throw flushable wipes down the toilet, but they might not be flushable. You need to make sure that you’re aware of what you’re throwing down the toilet.” He specifically advised against flushing items like hair and pouring oils down drains. “Hair is never a good thing. Oils are never a good thing. These are things that you think you know, but kind of don’t.”
