News Beat
Darlington Revd Rachael Phillips takes on BBC’s Gladiators
Revd Rachael Phillips lost by a fraction of a second in the infamous head-to-head eliminator after taking on a string of superhumans tonight (January 17).
The mum-of-two put in fantastic effort against Naomi, 40, from Birmingham, despite her competitor having a one-and-a-half second head start.
Hosts Bradley and Barney Walsh confirmed it was one of the closest finishes ever seen on the show but sadly it was Naomi who triumphed.
After the battle, Naomi told Bradley: “What a contender. I wouldn’t want to lose against anyone else. What a great person she is.”
Revd Phillips spent the majority of her life in warzones – including the heart of Afghanistan – and it were those experiences that set her on a new path towards priesthood.
The 39-year-old became a Christian in 2012 in Afghanistan and, around one year later, she says she felt a calling to become a vicar.
She spent 14 years in the army and, after a few years working for Durham Diocese in Mission and Ministry followed by two years at vicar school, she was ordained as a deacon in 2022.
Rachael – who also has a love for rugby – was then ordained as a priest in the Durham Diocese in summer of 2023.
Tonight marked the first episode of the third series of the hit BBC show hosted by the father-and-son duo since the reboot returned.
It saw four contestants put their speed, power, endurance, and agility to the test as they faced off with elite athletes, known as Gladiators.
Among the returnees this year were Apollo, Athena, Bionic, Comet, Cyclone, Diamond, Dynamite, Electro, Fire, Fury, Giant, Hammer, Legend, Nitro, Phantom, Sabre, Steel, and Viper.
Her episode aired on BBC One at 5.45pm on Saturday (January 17) and is also available on iPlayer.
