Gladiators finalist: 'It's been fun to rep the flag of south London'
BBC"I'm a speaker of many languages but I don't have the words or language to describe what it would mean to win Gladiators," says Emily Bell.
The 23-year-old from south London has made it through to the 2026 final of the BBC hit show.
As if Gladiator-slaying wasn't enough, Emily, a Cambridge graduate, has also just started a career in marketing, and she plays rugby for the London Broncos.
It's perhaps the latter that has helped her get so far, she says, and how she managed to hold her own against Gladiator powerhouses such as Cyclone.
"It's just been so fun to rep the flag of south London, of Croydon," she says.
It's where family and friends will gather "for a big party" on Saturday to watch the final, she adds.
For Emily, being from Croydon and having Croydon's support has been an important part of the journey.
"I just love the community," she says.
"Community is important, sometimes it does lack, especially in big cities, so it's been really nice now to bring community together."
Emily says her mother has been fairly instrumental in making sure all of Croydon knows that she's on Gladiators.
"My mum will tell a rando in the supermarket, and then they're invested, and they'll tell someone else, and they'll tell someone else and that little chain of supporters and community grows, and oh, I just love it."
BBC/Hungry BearEmily says that so far the competition hasn't changed her life, but she has been struck by the influence she has unintentionally had on young women.
"I'm the same goofy, loud, laughing person I am in real life, on Gladiators," she explains.
"What really strikes me is the people who have young kids, young daughters who say 'oh, you're such an inspiration to them, they really look up to you'.
"And that is very mind-blowing for me, because in my eyes I'm a young kid who has sporting people I look up to, and I'm like, 'that's so cool'."
She explains that the Gladiator Fury is a huge inspiration to her, and one of the reasons she applied for the show.
When the Gladiator, who played professional rugby union, commented to say "Emily's the total package, I've got a real soft spot with Emily", Emily says: "Goal - life made."
For Emily, the whole process has been fun and, win or lose, she says it has been an "incredible experience".
"I've just loved it," she says.
"I just love having a joyous occasion when things can be bleak.
"It's nice to have a giggle on a Saturday night."
- Watch the Gladiators: Grand Final on Saturday 28 March from 17:45 GMT on BBC One and iPlayer.
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