Gladiators legend Nightshade looks totally different 30 years on as she admits she was once denied a British passport
The former TV star, 62, real name Judy Simpson, shot to fame in 1993 on the iconic programme show – which is set to be rebooted later this year.
Regarded as one of Britain's greatest all-round female athletes, it’s fair to say Nightshade was the woman that contestants dreaded going up against and that viewers adored.
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Which certainly was no surprise as she was a three-time Olympian in the heptathlon category.
In 1996 though, and after three years on the hit show, she was forced to pull out when she became ill.
Since then, she’s become an Honorary President of the Women’s Sports Federation and she’s also been awarded an MBE.
However, in a recent interview with ITV, Judy revealed she was once denied a British passport during her Olympic days.
“I thought I could get a British passport but they told me ‘Oh no you can’t'”, the Gladiators star revealed.
“I said ‘But I’m competing for Great Britain, what do you mean I can’t have one?’”
Judy, who was representing GB at the time, went on: “Anyway, I went on a Jamaican passport, and of course, when you come back now you’re all a team together.
“And then they go through the British passport and I had to go through the other nationalities
“They had to wait for ages for me to get through it, and I thought ‘oh it just shows’.”
Judy won’t be making a return to the rebooted series – which is expected to be fronted by ITV star Bradley Walsh and his son Barney.
The 11-part series will see 16 phenomenal Gladiators compete in a series of brand new challenges alongside classic games against a brave set of contenders in the ultimate test of strength and speed.
Competitors from the general public will take on a series of new challenges and classics including Duel, Hang Tough and The Eliminator – the tough obstacle course, as they test their speed and strength.
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