Giant announces shock exit from ‘Gladiators' ahead of season 4

Gladiators star Giant announced that he will not be returning for the next season of the BBC show and hinted that leaving was not fully his choice.

The 40-year-old James Bigg shared the news on Instagram where he posted photos from the show and wrote, “To my Gladiator family. I want to tell you all that I won't be coming back for season 4 of the TV show. Being a Gladiator has been one of the greatest honours of my life.”

He also talked about how special the experience was for him and said the arena and the crowd meant a lot.

James added, “What I do want to make clear is this wasn't a decision I made to step away.”

“I was faced with a choice that didn't align with my values. And if you know me, you know this… I stand by my people and I stand by what I believe in. That's what being a role model means to me,” the star went on.

The official Gladiators Instagram page confirmed his exit and thanked him for his time on the show, saying that his journey has come to an end after an incredible run and praising both his strength and kindness, ending with, “Thank you Giant.”

A BBC spokesperson also confirmed his exit and said, “After three formidable series, Giant is leaving Gladiators. We'd like to thank him for everything he has contributed to the show and wish him well for the future.”

The TV star’s exit came after old videos from 2024 resurfaced where he talked about steroid use during his bodybuilding days.

He later said he stopped in 2022 and no longer supports it.

The BBC also shared that the show follows a strict no drugs policy and all Gladiators were tested, with results showing no performance enhancing drug use.