‘I work with Bradley Walsh – there’s one thing I always make sure to do around him’
Bradley Walsh has presented Gladiators since 2024 (Image: BBC)
Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, better known as Nitro, has discussed what it’s like working with Bradley Walsh. The 66-year-old has presented the rebooted version of Gladiators with his son, Barney Walsh, since its launch in 2024. Harry, 37, had nothing but praise for the veteran presenter, hailing both his impressive career and his character while revealing the one thing he always makes sure to do when they’re together on set.
The TV personality, who has recently been named the UK’s first-ever ‘Personal Drainer’, said: “He’s just a great guy. The career that he’s had and what he’s able to do as an individual is pretty awesome. 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.” After the first season, the former Commonwealth sprinter suffered an injury to his knee which forced him to withdraw from season two of the show.
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Unfortunately, the athlete is no stranger to injury, with hamstring and back problems disrupting his sprinting career and derailing his Olympic ambitions on more than one occasion.
Harry reflected on the stark difference between suffering injuries during his athletics career and while competing on Gladiators, admitting they felt more devastating when they denied him the chance to compete at major championships.
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He explained: “This world is slightly different in the sense that you get appreciated differently. Whereas 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.
“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.”
The TV personality has been named the UK’s first-ever ‘Personal Drainer’ (Image: HomeServe)
Harry continued: “It was a career-threatening injury that I got through and I’m really proud of myself to be at this point. 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. 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.”
He admitted it feels like a privilege to be part of Gladiators, especially given how much the show meant to so many people during its original run in the 1990s.
The Strictly Come Dancing star told us: “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.
Harry is better known as Nitro on Gladiators (Image: HomeServe)
“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.
“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.”
Taking on a new role away from the show, the TV star is now a ‘Personal Drainer’, fronting a brand new campaign for HomeServe.
“Everyone’s heard of a personal trainer but I’m here to act as HomeServe’s person drainer. 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.
“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.”
Harry stressed the importance of educating people about what should and shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet, warning that everyday items such as wipes, hair and oils can cause problems.
He said: “Education is massive around it. It’s little things like people will throw flushable wipes down the toilet, but they might not be flushable. You need to make sure you’re aware of what you’re throwing down the toilet.
“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.”
