Gladiators star Zack George, AKA Steel, has signed up to appear in new BBC show Horrible Science.
The new comedy sketch series and educational resource, which serves as spin-off to the popular Horrible Histories, will launch on May 9 on CBBC and BBC iPlayer, and curriculum learning resources on BBC Bitesize.
Throughout the 10-part series, young viewers will meet key scientific figures including Sir Isaac Newton, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Katherine Johnson and Charles Darwin as well as new additions to the Horrible family: Dr Big Brain, DI Loofah, The Force Force, Lacey Loloman and the Earth and Moon, plus new puppet host Pipette.
George, 34, first appeared on the BBC’s rebooted version of endurance sports game show Gladiators in January 2024.
Earlier this month, he was flooded by support from fans after revealing that his son had died after being born prematurely.
Little Leo George was born on March 26 at just 23 weeks and passed away 13 days later.
George won the UK CrossFit Open in 2020, leading him to become "the fittest man in the United Kingdom", however, following his loss, he said he “I now see strength in a different way.”
Uploading a heart-wrenching video of him holding his little boy in his arms with the sound of a heart beat set to a gospel cover of Madonna’s Like A Prayer, he wrote: “People would ask how strong I am and I’d answer with numbers of my squat, bench press or previous personal bests.
“Now I’d answer that very differently. Strength is holding my little precious boy knowing it’s breaking my heart but mending his.”
It has yet to be revealed what role George will play in the new series.
First Dates favourite Fred Siriex, TikTok science sensation Big Manny and Judge Rinder will also feature.
The rest of the cast will be rounded out by Richard David-Caine, Harrie Hayes, Will Hislop, Halema Hussain, Emily Lloyd-Saini, James McNicholas, Jessica Ransom, Luke Rollason, Tom Stourton, Inel Tomlinson and Timmika Ramsay.
Patricia Hidalgo, Director of BBC Children’s and Education, said: “Our mission is to inform, educate and entertain and now, we’re taking greater strides towards bringing entertainment and education closer together than ever before. Making it even easier for teachers and parents to bring the ‘Horrible’ magic into learning spaces. So, kids across the UK get ready to watch Horrible Science for homework!”
