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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Louise Randell

Inside the Gladiators' coronavirus lockdown as muscle-bound stars lift trees to keep fit

The Gladiators seem to be taking the coronavirus isolation in their stride and have been coming up with ingenious ways to work out during lockdown.

The muscle-bound stars ruled the telly in the 1990s, and decades later even a deadly virus can't stop them keeping fit.

Hunter - real name James Crossley - is now 46 and as ripped as ever. He's been leading the way with his mind-blowing tree-lifting workouts.

During isolation, James has been replacing dumbbells with felled trees to get his weight-lifting exercise in.

In one video, James is seen dead-lifting a massive tree stump, and in another he picks up a tree during a walk with his dogs.

Hunter - real name James Crossley - has been weightlifting using trees (Instagram)

Kim Betts - better known as Lightning - has also been keeping fit on her farm - leading her husband and son in daily work outs.

One of her videos shows the super-fit star, 48, doing press ups with her "boys" outside their stable block.

Another picture posted online shows Kim and her partner are seen wearing face masks on a trip to the shops.

Hunter even found a tree to lift on a walk with his dogs (Instagram)
James as Hunter in the show, which ran from 1992 until 2000 (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Panther, real name Helen O'Reilly, 56, is now a life coach and she has been helping people during the coronavirus crisis by posting tips and advice online.

On Friday, she shared an Instagram post offering help to those self-isolating.

She wrote: "Thinking of those that are having to or choosing to stay home and away from work or friends and family as a consideration to the health of themselves and others!

Kim Betts, Lightning, on a trip to the shops with her husband (Instagram)
She has been keeping her family fit (Instagram)

"It’s for the best and you will get through this!

"If you are feeling the symptoms badly it’s best to stay in bed isolated, however if you are able to be up and about it’s good to keep some sort of routine!"

However, there is one Gladiator who has been less active during lockdown - Wolf has been spending the time relaxing in his pool.

Kim as Lightning on the American version of the show (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Wolf has been relaxing in his swimming pool in New Zealand - but has threatened to eat the duck if he runs out of food (Instagram)

The show's villain, real name Michael van Wijk, lives in New Zealand with his family and shared a hilarious update showing him floating on an inflatable duck soaking up the sunshine.

He wrote: "Day 4 of NZ 4 week Lockdown. I would be lost without my duck."

His pal Kim commented on the post: "Wishing you, Paula and the family safety and health, look after that duck - will be your best friend for a few weeks!"

Wolf then joked: "If I run out of food the duck is on the menu."

Other stars affected include Mark 'Rhino' Smith, who is now an actor based in Los Angeles.

He shared a snap last week showing him getting a flight home to LA from New Mexico, where he had been filming a new Netflix project.

Mark's pictures showed the team as the only passengers on the empty plane.

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