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Millions of TV viewers will tomorrow get the chance to see Oxfordshire athlete Lucy Boggiscorr make her screen debut in the relaunched version of the show Gladiators.

The talented heptathlete is hoping to whip up a storm as the Gladiator Tempest when the remake of the hugely popular 1990s combat TV show airs on Sky One.

Miss Boggis, 19, has spent the last two months swinging from the ceiling and grappling with the show's iconic pugil sticks at Shepperton Studios in London.

The former Cokethorpe School pupil from Lew, near Witney, took time out from filming to tell the Oxford Mail about her excitement at being on the verge of nationwide fame and how it feels to be hit by a pugil stick.

Miss Boggis, who is the show's youngest Gladiator, said: "It's going to be great. We don't know how the public will react, but we hope it will have a great following.

"Gladiators was my favourite show growing up and I love the thought of being a role model to kids.

"It's crazy when you're backstage and there are thousands of people in the crowd cheering and chanting. It's so unreal.

"I can't really stop smiling to myself. I permanently have a massive grin on my face."

The new series will be presented by former England footballer Ian Wright and TV personality Kirsty Gallacher.

The show's iconic events Hang Tough and Duel now take place above a giant swimming pool.

Miss Boggis, who is the national pentathlon indoor record holder, said: "I think it's a great way of spicing up the show.

"The pool is really, really deep so as soon as you get knocked off or yank someone off, you splash into the water and get a good soaking. It looks really dramatic."

"I've had a great time playing Powerball and knocking contenders down and I like Hang Tough, but The Wall is my favourite.

"I've never really climbed before and I did not know how I'd cope with it but as soon as they strapped me into the harness I climbed up there like a spider."

The teenager, who trains at Radley Athletics Club, in Abingdon, and is hoping to represent Britain in the 2012 Olympics, added: "I love the Duel but Panther is the event expert and I'm the reserve for her. People don't expect me to be very powerful, but I've knocked Panther off her platform in Duel before. The pugil sticks are heavier than you think and if you get struck round the head three times you really do start seeing stars."

Filming has now finished for the first series, but Miss Boggis will be back at Shepperton soon to film a Gladiators celebrity special and a Legends show in which the new Gladiators will compete against their 1990s predecessors.

Gladiators is on Sky One tomorrow at 6pm.

6:08am Saturday 10th May 2008

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