TENSING his muscles as he ripped off his pyjama top, eight-year-old James Crossley dreamed of turning into his superhero idol The Hulk.
And little over a decade later, he had transformed himself into a man-mountain, much like the Marvel character, while appearing in the hit ITV show Gladiators.
From Bullied Boy to Ultimate Gladiator
Known as Hunter, the York-born star became a pin-up for fans across the country during the Nineties thanks to his Adonis-like figure and flowing, curly blond locks. James was among the show’s fiercest competitors and was crowned The Ultimate Gladiator after beating co-stars during the final series in 1999.
'Trained like a psycho'
Raised by a bank worker dad and an artist mum, James was unlike many kids his age due to his obsession with working out. At 12 years old, he got his first set of weights for Christmas and a year later was training six times a week at a gym that was one-and-a-half miles away.
Quit £70k job
By the age of 19, James caught the attention of producers for Gladiators – who were looking for a new muscle-clad warrior to join their ranks. He gave up a £70,000-a-year job as a printer to pursue his dream of becoming a Gladiator.
Initiation prank
As Hunter became a fiercer foe, he earned a legion of fans and couldn't even catch a train without being mobbed. The Gladiators stars played playful pranks on each other, including covering one in gaffer tape.
Surprising career change
After Gladiators ended, James retrained to become an actor and even set a world record for lifting Scotland’s famous Dinnie Stones. He transitioned into sound therapy and now helps people relax and release tension with gongs.
