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Gladiators: Female final winner crowned

BBC Amanda Wah and Aneila Afsar in their Gladiators costumes pose for a promotional photograph. BBC
Amanda Wah and Aneila Afsar made up the all-North West female finale

Warrington fitness trainer Amanda Wah has been crowned the female winner of the popular BBC show Gladiators.

She went against Manchester supply teacher Aneila Afsar, who had earned a 1.5-second head start from their previous events but was beaten before the finish line on the final assault course of the Eliminator.

Millions are expected to have watched the final, where the pair smashed and bashed their way through a series of brutal challenges.

Wah dedicated her win to her late mother, saying the experience had been "unbelievable".

The mother-of-two described the professional gladiators as the "biggest, fiercest, strongest people but also extremely supportive" and detailed their help with cramps and her shoe coming off.

"They are professionals and they don't want to hurt anyone, they care and it's amazing."

Hundreds of people watched the final at the Momentum Collective gym in Warrington, which Wah helps run and where she works as a fitness trainer.

PA Media Aneila Afsar poses in her Gladiators outfit. She is wearing a hijab and a blue Gladiators branded vest over a black long-sleeve shirt.PA Media
Aneila Afsar became the first contender in Gladiators history to wear a hijab

Given the show had been recorded earlier, she told BBC Radio Manchester it had been a challenge to keep the outcome to herself ahead of Saturday's broadcast.

She has been supported by more than a hundred friends and family who went to support her during the show's filming at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield

"I couldn't have asked for anything more," she said.

PA Media Zavia Hill and Aneila Afsar appear on stage during a filming of the Gladiators BBC series. PA Media
Aneila Afsar replaced Zavia Hill (left), who suffered a leg injury despite winning the semi-finals

Her rival contender, Aneila Afsar made history as the first on the show to wear a hijab and said she wanted to be "visible Muslim role model" for her daughter.

She took the place of Zavia Hill, a personal trainer from Manchester, who was unable to continue after a leg injury she suffered in the semi-final.

Aneila admitted reaching the final was "bittersweet" and said it "wasn't the way I wanted to get there".

She also called Zavia "an incredible contender" and said: "It's an honour to represent her and I'll actually be wearing some of her gems in the final.

On coming second, she said: "I'm so proud - what a dream coming as the first competitor who's ever wore hijab and breaking so many barriers and to make it to the final.

"This has been one of the best experiences of my life."

Gymnastics coach Joe Fishburn, from Scarborough, beat London youth worker Mus Dumbuya to be crowned male winner of the 2025 series.

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