Gladiators star Jamie Christian-Johal – who appears as Giant on the BBC show – has announced he is reverting to his former surname of Bigg.
The former professional bodybuilder and firefighter, from Ilkeston in Derbyshire, has become a fan favourite on the rebooted series over the past two years.
He said he was dropping his double-barrelled surname following his divorce and a recent diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Posting on social media, he said: “At my birth, believe it or not was Jamie Bigg. So in 2026, I’ll be reclaiming my birth name and making some big changes.”
The 6ft 5in (1.96m) star, who has 52cm biceps and eats 10,000 calories a day to maintain his physique, has appeared on Gladiators since its return in 2024 and is currently playing The Giant in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk in Chesterfield.
He said the name change was borne out of a desire to re-establish his own identity.
Addressing his followers on Instagram, he said: “You’ll never believe what my original name was on my birth certificate… at the age of four, I lost my identity [when] I became Johal when my mum got married.
“For many years, I hid behind my physique as a bodybuilder and even double-barrelled my surname when I got married.
“I then went on a TV show and became a character and now that character’s more well known than I am. So who am I? Who is Jamie?
“Turning 40 and getting my ADHD diagnosis and going through a divorce really reinforced the need and desire to have my own identity again.
“At my birth, believe it or not was Jamie Bigg. So in 2026, I’ll be reclaiming my birth name and making some big changes.
“I want to move forward with the greatest amount of transparency in all walks of my life.
“So whether that’s speaking on my ADHD diagnosis and journey or helping with your fitness goals, being the best father possible or just being a better human overall, I’ll be entering 2026 as me, Jamie Bigg.”