Gladiators star Hunter looks UNRECOGNISABLE after quitting the show for life as a yoga instructor

He rose to fame as a Hunter on the iconic 90s Gladiators series and even dated the show’s host, Ulrika Jonsson.

Known for his bulging biceps and luscious blonde locks, the bodybuilder, real name James Crossley, was one of Britain’s most famous faces.

But after his last appearance as his alter ego in Sky’s 2000 reboot, the 50-year-old has now traded Lycra for healthy living.

James turned his back on showbiz and trained as a yoga instructor and gong bath practitioner.

According to Tri yoga gong baths are “highly rejuvenating to the body and provide an overall sense of relaxation, which can reduce stress and help develop a better ability to cope with stress.”

Gone are his famous locks in favor of a clean-shaven head, complete with a salt and pepper beard.

James often takes to social media where he teaches yoga classes and shows off his gong bath techniques.

According to his biography in the studio where he works, the former strongman and world record holder decided to switch training after a series of injuries.

Discover his love for healing and alternative medicine on a Bali yoga retreat.

Still as muscular as ever, the hunk continues bodybuilding and also makes public appearances with his fellow Gladiators, earning a 2022 spot on This Morning.

Ulrika was romantically linked to James Crossley, and while the pair initially denied they were involved, Ulrika wrote about their relationship in her autobiography, Honest, released in 2003.

They dated back to 1996, with Ulrika admitting she was “in love” with her ex-boyfriend.

Speaking to Vicky, Ulrika revealed that Hunter was only 22 years old when they first started dating, while praising the former bodybuilder for being the “sweetest man.”

“Of course I dated Hunter for about a year and a half and outside of the show he was amazing and the sweetest, sweetest man,” she said. “I think he was only 22 when I hung out with him. Poor boy’.

With the full cast of the revamped Gladiators finally revealed, BBC1 has released official snaps of the lycra-clad stars in costume as they prepare to take on a new set of opponents.

While the skimpy outfits popularized by iconic former cast members like Jet, Lightening, and Amazon have been ditched, the modern look still draws attention to the sixteen’s hauntingly sculpted breasts, ripped biceps, and sculpted abs.

The athletes all posed a storm in the footage as they showed off their incredible bodies and ripped physiques.

WHO? Now his famous locks are gone in favor of a clean-shaven head, complete with a salt and pepper beard (right, pictured in 1993)

Healthy: James turned his back on showbiz and trained as a yoga instructor and gong bath practitioner

Yoga: According to his biography in the studio where he works, the former strongman and world record holder decided to switch training after a series of injuries

Buff: Still as buff as ever, the hunk continues to bodybuild and also make public appearances with his fellow Gladiators, earning a 2022 spot on This Morning

As well as the cast, BBC1 has unveiled the all-new set of moderators tasked with the unenviable job of keeping them in check – no mean feat if this line-up is anything to go by.

The fearsome group includes trained rugby players, experienced swimmers, sprinters and powerlifters – but Mark Clattenburg will bring years of experience as a Premier League referee with him when the series gets underway.

Clattenburg oversaw several major competitions, including the 2012 Men’s Olympics Final, the 2012 Carabao Cup Final, the 2014 European Super Cup and the 2016 FA Cup Final, the Champions League and the European championships.

He will be joined by Sonia Mzuila, a former England international netball player who has competed in five Netball World Cups and three Commonwealth Games – making 123 international test appearances.

Couple: Ulrika was romantically linked to James Crossley, and while the couple initially denied they were involved, Ulrika wrote about their relationship in her autobiography, Honest, released in 2003

New: The entire cast of the revamped Gladiators (Top row – from left to right: Legend, Fire, Bionic, Diamond, Nitro. Second row – from left to right: Electro, Giant, Steel, Apollo, Comet. Third row – from left to right: Viper, Athena, Fury, Phantom, Bottom – Left to right: Sabre, Dynamite)

Down with the Old: The Original Cast in 1998 (Back Row – Left to Right: Warrior, Raider, Hunter, Saracen, Trojan. Second Row – Left to Right: Falcon, Rhino, Cobra, Nightshade, Wolf, Panther. Front row – from left to right: Amazon, Vogue, Lightning, Jet, Zodiac)

Sonia now works as assistant head coach of England Netball and will head to South Africa for the World Cup later this year.

Third and final referee Lee Phillips is a fitness professional, firefighter and athlete who moved to London to join the fire service after finishing university.

He competed in the World Police and Firefighter Games in Los Angeles among 10,000 athletes and also won gold in the Ultimate Firefighter and CrossFit competitions, becoming a two-time world champion.

The newly revealed group is set to take on contenders at the Sheffield Arena in sports entertainment’s most iconic and exciting gameshow, coming to BBC One and iPlayer.

Contestants face the unenviable task of taking on the Gladiators in the ultimate test of speed and strength in a series of brand new games alongside some returning classics, including fan favorite The Eliminator.