Army officer credits military training with helping him to victory in Gladiators final
Major Finlay Anderson has credited his military training as a big part of why he won the final of the hit BBC show Gladiators - but says it was probably not in the way the public might think.
After 11 weeks of gruelling challenges, the 34-year-old from Edinburgh beat Ministry of Defence civil servant Wesley Male in the final event, The Eliminator, to lift the coveted trophy.
He raced up the iconic travelator on the 90s reboot faster than his rival and burst through the paper to become the champion.
'Pretty surreal'
Maj Anderson, who is Officer Commanding of Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, spoke about his win to Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.
The 2 Scots major said his military training provided him with the "full package of mental and physical resilience".
When asked by Mr Shapps how he felt about being crowned Gladiators champion, he replied: "Pretty surreal. That's probably the best way to put it..
After congratulating him, the Defence Secretary was quick to ask how much of his military training provided him with the tools to help him get through the show.
But Maj Anderson, who was unable to watch Saturday night's final with friends and family as he is currently deployed in the Middle East, said while his military training was a big part of it, it had probably not helped in the way a lot of people might think.
'Full package'
Maj Anderson said: "They assume that we just climb cargo nets on our way to work every day.
"But actually it's the full package of mental and physical resilience, you know, deploying in out-there environments on operations, that's the real bit that keeps you going.
"There were a lot of injuries on the show. It was really physical but actually, that ability to just endure to the finish and fight to the finish, that's the real military aspect I think they love".
Would he recommend his experience?
When asked if he would recommend joining the Armed Forces and taking part in Gladiators, Maj Anderson said: "I'd recommend both, and to my successor at handover after I get back from this operation, I told them I'm signing them up for Gladiators because it's now a tradition."
He added: "Absolutely. I'd recommend the career. The friends I've made, the people I've met and the experience on multiple overseas operations all over the world.
"You just can't replicate the challenging experience."
'Military mindset'
The company commander has previously credited his military background for helping him through the multiple challenges on the show.
He told Forces News last month that the "military mindset" helped give him the power to take on Gladiators in the ultimate test of strength and speed.
Maj Anderson said before his quarter-final, that it allowed him "just to keep going no matter what and never quit".
He added: "Not finishing until the job is done, that's the military mindset against all costs and whatever it may take.
"I think that's where the training really came into its own."
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