Doncaster Gladiators star who became priest bids to win TV mountain climbing show
A Doncaster-born bodybuilder who appeared in the original version of Gladiators, was once married to Katie Price and who later became a priest is in the running to win a new reality TV show which sees contenders attempt to climb a mountain.
Warren Furman starred as Ace in the 1990s run of the hit ITV show which has since been revived for several new series on BBC One.
At the height of his fame in 1997, Ace was engaged to model Katie, who then went by the name Jordan, after proposing with a £3,000 ring.
He’s now back on our screens in new ITV adventure show The Summit, which sees 14 hopefuls taking part in a thrilling journey to reach the peak of one of New Zealand's most spectacular mountains.
With just 14 days to reach the summit, and an equal share of £200,000, the contestants must navigate treacherous terrain, wild conditions and overcome extraordinary challenges in the show, hosted by Ben Shephard, and currently being aired on ITV.
The 53-year-old was a regular feature in the tabloids at the height of his Gladiators career and during his relationship with the model.
In a 2019 interview on This Morning, he said: “We were both deriving our identities from being relevant in the media. We were both selling stories.”
He once said he was in ‘a club of people who had had a lucky escape by not marrying Katie” and he later trained to become and was ordained as a Church of England cleric.
He told The Sun in a recent interview: ‘It was selfish, It’s not the way I think now. I have great admiration for her. I know how difficult it is being a parent.”
‘If I see a picture of her in the papers and magazines, I pray that she would know God as I do and realise that her identity doesn’t have to be in altering her body or having operations. God loves who she is,’ he added.
Warren, who found the church in 2015, added: ‘Recently I sent a message to her parents to say, “I just want you to know I am sorry for my part in it. I hope you will forgive me”.’
He continued: ‘Her parents came back and said, “We really enjoyed having you around”. It was quite heart-warming.’
After starring as a Gladiator from 1996 to 2000, he returned back to his Yorkshire roots, going on what he describes as “a spiritual search.”
He studied eastern religions but became interested in Christianity after meeting businessman and philanthropist Julian Richer, the founder of Richer Sounds, who suggested he should go on an Alpha course to explore the Christian faith.
Warren decided to attend one at St Michael Le Belfrey Church, near York Minster, and it eventually led to him becoming a Christian.
On finding his faith, he said: “It was incredible. Before I was always trying to prove myself.
“I had a good life, but I was in a rat race.”
Now he describes himself as a “gladiator for the gospel”.