FORMER Gladiator Jet is leaving Knutsford for a new challenge, after running a Pilates class in the town.

Diane Youdale, who was one of the stars of the 90s television show, has picked up a BBC contract in the north east.

But her partner Andy McGlynn has taken Diane’s place and is now running a corrective exercise class in Knutsford Leisure Centre – and the former Gladiator joins the class most Saturdays.

“I’ve got some big shoes to fill,” said Andy, who was a personal trainer for seven years.

“The familiar faces from Diane’s class have stayed, but they were very worried at first, because I’m an ex-marine and they thought I was going to ‘kill’ them.

“I soon assured them everything will be OK!

“People say they miss Diane, so they’re made up when they can stand alongside her at the Saturday class.

“It’s nice they now get to see Diane in the group and have a chat with her, rather than her just being at the front of the class.”

It is quite a role reversal for the Manchester couple, as Andy used to go to Diane’s classes.

He added: “I was Diane’s personal trainer, so she’s very much invested in what I’m doing.”

Andy specialises in strength conditioning, posture training, corrective exercise for muscular imbalances and endurance training.

He said: “Corrective exercise class is similar to Pilates, but it’s like the next generation.

“It’s a little harder than Pilates and it makes you sweat a bit more – which has become a running joke in the group – but you gradually get used to it.

“It’s pretty powerful stuff, actually. Everybody really needs to be there, because it is believed 80 per cent of the UK population have some kind of back injury.

“It just enhances people’s quality of life so much and gives people back years of lost movement or pain from joint aches.”

Andy’s classes are held at Knutsford Leisure Centre on Saturday at 10am and Monday evening at 6:45pm.