Gladiator Hammer visits former primary school
BBCA star of the TV show Gladiators has visited his former school in Nottinghamshire.
Tom Wilson, better known to millions of viewers as Hammer, surprised the children at St Peter's Church of England Junior School on Thursday.
The 6ft 6in (1.98m) athlete, who weighs 19 stone (120kg) met some members of staff who remembered him as being "really quiet".
Wilson, who still lives in the area, said the screaming from the children made it feel like "being back in the arena".
The show features competitors taking on resident Gladiators in a series of physically demanding challenges.
Wilson, in full Gladiators costume, surprised the children during a special assembly.
Pupil Eleanor said: "I actually screamed when I saw him come out of the curtain and I grabbed my friend's arm because I was actually shaking.
"To get a high-five, I was literally trying to get through the crowds trying to touch him."
Fellow pupil Harry said: "It was really exciting meeting him, because when I have seen him on the telly, he always looks so fierce and not very nice.
"But when you meet him in real life he's really nice."
The TV star said: "That was the most surreal thing ever, it was like being back in the arena.
"There was so much screaming, the kids were so excited to see me it was just amazing. Being back is the best feeling ever.
"Last time I was here everything seemed a lot bigger - everything has just shrunk, it is so surreal."
Teaching assistant Lisa Allcock said she remembered Hammer when he was a pupil.
"He was really quiet, so when we realised he was going to be on Gladiators we were really shocked," she said.
"Also, I was taller than him then, so that has changed a bit too."
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