Gladiators Zone - Interview: Enigma, Jenny Pacey

Enigma: "I heard that Gladiators was coming back from a friend I went to university with. She said she thought I would be perfect and should apply. I was instantly desperate to be on the show, as a child the Gladiators were my heroes. I dreamed of being like Jet. I loved the Saturday night show; often constructing travelators from the sofa cushions. My sister recently reminded me that at primary school we had a previous series winner set a time on a Gladiator style obstacle course...which I preceded to beat! It must be fate!

I applied to be considered as a Gladiator and heard nothing! I found out the auditions had already occurred and I was devastated I had not been asked to the trials. Undeterred I decided to ring John Anderson himself. Having been an athlete for 15 years I knew John well from my heptathlon days. Mr. Anderson is not just a formidable referee but also a formidable athletics coach and trained his athletes at Loughborough University where I studied for 4 years. I have never been coached by him, but fondly recall being star struck when meeting him at Corby athletics track at the age of 12, and hearing him holler instructions to his athletes on a weekly basis at Loughborough. Having left John a voice mail, I received a call from one of the productions crew (Chris, I still thank you to this day) inviting me to audition in the London contender trails but as a Gladiator! Needless to say the trials went exceptionally well. I had the highest score of the day, matched some of the men’s standards and received one of the overall highest point scores of the trials. I was invited to the second female auditions, which involved a drug test, interview on camera and wrestling bouts against the other girls. Out of the 16 present Panther, Ice. Tempest, Cyclone and I were chosen. I found out about two weeks prior to filming I had been chosen, and was given the name 'Enigma' on the first day of our training camp.

On being confirmed as a Gladiator you are warned it keep it top secret until the press launch. This proved very difficult as all my family and friends were super excited following the contender trials. So I kept it from most of them for as long as possible. This proved very difficult as my overly proud (and excited at the prospect of being a Gladiator) Mum asked me if I had heard everyday for 4 weeks! We were also advised to come off Facebook and any other social sites. My friends kept asking why, I hate lying and pretended I didn't know! However all is forgiven now...with the consolation of a foam finger each!"

Enigma: "I thought the trials were really well thought out. They were based on speed, agility and power (like the games in the show). I didn't find the initial trials particularly tough (although I know some people were sick!). Many of the tests were things I do within long jump training, for example sprints and medicine ball throws.

The camera tests were tough because I didn't know what they were looking for in my character. They said they liked my competitive, moody stare and dark eyes, so I tried to play on that and be fierce!

The hardest parts of the becoming a Gladiator was wrestling a rather large blonde bodybuilder, we were both as determined as each other not to be defeated; it was like a fight to the death! After some blood sweat and tears I won!

The most difficult part was not knowing if we had been selected or not. We kept calling and texting each other to find out if any one knew. We waited about 2 weeks after the final trail to be confirmed. It was an agonizing 2 weeks; but it was all worth it when I got the call."

Enigma: "We all got along really well. It’s hard to believe but we were like one very muscular happy family! I have been best friends with Ice for years; we were at university together and trained/competed in athletics for years. I also knew Battelaxe, Predator and Panther from my athletics days.

Training was intense but amazing fun; it was like playing in playground every day, but your toys were Hang Tough and The Wall. All the Glads are very unique and each brought very special qualities to form a very tight group. We all watched out for each other and were supportive in victories and defeat. I hope all the Gladiators remain friends for life."

Enigma: "The mysterious angle came with the name 'Enigma' which is a puzzle or a mystery. The production team discussed with the Gladiators how they saw our characters developing. The bad girl thing just seemed to happen. I suppose it’s hard to drop cutting one-liners with out coming across as a bit of a meany! I was unsure how I would be received at first as there has never been a female baddie. However I think it has worked well in contrast to the other female Gladiators.

I was given the name Enigma from Justin Lee Collins (Friday Night Project, West Country, large haired comedian!). He apparently had a dream where he named a Gladiator ‘Enigma’. He put this to Richard Woolfe (Head of Sky1). I came along with my dark and mysterious eyes and elusive stare and they just had to call me Enigma! I think it’s quite fitting. I look forward to when Mothers call their daughters Enigma; it has a nice ring to it."

Enigma: "Leanne! Where shall I begin! What a rude aggressive, horrible person. I hope she is ashamed of her conduct as a competitor, women, mother and contender. What a terrible example of sportsmanship, and I could not believe she is a mother. What kind of example is she setting to her children? Leanne was aggressive, broke the rules, showed no concern or remorse, until disqualified (and was forced to make an on camera apology which was about as heart felt as her previous attempt on Pyramid! Which, if you didn’t see it was pitiful!) What a terrible role model and a clear example of the worst contender of the series.

I feel she should have been disqualified from the show, to set an example of such poor sportsmanship. I think Leanne was the weakest contender in the series and I think became overly aroused and aggressive prior to the Gauntlet (having had her ass kicked by me in the previous round where I held her for 20 seconds!)

The injury I sustained was a severe ankle strain. I externally went over on the left ankle, causing damage to the inside and outside of the joint. Also dislodging some of the bone with the ligament and severely bruising the bone. This resulted in missing 3 shows, then returning for the special shows heavily strapped and only being able to take part in limited events. I completed 8 weeks of rehab before I could start weight lifting and running. It was not fun. Thanks Leanne!"

Enigma: "I felt honored and privileged to be replaced by Cyclone. I love her and think she is an amazing Gladiator and athlete. She is a qualified stunt woman; which I am training to be too. She performed exceptionally, especially with the short notice and due to the fact she had not been on the events for several weeks. Aerially she is fantastic! Cyclone used to be a trapeze performer. I hope she is in the next series. The only thing is I think she should lose the skirt!"

Enigma: "The whole journey was a life changing and truly memorable experience. From the first trials, to the last show (I cried! Ask Destroyer!). I didn't actually feel like it was real until we were first in the studio in front of the crowd clad in Lycra! I have made some amazing friends in both the production crew and with the Gladiators. I hope Gladiators grows and grows like with the old series. I look forward to some new games, perfecting my abilities and taking down more contenders.

My Memorable Moments:

• Atlas sitting on a sofa in the Gladiator green room and it crumbling beneath his great form. Then the following day he destroyed the second sofa!
• The size of Inferno’s weapons.
• Being disqualified on Hang Tough when I stepped back onto my platform. School girl error!
• My Gauntlet when I held 2 competitors for 20 seconds each. John said it was the best display in Gauntlet of any Gladiator.
• Oblivion’s line ‘He spent more time on the canvas than Van Gough!’
• KT nearly loosing her shorts against Tempest on Hang Tough, and her holding on with a Battleaxe wrapped around her!
• Panther’s dominating and relentless ability in Duel.
• The Hollyoaks guy beating Harvey (no one predicted that!)
• Seeing Spartan daily in a skirt!
• Trojan on the cargo net in the Legends special (What was that!?)"

Enigma: "I think Sky and Shine have done an amazing job in creating the new series. They have made it unique to stand on its own as one of the most successful come back shows of all time, but have managed to retain the great Gladiatorial feel from the original series. I think the new series is bigger, sparkler, more exciting and polished. They’ve built on the nostalgia of Gladiators and the affinity people had with the original show to create the best show on TV!

Better:

• Ian Wright is a funny, charismatic, ‘off the cuff’ presenter. He is great to work with and a massive part of the show.
• The games being over water makes the series much more exciting (although hair and make-up is not my favourite part!)
• The costumes. Lycra and rind stone at their best.
• John Anderson, who mysteriously has not seemed to age.
• The new Gladiators. The females are 'glamourzons' with superior all round ability and what other men do you know who could pull off crop tops?!
• The Legends Special. What a phenomenal and special show.
• The Gladiators Zone. The best site on the net!

Worse (honestly):

• The cotton reels in the Eliminator. Big respect to Atlas, the only person to ever hold on!
• The Music. I miss ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ (Britney is not the same).
• The voice-over guy. He always bad mouths myself and Oblivion!"

Enigma: "Bring back Skytrak! I love that game and I can crawl really fast! Pendulum, I'm not sure about due to the injury risk or the metal hamster balls Atlaspheres (I have a fear of cheese grating my ass!)."

Enigma: "Meeting the Legend Gladiators was an honor. Without them we would not be here following in their trainer steps. I had a great respect for them all. Wolf is a great and an inspirational man. I spoke to him about my character and hope to develop it further with his bad ass advice. I thought Lightning had the most amazing six pack, and boobs to rival Inferno's! Rocket is still exceptionally strong and I could not believe how much she has changed! I think Rebel is an inspirational and wonderful mother. Trojan, Ace and Hunter seemed to be really pleased to be reunited; like a group of school boys back together.

There was a little rivalry between the Legends and new breed; after all we are fiercely competitive and innate athletes. You can’t put that much testosterone in a studio and not expect a few sparks to fly.

I can’t say who I liked best, but I do hope Jet is back for the Legends Special in Series 2!"

Enigma: "It will be great for the show to have Wolf back. He is such a character and will create a new magic in series two. From kids to adults, across the generations love him; and I hope he keeps John Anderson in his place!"

Enigma: "My favorite events were Pyramid (I was undefeated) and Hang Tough. I look forward to having more time on the rings to perfect my technique and bring in some serious show boating! I really enjoyed Earthquake, I love a good wrestle. In training I even managed to take the mighty Battleaxe down! I hope to compete in all the events in Series 2. I felt it became a little predictable to see the same Gladiators in the same events. I hope they mix it up more in Series 2."

Enigma: "I’m always really busy! I love it. I train 6 days a week, including sprint training, car pushing, sled pulling, weight lifting and plyometric/jump training. As part of my training to be a stunt woman I also horse ride (with shields, swords and lances), wall climb and swim . I am a personal trainer (www.pacengo.com), motivational speaker, model and I am working on my career as a presenter.

I love shopping, eating, traveling and have been to Miami and Paris since Series 1. I love socializing and getting dressed up (in something other than Lycra!) This year I had a great time at the Cartier Polo, Ascott, Henley Regatta and Goodwood, the Hancock premier and most recently the premier of Hairspray and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!"

Enigma: "In Series 2, Enigma fans can look forward to a bigger, badder, cheekier, and meaner Enigma with more one liners, put downs and moody pouts. I want to make sure every contender becomes partial to eating crash mat, or the taste of the pool! I am trying to get the producers to put my hair down; the pony tail was giving me a head ache! Next series I want to be on every event, I want to own every step of the Pyramid and every ring in Hang Tough.

I am training harder than ever, as well as putting on some muscle bulk. I have been practicing wrestling, tackling, wall climbing, and I have been to the park regularly to swing on the monkey bars!"

Enigma: "Thank you for your support and well wishes during my injury and recovery. I look forward to seeing some of you in the audience during series 2! I am always happy to pout for a photo or sign a large foam finger. Big love to all my fans and hope you enjoy Gladiators!"