UPDATE: |Gladiators star gives update to fans after wife gives birth to baby at 23 weeks News

Gladiator star Steel shared that his second child was born prematurely but is ‘tiny, fragile and fighting’ after being born at 23 weeks old

Gladiators legend Steel, known in real life as Zack George, has welcomed his second child at just 23 weeks.

The baby boy weighs less than two pounds and is fighting for his life. The fitness icon shared the heart-wrenching news with followers that his son, named Leo George, is clinging to life when he should be “tucked up inside his wife Samantha’s tummy.”

Taking to Instagram, 34-year-old Zack posted a touching photo of Samantha cradling the fragile infant close to her, wearing a tiny knitted blue hat as doctors provided care.

In a poignant social media post, Zack said: “Our Precious Boy Leo George [heart emoji]. You should still be tucked up inside mummy’s tummy but instead you entered the world on the 26th March 2025 at just 23 weeks weighing 1 pound 8 ounces.”

He shared his shock at how life can change in an instant, praising his son’s incredible resilience: “You never truly know how quickly your life can be turned upside down but one thing we do know is that you are one hell of a strong boy and you are already defying the odds.”

Wrapping up his heartfelt update, Zack added: “Tiny, fragile and fighting.”

He shared that they have affectionately nicknamed their little warrior ‘Leo the Lion’ as a nod to his astounding courage and determination to survive, reports the Mirror.

A baby is generally born at between 37 weeks to 42 weeks – (known as full term), meaning they are ready for life outside the womb.

The NHS says that babies have a fighting chance of survival if born at 24 weeks. However, “most babies born before this time cannot live because their lungs and other vital organs are not developed enough.”

Thanks to advancements in neonatal care, survival rates for premature infants are improving, but those born at around this stage face significant health challenges.

At 23 weeks, a baby’s lungs are not yet fully developed and cannot function properly, according to NHS guidance. However, they are practising breathing movements in preparation for life outside the womb.

Zack’s fellow Gladiators stars have rallied around him, offering their prayers and support. Toby Olubi, known as Phantom on the BBC show, wrote to him: “Praying for you and yours brother”.

Montel Douglas, who also appeared on last year’s Strictly Come Dancing, responded: “Bubba Leo with the strongest genes I know! You got this baby boy.”

Earlier this year, Zack announced that he and his wife Samantha were expecting their second child. The couple already share a daughter named Ivy.

The exciting news was shared with fans through a sweet photo of their daughter holding up baby scan pictures. The caption read: “Ivy is very excited to have a new friend very soon! Little George number 2 in the making!”.

Before landing the role of Steel on the reboot of the gameshow, Zack was always passionate about fitness. Yet, he wasn’t always the muscular star that fans now admire.

As a youngster, he was overweight and faced bullying due to his appearance. Inspired by the original show, Zack embarked on a journey of fitness and healthy eating.

His dedication paid off when he was crowned the UK’s fittest man in 2020.

In a candid revelation to The Mirror last year, Zack shared his past struggles: “When I was younger, I used to be really overweight, extremely self-conscious, and didn’t like the way I looked. I just used to eat a lot of junk food. I used to have McDonald’s four or five times a week and KFC two or three times a week, plus a bag of Haribo each day after school.”

It seems that a contributing factor was his mum’s willingness to please him as her rainbow baby. His mum Jackie had suffered seven miscarriages following the birth of his sister. And by his own admission, he “couldn’t do anything wrong”, as he was her miracle baby.

He confessed: “My mum always wanted a really big family. She had my sister, who is 40, then she had seven miscarriages then me, finally. So in my mum’s eyes, it was like I couldn’t do anything wrong. I loved to eat and she never wanted to tell me I was overweight because I was like her golden child.”

The turning point came when his father, Dudley, noticed Zack’s unhappiness due to his weight and offered an incentive for him to slim down.

He said: “My dad sat me down. I’ll never forget it. He said, ‘I know you’re after a PlayStation 2, how about we sort your diet out a little bit and then if we get a good bit of weight loss over the next couple of months, we’ll get you one?’

“Lo and behold, after two months, I dropped a bit of weight and got the PlayStation. I didn’t realise it then, but I was setting a goal, working towards it, getting a reward, and then feeling really good about myself.”