One and a half million viewers watched Oxfordshire athlete Lucy Boggis' debut in the new series of Gladiators on Sunday.

The show, which sees the 19-year-old star as the gladiator Tempest, grabbed 11.6 per cent of the overall viewing audience between 6pm and 7pm.

ITV, who screened the show during the 1990s, is believed to have turned down the opportunity to revive the show leaving the way open for Sky One to take it over.

Miss Boggis, from Lew near Witney, was in action in the event Powerball in the first episode.