Diane Youdale
Born
Diane Patricia Youdale

(1970-02-13) 13 February 1970
Billingham, Teesside, England
Other namesJet
Occupation(s)Television personality
Psychotherapist
Known forGladiators (1992–96)
Finders Keepers (1996)
You Bet! (1996)
Spouse
Zoe Gilbert
​
(m. 2023)​

Diane Patricia Youdale (born 13 February 1970) is an English television personality, who is best known for her role as Jet on the television series Gladiators.[1]

Career

In 1990, Youdale played the She-Wolf in the Finnegan/Pinchuk Company, HTV and MCA Television Entertainment production, She-Wolf of London.[2] The prosthetics required took four hours to apply and three hours to remove.[3]

Youdale trained as a choreographer before joining Gladiators at the age of 22.[4]

In November 1994, she released her first single, "I Don't Know", a collaboration with ISM, which reached a peak of 100 on the UK Single Chart. An accompanying album, No Covers, released in the same year, failed to chart.[5]

She left the Gladiators in 1996 after sustaining a neck injury on the show. She then co-hosted the final original series of Finders Keepers with Neil Buchanan in 1996, and in the same year, was the hostess on You Bet!, with Darren Day.[4]

"I was beginning to see more spinal injuries. You can damage your ankle or your knee and it will recover, but breaking your neck – that's a different story. After my accident, I decided to quit while I could. I decided it wasn't worth it anymore. I wanted to leave while I could still walk out of the studio. I love hiking and I didn't want that to be taken from me for the sake of someone's entertainment."[6]

After attempting to become a presenter, Youdale later re-trained as a psychotherapist.[4]

On 2 July 2008, it was announced that Sky had plans to revive Gladiators. Following an interview with Loaded magazine, Youdale was quoted saying that "Sky reckon they're going to run it for three to four years so I've said to them why not wait until the last ever episode and then I make my comeback then?". She ended up as a reporter on the show, as well as co-hosting the Gladiators podcast.[7]

Later in 2008, Youdale joined BBC Tees to co-present the weekday mid-morning show with Neil Green. She co-presented the programme from 22 September 2008 to 21 January 2011.[8][9]

Youdale briefly appeared as Jet in the second Big Fat Quiz of the '90s special broadcast by Channel 4 in 2013.

Personal life

Youdale was brought up in Billingham. Her father was Jack Youdale, who was the BBC Tees astronomer for 30 years.[10]

Youdale dated fellow Gladiator James Crossley (Hunter) for two years before separating due to hectic work schedules.[11][12]

Youdale married and resided for a period in the London area as she trained in psychotherapy.[13] After separation and divorce, Youdale spends her time between North East England and Surrey, where she works as a psychotherapist and is launching her own EQ company Soul Dynamics. She enjoys long walks, exercising and is a keen surfer.[14]

In July 2023, Diane married Zoe Gilbert. The pair met in a supermarket[15] and discussed their life together whilst appearing on the Lorraine show.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Middlesbrough's Gladiator 'Jet' has done it all". Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  2. ↑ Biscotti, Steven (7 June 2016). "Diane Youdale; The She-Wolf of London!". Universal Monsters Universe. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "Hell Yeah! She-Wolf of London". Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Kale, Sirin (23 October 2019). "'Gladiators ... ready!' Whatever became of Wolf, Jet, Rhino and the show's other stars?" – via www.theguardian.com.
  5. ↑ "Official Charts – Diane Youdale". Official Charts. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  6. ↑ Day, Liz (27 December 2014). "Remember Jet from Gladiators? She's got a new job with @spirehealthcare". Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "Jet (Diane Youdale) | Gladiators | GladiatorsTV.com". Gladiators.
  8. ↑ British Broadcasting Corporation Press Officer. "Former Gladiator Jet returns home to BBC Tees". Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  9. ↑ BBC Radio Tees. "Neil Green and Diane Youdale". Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  10. ↑ https://www.livingnorth.com/article/proud-smoggy-who-played-jet-itv-classic-gladiators-talks-being-psychotherapist-and-tv-star
  11. ↑ Hey, Sarah (10 January 1996). "TV Jet to Marry". The Mirror. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  12. ↑ "Jet Glad to be a Wedding Belle!". Daily Record. 10 January 1996. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  13. ↑ Beattie, Jason. "Latest UK News Headlines – Mirror.co.uk". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  14. ↑ "Lifestyle – Health & Fitness – It looks good for Diane". Gazette Live. 13 May 2008. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  15. ↑ https://virginradio.co.uk/entertainment/117499/gladiators-jet-proposed-wife-zoe-four-months-meeting-supermarket-carpark
  16. ↑ https://virginradio.co.uk/entertainment/117499/gladiators-jet-proposed-wife-zoe-four-months-meeting-supermarket-carpark

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