Diane Patricia Youdale (born 13 February 1970) is an English television personality, who played Jet on the television series Gladiators.[1]
Diane Youdale | |
|---|---|
| Born | Diane Patricia Youdale 13 February 1970 Billingham, Teesside, England |
| Other names | Jet |
| Occupation(s) | Television personality Psychotherapist |
| Known for | Gladiators (1992–96) Finders Keepers (1996) You Bet! (1996) |
| Spouse |
Zoe Gilbert (m. 2023) |
Career
editIn 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 later said that she did not want to risk a more serious injury.[6] 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]
Youdale later retrained as a psychotherapist.[4] In 2008, it was announced that Sky was developing a revival of Gladiators. In an interview with Loaded magazine, Youdale said 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]
Personal life
editYoudale 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.[11][12] She later married and lived in the London area as she trained in psychotherapy.[13] After separation and divorce, she spends her time between North East England and Surrey.[14] In July 2023, she married Zoe Gilbert. The pair met in a supermarket,[15] and discussed their life together whilst appearing on the Lorraine show.[15] Diane has one son named Jonny who currently works as a technician at The Northern School of Art.
Youdale is a supporter of Middlesbrough F.C.
References
edit- ^ "Middlesbrough's Gladiator 'Jet' has done it all". Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ Biscotti, Steven (7 June 2016). "Diane Youdale; The She-Wolf of London!". Universal Monsters Universe. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ "Hell Yeah! She-Wolf of London". Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ a b c Kale, Sirin (23 October 2019). "'Gladiators ... ready!' Whatever became of Wolf, Jet, Rhino and the show's other stars?". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ "Official Charts – Diane Youdale". Official Charts. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ Day, Liz (27 December 2014). "Remember Jet from Gladiators? She's got a new job with @spirehealthcare". Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ "Jet (Diane Youdale) | Gladiators | GladiatorsTV.com". Gladiators.
- ^ British Broadcasting Corporation Press Officer. "Former Gladiator Jet returns home to BBC Tees". Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ BBC Radio Tees. "Neil Green and Diane Youdale". Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "The 'Proud Smoggy' who played Jet on ITV classic Gladiators talks being a Psychotherapist and TV Star". Living North.
- ^ Hey, Sarah (10 January 1996). "TV Jet to Marry". The Mirror. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ "Jet Glad to be a Wedding Belle!". Daily Record. 10 January 1996. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ Beattie, Jason. "Latest UK News Headlines – Mirror.co.uk". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Gladiators star Jet reveals she proposed to wife in kitchen four months after being 'stalked' by fan Zoe in supermarket carpark | Virgin Radio UK". virginradio.co.uk. 22 August 2023.
External links
edit- Youdale's home page
- Diane's presenter page on BBC Tees
- Listen to Diane trying her first Parmo – a real Teesside treat
- Diane Youdale at IMDb
- Details about her live web chats from March 2007
- ^ "The 'Proud Smoggy' who played Jet on ITV classic Gladiators talks being a Psychotherapist and TV Star". Living North. Retrieved 3 January 2024.