A FORMER TV Gladiator has a new role as a ‘gladiator for the gospel’ in York after becoming a Christian.

Warren Furman found fame as Ace in the hit ITV show Gladiators in the 1990s, and enjoyed a celebrity lifestyle, becoming engaged at one stage to glamour model Jordan, aka Katie Price.

But now he has turned his back on showbiz hedonism after finding it empty of meaning and contentment and set off on a spiritual journey to explore the purpose for his life.

He said he studied eastern religions but became interested in Christianity after meeting businessman and philanthropist Julian Richer, the founder of Richer Sounds, who suggested he should go on an Alpha course to explore the Christian faith.

Warren decided to attend one at St Michael Le Belfrey Church, near York Minster, and it eventually led to him becoming a Christian. “It changed my life,” he said.

He has been on missions with the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, and has now formed his own charity, Ace Active, to assist as he spreads the word about Christianity in schools, youth groups, churches and prisons.

“Christianity has transformed my life, so I know it can transform other’s lives too,” said Warren, 45, who is married to Dionne and has two children Bailey, 14, and Annabel, 12. “Wherever doors open I will go.”

He said his role had been described as ‘gladiator for the gospel’ and his entertaining classroom sessions used props - including the costume worn by Russell Crowe in the film Gladiator, which he had bought - as he told a brief history of the Roman Empire and the conversion to Christianity of Emperor Constantine.

He said he sometimes organised Gladiator combat games to engage the kids with carefully monitored physical activities, and also talked to older children about the challenges of celebrity culture.