Jodie “Fury” Ounsley is set to join DIY SOS in a special Gladiators-themed episode alongside Nick Knowles — but behind the fearless Gladiator persona lies a deeply moving life story that continues to inspire millions.
Best known as Fury on the BBC reboot of Gladiators, Jodie is completely deaf in both ears. At just 24, the elite rugby player, TV star and role model has already overcome challenges that began almost at birth.
How Jodie “Fury” Ounsley lost her hearing
Jodie was born prematurely and required life-saving medication as a baby. While the treatment helped her survive, it had an irreversible side effect: she lost her hearing entirely and is now profoundly deaf in both ears.
At just 14 months old, Jodie was fitted with a cochlear implant — an electronic device that bypasses the damaged parts of the ear and sends sound signals directly to the brain. A small magnet placed beneath her scalp allows the implant to sit securely on the side of her head.
Despite relying on advanced technology, Jodie has also developed exceptional lip-reading skills. She previously explained that without her implant, “there is nothing there” in terms of hearing — yet she can still hold conversations by reading facial movements.
Speaking on the World Rugby Women podcast, Jodie recalled attending a specialist preschool where she underwent intensive rehabilitation and speech therapy. She shared a touching childhood memory, explaining how she proudly told classmates she had a “robot ear,” genuinely believing her ear had been replaced. “Everyone loved it,” she said, before admitting her innocent shock when she later realised that wasn’t quite how it worked.
She also revealed how deeply lip-reading shapes her daily life, saying she instinctively watches how her parents’ mouths move and can even talk to them with her implant switched off. Accents, however, still present a challenge, and unfamiliar speech requires intense concentration.
School life and communication
Jodie attended mainstream school in West Yorkshire with continuous speech therapy and lip-reading support. Although she never learned sign language, she has said she may consider it in the future, preferring instead to rely on spoken communication and visual cues.
From childhood strength to sporting excellence
Jodie’s athletic ability was evident from an astonishingly young age. She discovered her competitive streak at the World Coal Carrying Championships in Yorkshire — winning the event five times, including her first victory at just three years old.
Her late father, a former professional jiu-jitsu champion, trained her from a young age. Under his guidance, Jodie went on to win gold at the British Open Brazilian jiu-jitsu finals before finding her true calling in rugby.
She began playing rugby in 2015 and progressed at remarkable speed. Within a year, she was representing Yorkshire at under-15 level and soon caught the attention of England selectors. By 2017, she earned her first England rugby sevens cap, becoming the first deaf woman ever to play for the national side.
Jodie later secured a full-time England contract, was named in Team GB’s provisional squad for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and won Deaf Sports Personality of the Year. To protect her cochlear implant on the pitch, she wore a scrum cap throughout her rugby career before retiring in 2024, two years after joining Exeter Chiefs Women.
Making history as the first deaf Gladiator
In 2023, Jodie joined the BBC’s reboot of Gladiators, making history as the first deaf Gladiator ever. Reflecting on the moment, she said being chosen “meant the world,” explaining that growing up without seeing role models who were both deaf and powerful made the opportunity especially meaningful.
She said her mission was simple but powerful: to show children that it is possible to be strong, fearless and unapologetically yourself — while also being deaf.
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2025
Jodie’s journey continued on the dancefloor when she competed in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2025 alongside professional dancer Neil Jones.
Despite never having danced before and struggling to hear the music, the pair performed a Street Commercial routine that impressed the judges, earning one 10 and four 9s. Although they didn’t lift the Glitterball — which went to Scarlett Moffatt and Vito Coppola — fans were left calling for Jodie to join the main series next year.
When is the DIY SOS Gladiators Special on?
Jodie appears in the DIY SOS Gladiators Special airing on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. In the episode, she teams up with fellow Gladiators Cyclone, Giant and Hammer to help build a brand-new facility for The Cherry Tree Youth Club in Yorkshire.
With Fury on site, viewers can expect some serious heavy lifting — and an even heavier dose of inspiration.
