Former gold medal-winning boxer Nicola Adams has endured a tough time in her personal life in 2025
Former Olympic boxer Nicola Adams will round off a difficult year by featuring on the Gladiators: Celebrity Special on Christmas Day. Adams made history as the first woman to claim boxing gold at the London 2012 Olympics.
She successfully retained her crown in Rio four years later before hanging up her gloves in 2019. The ex-fighter is well-versed in reality television, having joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2020 and breaking new ground as part of the programme’s inaugural same-sex pairing.
Gladiators will provide a more uplifting conclusion to Adams’ 2025, following her separation from long-term partner Ella Baig earlier this year. Adams, who is 15 years Baig’s senior, discussed her split from the model in March.
The 42-year-old acknowledged that her former partner’s explicit career as an adult content creator contributed to their relationship’s end.
Speaking to The Sun about Baig’s X-rated work, she explained: “I have always been incredibly supportive of Ella’s career and the choices she has made, including her work on OnlyFans. However, as much as I respect what she does, I can’t deny that it has had an impact on our relationship.”
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The pair share two-year-old son Taylor Nate, who was conceived through IVF. Such was the promising nature of their romance, the couple were compelled to dismiss speculation in November 2022 that they had secretly wed in Mexico after marriage rumours began circulating.
The duo reportedly even turned to couples therapy in a desperate bid to salvage their romance. An insider said: “They really tried to make it work, especially for the sake of their son, and even went to couples’ therapy, but came to the conclusion that they were better off separating.”
The former flyweight opened up about the heartbreak, saying: “I’ve always considered myself to be mentally strong, but I’ve found this situation challenging at times and have had to reflect on how sustainable it is – especially as we raise our son together.
“Parenthood changes your perspective on so many things, and I’ve had to be really honest with myself about my emotions and what’s best for our family. The decision to split has been a gradual process.
“We first discussed the notion of breaking up five months ago and came to the decision over a period of time. We’ve both been to therapy, separately and together, to try to help heal our trauma, and we decided that it would be easier for us to split.”
She continued: “We need to be apart – it’s a lot easier to fix yourself. It’s been hard because Ella has been my best friend for so long, so not having her there has been a big change for me and I’m still getting used to it. We’ve tried to keep it amicable and do things as a family for Taylor.”
Adams isn’t believed to be romantically involved with anyone at the moment. She’s now channelling her energy into fresh career ventures this year, including launching a podcast with the BBC.
The Gladiators celebrity special is scheduled to broadcast on BBC One at 3:45pm, featuring Adams alongside Joe Wicks, Vogue Williams and Sam Thompson as they face off against the show’s formidable Gladiators.
Discussing her appearance on the programme, she said: “I’m absolutely buzzing to be part of the Gladiators: Celebrity Special. It’s such an iconic show, and growing up, I loved watching the epic battles and strong personalities.”
She continued: “Now, getting the chance to step into that arena myself, it’s a whole new kind of challenge. I may be a champion in the boxing ring but this is different.”
