Gladiators star Comet gets engaged to her entrepreneur partner during romantic Corfu proposal
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Gladiators star Ella-Mae Rayner has announced her engagement to her partner James Exton.
The former elite gymnast, 30, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share her happy news with her followers.
She shared an array of heartwarming photographs showing the moment her personal trainer boyfriend James popped the question during a trip to Corfu, Greece.
In the pictures, Ella-Mae - known as Comet on Gladiators - looked overjoyed as she covered her mouth in shock and beamed from ear-to-ear.
She cut a glamorous figure in a baby blue wrap dress as James got down on one knee while they were on a boat trip off the coast of the island.
Ella-Mae shielded her eyes with a pair of dark shades as she packed on the PDA with her new fiancé during the romantic moment.
James, who runs a fitness coaching business, cut a stylish figure in a cream shirt and coordinated trousers.
Ella-Mae showed off her ring, designed by Gemima featuring an emerald cut diamond and two bespoke cut tapered elongated baguettes, crafted in 18k yellow gold and platinum.
In an accompanying caption, she revealed the date of their engagement as she gushed: '17.05.25. Yes in every single lifetime. I love you forever.'
Ella-Mae began dating James in July 2022 and she often shares loved-up photographs of them together on her Instagram page.
James runs a health and fitness company called LDN Muscle with his twin brother Tom and he has also modelled for Amiri at Paris Fashion Week.
Meanwhile, Ella-Mae, from Hertfordshire, is a former gymnast who has also worked as a high-board diver and has competed as a cheerleader at national level.
She joined the BBC reboot of classic game show Gladiators in 2023 and features as the formidable Comet, being described as the 'new generation Jet' (Diane Youdale).
Speaking about her character on the show, Ella May told Radio Times: 'Being a Gladiator encompasses everything that I am, and everything that I've worked towards.
'She encompasses femininity and strength combined. She is always smiling, and friendly, but she's not someone to be underestimated, because she has her strengths and the games she competes in she excels in.'
She was forced to stand down from the 2024 series when she broke both her ankle and foot in multiple places in a shock injury during filming.
Following the injury, she wrote on Instagram: 'To my fellow Gladiators, family, and close friends.
'I am struggling to find the words to describe how grateful I am for you all. From the bottom of my heart, you could not have shown me greater compassion, love, and support throughout the show.
'You have all shown what it truly means to be a team.'
Gladiators has been rebooted for a second time by the BBC after a series was made for Sky One in 2008 following the original 1992 ITV series, which ended in 2000.
