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Gladiators star left staggering amount in her will after dying aged 59

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GLADIATORS star Falcon left a huge sum in her will following her death aged 59 last year.

Bernadette Hunt became a favourite on the obstacle course game show after training as a ballerina and an aerobics teacher.

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Bernadette Hunt, known as Falcon, was a start of the 1990s TV showCredit: Rex
Bernadette died following a battle with cancer last year

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Bernadette died following a battle with cancer last yearCredit: Rex
She left nearly £300,000 to her family in her will

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She left nearly £300,000 to her family in her willCredit: Rex

The all-round gladiator sadly passed away after a long cancer battle in March last year.

She left nearly £300,000 to her family in her will, probate documents have revealed.

Bernadette left £444,000 in her estate, reduced to £293,000 once debts and costs were removed.

The huge sum, and the star’s property and possessions, were split between her son Adam and young daughter Angel.

Bernadette, of Ely, Cambs, asked to be cremated at a private family service.

Family members said that she had been battling cancer for years before she died.

The ex-champion bodybuilder fell into TV by mistake after an injury stopped her from taking a place at the London Contemporary Ballet School.

She won Miss Natural Health and Miss London before telly execs signed her up for Gladiators in 1993.

Given the stage name Falcon, Bernadette became one of the most feared opponents for contestants trying to win the £10k top prize.

She competed in events such as Joust, Powerball and Tilt.

Bernadette starred in the ITV hit – drawing in millions of viewers a week – until 1999.

She was considered the “nicest Gladiator” by many fans, and had the Queen song Breakthru as her theme while she was on the show.

After quitting the show she became a personal trainer, holding classes at a gym in her hometown of Basingstoke, Hants.

The aerobics expert turned down the chance to appear in Sky’s 2008 Gladiators series reboot, deciding to “keep a low profile” instead.

The legend married and became a mum-of-two while continuing to keep active.

She was also a top fundraiser for charity groups Help the Aged and Children with Leukaemia.

Her death was announced by Rick Jango, the partner of her sister, in a Facebook post.

The announcement read: “It is with great sadness that I have to tell you of the death of my partner’s younger sister Bernadette Hunt.

“Most people will remember her as Falcon From the hit TV Show Gladiators.”

“I had the privilege to be in her company a few times & I have to say she was one of the most lovely people I have ever met.

“She never had a bad word to say about anyone, indeed she was always known a the nicest ‘Gladiator’, always stopping to speak & sign autographs for anyone.

“She had been battling cancer for a number of years until sadly she lost he[r] fight R.I.P. Bernie.”

The show led tributes after her death, writing: “Many fans will remember Falcon as the most lovely, warm, generous person with a beaming smile.”

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