BODYBUILDING
AT BAF TA
NEW FILM
EXPLORES
DORIAN YATES’
LIFE AFTER HE
RETIRED.
When your day starts with a text
message from former Mr. Olympia
Dorian Yates saying, “Hey, are you
coming to BAFTA with me?” You
know it’s going to be a good day.
I couldn’t believe I would be going
somewhere every legendary
British film and television star
has been.
Even more, I couldn’t believe the
place would be full of bodybuilders.
I asked Dorian what it was all about
and he replied that a media
company called London Real had
made a film about his transition
from freaky physique Olympia
legend to his new life today.
Nicknamed The Shadow
because of his elusive ways,
Dorian got to the top of a US-
dominated sport by winning the
Mr. Olympia six years in a row.
When he retired, he slipped back
into the shadows and the film is
about his quest to find a new
identity and meaning in life.
Inside the Shadow is a no-bull
rollercoaster ride asking questions
many of us bodybuilders never
think of because of the regimented
life we lead.
I’ve been a close friend of
Dorian for years; I knew he had
changed as a man and had a new
life in Marbella with his amazing
wife, Gal Ferreira Yates. I had to
see this film. But why did Dorian
agree to make it? He has always
been wary of the media because
of how it twists things.
NEW LIFE
London Real is a company set up
by former banker Brian Rose,
whose ethos now is about
empowering people to live their
passions and dreams. He’s
previously interviewed celebrities
ranging from from ex-boxers Nigel
Benn and Chris Eubank to singer
Will Young, as well as Dorian—
basically, anyone who has done
something amazing and is willing to
be open and honest about how
they achieved it. Dorian’s
interviews got a huge number of
viewers, so Brian wanted to take
things further by making a film.
In it, he asks Dorian about how
he found the strength to become
the best bodybuilder when
everything was stacked against
him. Dorian told all: what goes on
behind the scenes, rivalry with
other competitors and drugs. He
didn’t hold back, either, about how
his mindset has shifted. His
passion for bodybuilding remains
huge but he has learned to usequalities he acquired, like
dedication, to achieve what is
right for him now and to do things
that were impossible when he
was living the restricted life of a
pro bodybuilder.
By exploring how he grew and
expanded his mind, Dorian again
broke new ground and took
bodybuilding to the masses. The
man known for his freaky size has
transformed into a deep, soulful
being that has learned to overcome
post-competing barriers life has
thrown at him. Once again, Dorian
has done something that few could
ever do.
The film premiere at BAFTA was
full of bodybuilders. There was
plenty of champagne but no
protein shakes. It’s an excellent,
eye-opening film that shows that
anything is possible and is available
to buy online.Dorian Yates
(right) and
Darren
Nicholhurst at
BAFTA for the
film premiere.LAST SET
134 FLEX| JUNE 2017
BY DARREN NICHOLHURST