A woman has defied her doctors' predictions by making it through to this year's Ninja Warrior grand final.

Beth Lodge is a seasoned competitor on the ITV show having taken part in the previous two seasons.

In 2018, the DNA scientist originally from Sevenoaks made it through to the semi-final of the show falling at the flying shelf grab.

Then for season five which aired in 2019 she made it to last woman standing on the show but now with the relaunch of the competition post lockdown she is hoping to go all the way.

She said: "Being last woman standing last time people would ask me about it and I would say no I just got lucky the nature of the course you make a mistake and that's it its over.

"But to get to the final this time is like me showing myself that it wasn't a fluke maybe I am able to do something like this."

But it hasn't all been plain sailing for Beth.

In season five, Beth suffered a nasty fall on the running logs obstacle, fully dislocating her shoulder and forcing her to have two surgeries during lockdown.

She said: "I tore my cartilage, tore the rotator cuff the whole works.

"The first surgery was to fix it because as I was walking around I would find it moving out of place which was a little disconcerting.

"Then I didn't get the range of motion I was hoping for after that so I went back."

But after the second surgery Beth was given some depressing news.

She continued: "The surgeon said with the sort of stuff you're asking from your shoulder it's a lot and its not going to be like it was before.

"The phrase I remember from the second surgery that sticks with me is' maybe you should take up knitting'.

"I'm hoping he was joking but if anything it lit the fire in me to say I won't let that stop me."

It was a hard road after with recovery taking its time and then the pandemic ceasing all training but Beth has come through that to make it to her second final in two seasons.

She said: "I'm not someone to let many things stop me. If someone was to say I can't do something chances are I to want to prove them wrong.

"It felt at times during recovery and the pandemic I lost this big part of myself.

"So having Ninja Warrior come back it felt like a big opportunity for me to test myself and prove that I could still do it."

Beth's family have supported her through her journey in every season she has been on.

She said: "They've been amazing. My parents weren't able to make the filming as they were in Scotland but I was still getting messages from them and keeping up to date of what was going on.

"They would talk about it to anyone that would listen so they have just come back from holiday and I got a message from them saying they were chatting with someone at a shop counter in duty free and that she is now going to watch the final.

"I had one of my brothers come to the final and be there in support and I've been trying to convince him to give it a go next year.

"I do have verbal confirmation that my whole family are going to come to the ninja gym near me and give it all a go."

Speaking to Beth's father, Marc who lives in Lamberhurst, he denied any such verbal confirmation but still showed his admiration for his daughter's success.

"No one wants to say no to their children but I am 61-years-old and the idea of me doing that, there is zero chance I will be giving it a go - maybe her brother might.

"She is a bright very thoughtful fit young lady and my wife and I are very proud of her.

"She's an achiever, when she puts her mind to it she goes out and gets it."

Marc even let it slip that Beth is the current holder of two Guinness World Records - fastest to forward roll 100m (42.64s) and the most amount of burpees followed by a backflip in 30 seconds (5).

But tonight, Beth hopes to add Ninja Warrior champion to her list of accolades and has thanked everyone who has given her the chance to make it happen.

She said: "Having my partner Arran there, he was competing as well, and to watch him do well everything was amplified. So, I wasn't just nervous for myself but for him, and not only was I happy with my runs but proud of his as well.

"Thanks to the fellow finalists it was a great experience and the atmosphere we had back stage was amazing we're still in touch now with a group of us and its been really nice to make some friends out of that.

"And to the production team none of us would be here if not for them and then a shout out to the gym that I train at they've been a huge help in the training and getting where I need to get to.

Now living in Oxford, Beth trains at the True Function Ninja Training Ground in Swindon.

But anyone wishing to try their hand at a ninja obstacle course in Kent, a gym opened up in Chatham last year.

Beth's trial in the final will be aired tonight on ITV at 5.30pm, where she will hope to not only win but also receive a £25,000 cash prize and electric car.

Beth said: "It's going to be exciting, it follows on from the theme already you've got some amazing races, potential surprises so tune in and see what happens."