Gladiators is a British sports entertainment game show, produced by London Weekend Television, presented by Ulrika Jonsson and narrated by John Sachs, and originally broadcast on ITV. Based upon the American television programme American Gladiators, the show sees four contestants, split into pairs by gender, compete in a series of physically challenging events against the show's resident "Gladiators", before competing against their respective contestant in one final event. Each series functions like a tournament, with the winner of that year's competition being crowned champion for their respective gender.
During its original run, between 10 October 1992 and 1 January 2000, Jonsson presented the programme alongside two different co-presenters, John Fashanu and Jeremy Guscott, with Sachs providing commentary on each event, and John Anderson serving as referee for each event. The show proved popular for ITV, spawning a media franchise with other countries, a children's spin-off titled Gladiators: Train 2 Win, merchandise, and a series of live arena shows. Despite its popularity, the show courted several controversies during its history, particularly with some of its Gladiators, while falling viewing numbers led to the programme being cancelled after eight series, including five special series.
Gladiators has since received two revivals after its conclusion. The first revival was created in 2008 for Sky1, running for two series but with changes to the format. The second revival, which began airing on 13 January 2024 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, returned to the original format with a brand new set of Gladiators.[1]
In Gladiators, participating contestants competed in a series of physically challenging events, the majority of which saw them faring against the show's resident Gladiators, in order to win against their opponents. Each episode featured four contestants – two men and two women – who competed in events within their respective genders. All contestants seeking to participate in a series were screened and required to undergo a series of rigorous fitness tests before they were selected to take part:
Gladiators Entry Test
Bike – 1km
Rowing – 500m
Benchpress – 40kg
Treadmill – 800m
Pressups – 30 reps
All of the events they faced were designed to test their strength and endurance, with the majority of these having seen them compete against not only each other but against a Gladiator chosen to face off against them; the exception was the final event, the Eliminator – an assault course upon which each pair of contestants competed against each other directly without hindrance from the Gladiators, in order to determine that episode's male and female winners. Winning contestants, who began in the heats, moved on to quarter-finals and semi-finals, until only four were left for the grand final, in which the winners were crowned the champions of the series for their respective gender.
For the main events of the show, the contestants focused on scoring points while competing against the clock. In these events, their rules dictated how points were earned, whether a contestant was on their own or competing against each other in their gender, and whether the Gladiator(s) impeded contestants or could directly defeat them and thus prevent them winning points. All events were overseen by a referee who could stop proceedings if a Gladiator or contestant was not following the rules or if safety gear had accidentally come off during the event; the referee could also disqualify contestants and Gladiators if a breach of the rules occurred during the event.
For most events, ten points was awarded if the contestant won the event, and five points if they came runner-up or hold out until time ran out on the event – an example of this was in Duel: the contestant won ten points for defeating the Gladiator, or five points if they could stay in position until time ran out. For other events, the points were based on the scores achieved in the event. After the final Gladiator-involved event was completed, the contestant in each pair who was in the lead received a timed head start for the Eliminator, based on the point difference between the pair. This head start was calculated as half a second for each point by which they led; thus, a contestant with a five-point lead, for example, began with a 2.5 second head start on their opponent.
Most series had a total of fifteen episodes allotted to them, with events randomised for each episode; the exception was the first series. Series regularly saw changes in events, with new ones added in over its history, and existing ones being modified or removed for safety reasons, with the number of events dictated by time constraints depending on the timeslot given to the programme by ITV. Alongside the main series, Gladiators occasionally featured a celebrity or charity special after the grand final, alongside five different specials with fewer episodes than the main series. By the seventh series, the show included behind-the-scenes aspects, including clips of the contenders selections, and training as well as clips showing the contenders choosing which Gladiator they would face on a certain game via coin toss.
Cast
Presenters
Throughout the show's history, Gladiators was primarily presented by Ulrika Jonsson, following her departure from ITV's breakfast show TV-am in the early 1990s, with commentary on the events handled by John Sachs. For the first five series, Jonsson was accompanied by former professional footballer John Fashanu as her co-presenter, despite him not having any hosting experience. After his departure following the fifth series, Fashanu was replaced for the sixth and seventh series by former professional rugby union player Jeremy Guscott; when the game show came to its close, Fashanu returned to co-present with Jonsson to its eighth and final series.
Because the game show relied on sports-like events for challenging contestants, Gladiators required a referee to oversee the competition. For this role, production hired on John Anderson, whose background in sports coaching made him perfect for the task at hand. Throughout the show's history, he took his work seriously, although with a light-hearted attitude when overseeing celebrity and charity specials. While he maintained and enforced the rules, he was accompanied by an assistant who kept official count of the event's time; the role was primarily filled by the associate producer Andrew Norgate.
The Gladiators
The titular "Gladiators" for the show were groups of men and women, many being bodybuilders and athletes, auditioned by the production staff to provide an additional challenge for contestants – often with notable differences to them in terms of height and weight. While most were recruited before the show began, some Gladiators were chosen after initially applying to be contestants on the show or who had competed originally in the live shows. All participating Gladiators had their own identity, and, until 1998, had specially designed uniforms reflecting that identity.
The following below is a list of Gladiators per gender, their real name, and their appearances in the main series and live shows:
International Gladiators 1–2, The Ashes 1–2, Springbok Challenge
Wembley 1993–1994, Sheffield 1995, Wembley 1996, The Royal Tournament 1997
Injuries
Working as a Gladiator carried significant risks in events, with several of those who partook in the show later retiring after suffering serious injury in competition, whether during the series, or during the live shows. The most significant retirement was that of Helen O'Reilly (Panther) – during an event that was televised, she suffered a serious accident when she fell head first onto crash mats, receiving severe neck and back injuries; while she recovered and later returned, she was forced to retire when the effects of the accident caused problems. Other retirements caused by injuries included:
Diane Youdale (Jet), who suffered a neck injury while partaking in Pyramid during a live show in 1995; the incident led to the event being discontinued.
Sharron Davies (Amazon), who received a severe knee injury in 1996 whilst training for that year's series.
Kate Staples (Zodiac), who was forced to leave the show after the 1996 series having suffered an injury during training for an event.
Judy Simpson (Nightshade), who contracted a severe virus during the Australian special in 1995; she was forced to leave the show the following year, after making sparse appearances.
Series Champions
The following is a list of series winners for each gender, plus those series' runners-up:
The majority of episodes for Gladiators, with the special series of International Gladiators, the second series of The Ashes, and the first series of Springbok Challenge, were filmed within the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, whose ITV provider is Central, the show itself was made by LWT. For the first series of The Ashes and The Springbok Challenge II series, both were filmed at locations in Australia and South African, respectively.
Despite the show's popularity, Gladiators faced a number of controversies during its broadcast:
In 1992, Nikki Diamond (Scorpio) complained to John Anderson that a contender had cheated during the first run of the "Wall" event. Nicola Bawden, who she was tasked with impeding in the event, was found to have greased her legs before it began; she herself later admitted to this when questioned. Although he allowed Bawden to proceed further in that year's competition, Anderson ruled her actions were not in the spirit of competition and later had new rules implemented to prevent any other contestants for using the same tactic.
In 1993, the series director Nigel Lythgoe was heavily criticised for firing Sandy Young (Phoenix), Kimbra LeAnne Standish (Flame), and Aleks Georgijev (Hawk) following the Wembley live shows. The decision was made following a magazine poll with the show's fans, which revealed all three Gladiators had received a poor reception during their time on the show, at that point being only the first series. The decision drew harsh criticism from TV critics, who deemed their dismissal as unfair.
In 1994, a newspaper investigation uncovered rumours that Jefferson King (Shadow) was taking steroids while participating in the show. Production staff later confronted him over the allegations, which he confirmed were true. After testing positive for steroids, he was fired from Gladiators.[5]
In 1997, Michael Ahearne (Warrior) became implicated in a plot to foil the prosecution of Philip Glennon Jnr, who was being tried at the time for a serious firearm offense in 1996. The revelation caused a media scandal, forcing production staff to fire him for his involvement in disrupting Glennon's trial.[6]
For four years, a series of 'live' shows were played in the spring ahead of the recording of the main televised series. These shows were used to test new event concepts and new Gladiators.
The first set of live shows was used to test three new potential events ahead of the televised series. One of the events, Tilt, would be used in the televised series with little modification. Joust was also tested in this series with pugil sticks being used, but the skybikes were much larger and lower to the ground than the event's ultimate appearance in the televised series. A third new event taken from the American series, Breakthrough and Conquer, was also tested, but would not be taken on to the main TV shows. An "updated version" of Duel on a rocking suspension bridge using pugil sticks was also played,[8] and this format would be modified and played as a new game called Suspension Bridge in the 1993 televised series. Atlaspheres, The Wall and the Eliminator were also played.
Three new Gladiators, Bullit, Trojan and Zodiac, were included in these shows. For unknown reasons, Bullit did not appear in the televised series (though would finally appear in a Legends episode of the 2008 revival series). These shows would be the last to feature Flame, Phoenix and Hawk, who were dropped before the 1993 televised series.
Some of the contenders from these shows went on to be in the televised shows. One of the contenders, Tammy Baker, would later become a Gladiator, Fox, from 1997.
Highlights from these shows were shown in a preview episode to the 1993 series, and whilst footage of him playing was included, there was no specific reference to Bullit (or Flame, Phoenix, and Hawk).
This set of live shows saw the entire 1993 team return. Cobra suffered an ankle injury during the shows, and had to withdraw. Only one new event was tested in this series, Cannonball Run, which was later used in the 1994 televised series under the name Hit & Run. Atlaspheres, The Wall, Powerball, Hang Tough, Duel, and the Eliminator were also played.
Some of the contenders from these shows went on to be in the televised shows.
Male Gladiators: Cobra, Hunter, Raider, Rhino, Saracen, Trojan, Warrior, Wolf
Referee: John Anderson
Timekeeper: Andrew Norgate
Four new Gladiators were introduced in these shows over Easter 1995, with Raider, Rhino, and Vogue subsequently going on to take part in The Ashes series in Brisbane shortly afterwards, before taking part in the 1995 televised series. The third new Gladiator, Blaze, was the 1994 female champion and International Gladiators 1 champion Eunice Huthart; however, following these shows, Huthart wanted to compete as a UK challenger for The Ashes series, and stepped down as a Gladiator.[9]
Unlike the other live shows, these shows took place in Sheffield Arena in the north of England, which was smaller than Wembley Arena in Greater London. Pendulum had been intended to be tested in these shows, but Sheffield Arena was too small to fit the safety net. Instead, Joust was played despite it being one of the least used events in the televised series, and only making one appearance in the 1995 televised series before being axed. Powerball, Pyramid, Duel, Gauntlet and Atlaspheres were also played,[10] with Saracen injuring his knee during Powerball.[11]
The final set of live shows saw the introduction of Ace, Rebel, and Rio as Gladiators; all of whom would go on to appear in that years' main televised series. Jet would suffer an injury during Pyramid, in which she fell awkwardly trapping nerves in her neck[13] and she retired from competition after this event. Amazon, who herself sustained an injured knee on Pyramid, would quit between these shows and the 1996 televised series. Pyramid itself would be axed following both these injuries and a leg injury to Rhino during filming of the event on International Gladiators 2 the year before.
Sumo Ball was tested in these shows, and would feature as the only new event of the 1996 main televised series. Other events played were Atlaspheres, Powerball, Gauntlet, Hang Tough, and the Eliminator.
Royal Tournaments
In 1997 and 1998, a short segment of Gladiators was introduced to the Royal Tournament event at Earls Court after London Weekend Television won the broadcasting rights from the BBC. Duel would feature in the 1997 Royal Tournament, and Pursuit featured in the 1998 Royal Tournament, despite it having been axed after the 1996 series. Hunter, Rhino, Ace, Rio and Vogue took part in the 1997 Royal Tournament. For its Royal Tournament appearance, Pursuit saw a ten-second head-start (rather than three) for the contenders with the course being a sprint round a cone, web trap (over), low wall, web trap (under), hand ladder, high wall, sprint round a cone, spaghetti junction (used in the Eliminator in 1996), and sprint finish. The balance beam and wire bridge from the televised series course were not used. Fox, Rocket, Khan, Wolf, Falcon, Vogue, Saracen and Hunter took part in the shows, despite Rocket and Khan not appearing in the 1998 series, and the Gladiators (except Hunter) not having had chance to play Pursuit in the televised series.
During the show's first three series, popular model makers Hornby made a selection of action figures and playsets based on the TV show.
The first release of figures consisted of Jet (B800), Shadow (B801), Wolf (B802), Saracen (B803), Cobra (B804), Warrior (B805), and generic figures of a Male Contender (B806) and Female Contender (B807). The first wave of playsets included Duel (B821, which contained American-style Ramrods), Atlasphere Attack (B822, which contained a yellow Atlasphere and a Wolf figure), Danger Zone (B823, with Warrior figure), Atlasphere Challenge (B824, blue and red Atlaspheres with Cobra and Male Contender figures), Super Duel (B825, with Shadow and Male Contender figures), and The Ultimate Challenge (B826, which contains all of the above). B823 was due to include a Hawk Action figure, but owing to his departure from the show, a figure was never released.
The second release of figures included Trojan (B815), Hunter (B816), Zodiac (B817), and Panther (B818), as well as revised versions of Jet (B800) and Wolf (B802). A second wave of playsets included The Wall (B827).
A final set of figures was released for the first International Gladiators series. These consisted of a revised version of Hunter, and figures of Hawk (United States), Terminator (Finland), and Dynamite (Russia). In 1995, McDonald's gave away an exclusive range of figures through a Happy Meal promotion. These consisted of new models of Trojan, Wolf, Jet, Lightning, and the previously unreleased Rhino. Notably, many of the moulds for the Hornby series were shipped over to Australia, and reused for a range of Australian Gladiators figures. While the Male Contender remained the same, Taipan has an identical head to Wolf, and Vulcan shares an identical head to Saracen. Figures of Tower, Commander, Condor, and Hammer were also released, with an identical "Duel" playset.
Alongside these popular models and play sets, everything from decorative display plates to clocks were released. Two audio CD and audio cassette tape compilations were released during the early years of the show, containing tracks such as "Holding Out for a Hero", "We Are Family", and "The Boys Are Back in Town", as well as the instrumental music used during events, and a three-minute version of the programme's opening theme song.
VHS releases
During the show's first four series, a number of official VHSvideo cassette tapes were released by Clear Vision (with some released through their Silver Vision label). These contained episodes, specials, or other material exclusive for home release. Many quickly sold out and are rare. The following VHS releases were available:
GL001 – Into the Arena – contains heats 1 and 2 from series 1 (1992)[14]
GL002 – Powerplay – contains heats 3 and 4 from series 1 (1992)[15]
GL003 – The Conflict – contains heats 5 and 6 from series 1 (1992)[16]
GL004 – Countdown – contains semi-finals 1 and 2 from series 1 (1992)[17]
GL005 – The Ultimate Challenge – contains the grand final from series 1 (1992)[18]
GL006 – The Very Best of Gladiators – contains the special episode 'The Challenge of the Gladiators' (1993)[19]
GL007 – Gladiators Return – contains the special episode 'Return of the Gladiators' (1993)[20]
GL008 – Contenders Ready, Gladiators Ready – contains heats 1 and 2 from series 2 (1993)[21]
GL009 – Arena Attack – contains heats 3, 4, and 5 from series 2 (1993)[22]
GL010 – Battleground – contains heats 6, 7, and 8 from series 2 (1993)[23]
GL011 – Combat – contains quarter finals 1 to 4 from series 2 (1993)[24]
GL012 – The Ultimate Challenge '93 – contains semi-finals 1 and 2 and the grand final from series 2, plus the special episode 'The Battle of the Gladiators' (1993)[25]
GL013 – The Climax – contains semi-finals 1 and 2, plus the grand final from series 3 (1994), plus footage from the 'International Challenge of Champions I' (1993)[26]
GL014 – The Gladiators Challenge '94–'95 – contains the special episodes 'The Return', 'The Celebrity Challenge', and 'The Fighting Forces Challenge' (1994)[27]
GL015 – International Gladiators: The Showdown – contains semi-finals 1 and 2, plus the grand final from International Gladiators I (1994)[28]
GL016 – The Power To Win – contains the special episode 'The Power To Win' (1995)[29]
SV001 – Jet: A Video Profile – contains the special episode 'Jet: a video profile' (1995)[30]
Demise and cancellation
By 1998, viewing figures began to fall, and despite efforts to improve the programme with changes, Gladiators was axed on 15 February 1999. Director of programmes David Liddiment said: "Every show of this kind has a lifespan, and it's now time for ITV to move on."[31] However, LWT reached an agreement by this time to film four extra episodes for ONdigital, the recently launched digital terrestrial television platform. These episodes were filmed in spring 1999, and saw the return of original host John Fashanu. These consisted of a three-part mini-series, in which previous winners competed to be crowned "Supreme Gladiators Champion", and a one-off special entitled "Battle of the Giants", where male gladiators competed against each other for the title of Ultimate Gladiator.
The four episodes were first broadcast back-to-back on 29 May 1999 on First ONdigital, an exclusive free channel on the ONdigital platform for special events and programmes. The episodes were then shown nationally on the ITV network over the Christmas period, across four successive Saturday nights from 11 December 1999 to 1 January 2000. The ITV broadcast of the final episode on Millennium Day 2000 attracted just more than six million viewers.
In 1996, ITV commissioned a spin-off of Gladiators for young children, titled Gladiators: Train 2 Win. Based upon Gladiators 2000, the children's version of American Gladiators, the spin-off was broadcast on CITV for four series between 1995 and 1998. Unlike the main show, the children's version featured two teams of children, who competed in modified versions of existing events while captained by one of the main show's Gladiators, who would sometimes assist in events. The show itself was filmed at National Indoor Arena, with John Sachs and John Anderson reprising their roles for the programme for the first two series, before later being replaced in their roles by Mitch Johnson and Andrew Norgate, respectively.
In January 2008, satellite TV channel Sky One announced they were commissioning a UK revival of Gladiators, following in the wake of its American counterparts revival. Produced by the company Shine, the show underwent a major change in its format due to the channel's advertising requirements, reducing the number of events featured in each episode, while some of the original events, like Duel, were modified due to the arena studio used for the revival. Michael Van Wijk, who had portrayed Wolf in the original series, took part in the revived series as coach for the new selection of Gladiators.
The revival ran for two series between 2008 and 2009, but was axed on 20 May 2009 by the then newly appointed controller for Sky One, Stuart Murphy.[32]
In July 2022, the BBC was reported to be in talks with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the holder of the Gladiators franchise, in hopes of relaunching the show on BBC One, with intentions of starting filming the following year.[33] A month later, the BBC confirmed that Gladiators would return to British television, with production handled by Hungry Bear Media and MGM Television,[34][35] and filming taking place in Sheffield's Utilita Arena.
Several of the new Gladiators for the second revival were later revealed on various daytime TV shows throughout August, but the BBC's plan to launch the show in 2023 was delayed. On 16 December 2023, the BBC announced, during the Strictly Come Dancing final, that the revival would begin broadcasting soon after the start of 2024.[36] In January 2024, the presenters for the revival were revealed as Bradley Walsh and his son Barney.[1]
The second revival eventually began broadcasting on 13 January 2024, achieving very strong viewing figures for its opening episodes, and received positive feedback from critics and fans since its launch.[37] Owing to the surprising success of the revival, the BBC has already announced plans to make another series in 2024, which would be set to air early 2025.[38]
↑ Sam Codjoe reached the series 3 final. However, he was injured at the beginning of Powerball, the fourth game of the night, as a result of a mistimed tackle from Shadow, and was replaced by Phil Campbell (whom he defeated in his semi-final). The £2,000 runner-up prize was split equally between the two, as both were deemed to have competed in three games.
Related Research Articles
Shooting Stars is a British television comedy panel game broadcast on BBC Two as a pilot in 1993, then as three full series from 1995 to 1997, then on BBC Choice from January to December 2002 with two series before returning to BBC Two for another three series from 2008 until its cancellation in 2011. Created and hosted by double-act Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, it uses the panel show format but with the comedians' often slapstick, surreal and anarchic humour that does not rely on rules in order to function, with the pair apparently ignoring existing rules or inventing new ones as and when the mood takes them.
GamesMaster was a British television programme which originally aired on Channel 4 from 1992 to 1998. In 2021, it returned for a new series on YouTube and E4. It was the first UK television programme dedicated to video games.
Eva Ulrika Jonsson is a Swedish-British television presenter and model. She became known as a TV-am weather presenter, and moved on to present the ITV show Gladiators, and later featured as a team captain on the BBC Two show Shooting Stars.
American Gladiators is an American competition television program that aired weekly in syndication from September 1989 to May 1996. The series matched a cast of amateur athletes against each other, as well as against the show's own "gladiators", in contests of strength and agility. Following the success of American Gladiators, other countries began to produce their own versions of the show.
John Fashanu is an English television presenter and former professional footballer.
Gladiators is an Australian television series which aired on Saturday nights on the Seven Network from 29 April 1995 until 12 October 1996 almost consecutively for eighteen months. It was based on the popular franchise of the same name, which started with American Gladiators in 1989. However the Australian show was more heavily based on the British version of the 1990s with events, format and even music being used from that show.
Gladiators: Springbok Challenge 2 was the second Springbok Challenge series for South African MTN Gladiators and UK Gladiators.
Gladiators is a sports entertainment television show that was first broadcast in the United States and was an international success during the 1990s and early 2000s.
American Gladiators is an American competition television series that aired on NBC and Citytv in Canada. Hosted by Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali, the show matches amateur athletes against each other and the show's own "gladiators" in contests of strength, agility, and endurance. It is a remake of the original series of the same name which ran from 1989 to 1996, with elements of the British version of the 1990s. The show was refereed by Al Kaplon, a former American League umpire, who can also be seen as the referee in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Play-by-play narration was handled by Van Earl Wright.
The second series of Gladiators started in December 2008 with a Legends Special. The series aired on Sky1 and Sky1 HD. Many changes were made from the first series, including six new Gladiators - Cyclone, Siren, Amazon, Warrior, Goliath and Doom. Three more games were added to the event pool - Pursuit & Suspension Bridge, which were seen in the ITV version of the show, and Rocketball. Ian Wright returned as presenter with Caroline Flack, who replaced Kirsty Gallacher. Taking over from original referee John Anderson was boxing referee John Coyle.
The first series of Gladiators began airing on Seven Network on 29 April 1995 following successful versions of the Gladiators format in United States, United Kingdom and Finland. The series closely resembled the UK series albeit with just four events and the Eliminator.
Popstars is a reality music competition series that was broadcast on ITV in early 2001. It was the first British series of the international Popstars franchise and was billed as a documentary on the formation of a modern pop group. The programme began with audition rounds of aspiring singers performing covers of classic songs before a panel of judges. The best performers were selected to come to London for further rounds of auditions. Over the weeks, the judges eliminated various singers from the auditions until just a few singers were left in contention. In the final weeks, five contestants were chosen by the judges to form the new pop group Hear'Say. The programme then showed the group recording and promoting their first single, documenting their first ventures into the music industry.
Gladiators: Train 2 Win is a children's spin-off of the British television series Gladiators and was based on its American counterpart Gladiators 2000 (1994–1996). Aired on ITV, the series featured younger contestants playing adapted versions of the games featured in the parent series, all while being mentored and assisted by a captain Gladiator. Four series of the programme were broadcast, airing from 2 September 1995 to 13 March 1998.
Gladiators is a British television series which aired on Sky One from 11 May 2008 to 25 October 2009. It was a revival of the earlier series of the same name and based on the second American version of the show. The US, UK and Australian versions of the show were all revived in 2008.
The first season of the 2008 American Gladiators revival premiered on January 8, 2008, and concluded on February 17 of the same year, airing on NBC in the United States and Citytv in Canada.
The second season of the 2008 American Gladiators revival premiered on April 12, 2008 and concluded on August 4 of the same year, airing on NBC in the United States and Citytv in Canada.
Gladiators is a British television series which began airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 13 January 2024. It is the second revival of the original 1992 Gladiators series on ITV, after the 2008 series on Sky One. The series is produced by Hungry Bear Media and MGM Alternative UK.
Gladiators is an Australian television series, which premiered on 15 January 2024 on Network 10. It is hosted by Beau Ryan and Liz Ellis. It is based on the earlier Australian iterations of the American version of the franchise. The first iteration being broadcast from 1995–1996 and a short-lived revival being the second in 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
