Gladiators: Everything you need to know about the show

13 January

Gladiators fans, ARE YOU READY?! A re-launch of the iconic sporty gameshow is coming to our screens and we've got all the info you need to know about it!

Gladiators is a TV series which sees people compete against 'Gladiators' in a series of fun sporty challenges, to win a prize.

The new show will feature 16 Gladiators - super sporty athletes whose job it is to try to stop the contenders from winning - as well as referees to keep things fair, and a live audience to cheer the challengers on.

Challenges will include 'Duel' - where players stand on small platforms and have to knock each other off using sticks - 'Hang Tough', 'Powerball', 'The Wall' and the super-tough 'Eliminator'.

The show starts on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 13 January 2024. Read on to find out more!

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Meet the Gladiators

BBC/Getty

(From left to right) Fire, Athena, Electro and Fury will be trying to stop the challengers

Trying to stop contenders from completing the challenges each week will be 16 Gladiators.

Each Gladiator has a special nickname which describes them.

This year they are: Legend, Fire, Bionic, Diamond, Nitro, Electro, Giant, Steel, Apollo, Comet, Viper, Athena, Fury, Phantom, Sabre and Dynamite.

Many of the Gladiators are elite athletes, including Fire, who was a former Team GB Sprinter and Olympic Bobsledder who also held the British woman's record for fastest 100m sprint at 11.05 seconds.

BBC/Getty

(From left to right) Phantom, Viper, Nitro and Giant will also be trying to stop the challengers from succeeding

Giant stands at a whopping 6ft 5in and made history by becoming one of the all-time tallest bodybuilders, and Legend is a former Championship bronze medal-winning long and triple jumper and silver medal winning power-lifter.

Athena has represented Team GB and is the winner of three Gold and two Silver Commonwealth Powerlifting medals.

Professional rugby player and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu British Champion, Fury, is the show's first deaf Gladiator.

Mark, Sonia and Lee will be keeping things fair and square as the referees

As well as the Gladiators and the competitors there are also the referees, whose job it is to start and end the challenges, and make sure everything is fair - things can get a bit crazy out there!

Former Premier League Football referee Mark Clattenburg, former English international netball player Sonia Mkoloma and fitness professional, firefighter and athlete Lee Phillips will be picking up their whistles to keep the challenges on track.

Who are the hosts?

Bradley Walsh and his son Barney will present the show

The new hosts of the show will be father and son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh.

You might recognise Bradley Walsh from the quiz show The Chase, or from being The Doctor's friend in the 2018 series of Doctor Who.

Barney is Bradley's son and is an actor who has starred in a number of TV series.

Speaking about their new presenting roles, Bradley Walsh said: "Wow! I can't believe that I've been asked to be part of this iconic show... Saturday night family entertainment at its best... ARE YOU READY?!"

Barney added: "I'm so excited for everyone to see the spectacle, elite athletes and fantastic family entertainment that is GLADIATORS."

What was the original Gladiators?

Gladiators

The original Gladiators from the 1992 UK series

You might have heard your parents, or even grandparents, talking about the show, well that's because it was first on telly a long time ago!

The original American Gladiators series was was broadcast in the US in 1989 and was so popular a UK version was made starting in 1992.

Presenters Ulrika Jonsson and footballer John Fashanu were the hosts and the commentator was John Sachs- who is now the voice on Dancing on Ice.

It ran for eight seasons before finishing in 2000.

Gladiators was then brought back for a short run by Sky between 2008-2009, with Ian Wright, Kirsty Gallacher and Caroline Flack as hosts.