Gladiators returns to TV screens
The revived Saturday night series was one of the biggest hits of 2024, winning over nostalgic adults and new younger viewers alike, and attracting 8.7 million viewers in the UK.
It even made celebrities of the new Gladiators, who have since cropped up on everything from Strictly Come Dancing to Richard Osman’s House Of Games.
So, it’s no surprise that Gladiators is back for a new series on BBC1 tonight at 5.50pm, once against hosted by father-and-son team Bradley and Barney Walsh.
There’s also a new batch of contenders ready to take on the fearsome Gladiators in a series of challenges, before facing the infamous Eliminator.
Will anyone have what it takes to beat the resident warriors, who this year include two new recruits?
The Walshes were already familiar to viewers and had their own history with the format. Bradley’s wife was head choreographer for the Gladiator cheerleaders ‘G-Force’ on the original series, and he once competed in a celebrity special, while Barney took some of his first steps on the arena floor.
However, the public also took the new Gladiators themselves to their hearts. As proof, many of them have turned up on other shows, including Fire (Montell Douglas), who got to show her softer side on the most recent series of Strictly.
Her fellow warrior Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, aka Nitro, took part in the Strictly Christmas special, but sadly won’t be showing off his fancy footwork in the new series of Gladiators. After suffering an injury, he’ll be spending the new run on the sidelines.
Nitro took to Instagram to explain: “Speed is my thing, but sometimes life throws a curveball!
“During training for series two earlier this year, I picked up an unexpected knee injury, which means I’ll be shifting gears this series and sitting out the events.
“But don’t worry, I’m recharging and more energised than ever! You’ll still catch me bringing the Nitro spirit to your screens, hyping up my fellow Gladiators, and keeping the energy sky-high. Bring on series two of Gladiators!”
His (and our) wait is over tonight as Bradley and Barney meet the latest crop of contenders who think they are up to the challenge of taking on the superhuman Gladiators in five brutal events before going head-to-head in the gruelling Eliminator.
We’re promised Giant will meet his match on the duel podium, Viper finally breaks his silence, and we witness the long-awaited return of the legendary, metal-crunching event, Atlaspheres (the one where it looks like the competitors are in giant hamster balls).
