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Gladiators 2024
Gladiators is a British television series that started on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 13 January 2024. It marks the second return of the 1992 Gladiators show originally on ITV, following a version in 2008 on Sky One. The production is handled by Hungry Bear Media and MGM Alternative UK.
The show features Bradley Walsh and his son Barney as hosts. Each episode involves four participants, called 'contenders', with two men and two women, who go up against the series' regular 'Gladiators'. These are elite competitors such as bodybuilders or track athletes. The competition includes a contenders-only final event known as the Eliminator. A total of 18 new Gladiators have been added to the show. Episodes follow a structure including heats, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a grand final to crown overall winners. The events are overseen by Mark Clattenburg, supported by Sonia Mkoloma and Lee Phillips, with Guy Mowbray providing voice-over commentary.
The launch of this new version became one of the most popular family shows on BBC in seven years. The first episode drew over six million viewers, and the entire first series reached nearly nine million. As a result, the BBC commissioned Gladiators: Epic Pranks, a CBBC spin-off aimed at children. This fifteen-episode behind-the-scenes program, hosted by Gladiator Nitro, began airing in February 2025.
Following the commissioning of a second season that started on January 2025, a one-off celebrity special was shown on New Year’s Day 2025 on BBC One. It featured Rob Beckett, Joel Dommett, Ellie Taylor, and Louise Minchin as contenders challenging the Gladiators. Another celebrity special aired on Christmas Day 2025 with Sam Thompson, Joe Wicks, Vogue Williams, and Nicola Adams as participants. In March 2025, during Red Nose Day 2025, a comedy sketch appeared where comedian Chabuddy G competed against Gladiator Bionic in a Duel.
In April 2025, it was revealed that Gladiators would begin a live arena tour across the UK, visiting cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, London, Birmingham, and Glasgow in November and December 2025. Fans could meet the Gladiators and watch live events on stage, with some returning contenders from the first two seasons taking part. The tour is hosted by Maia Beth and Radzi Chinyanganya. After its success, a second tour will start in October 2026, including new stops in Aberdeen and Newcastle.
Cast
Crew
- Producer
- Reshmi Bajnath, James Pratt
- Executive producer
- Hungry Bear Media, Lou Brown, Dom Bird
Details
- Production
- Hungry Bear Media, MGM Television
