Gladiators is a
British televisionBritish television broadcasting started in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are up to 600 channels for consumers as well as on-demand content. There are six main channel owners who are responsible for most...
series produced by
LWTLondon Weekend Television is the ITV network franchise holder for London and the South East at weekends, broadcasting from Fridays at 5:15pm. to Monday mornings at 5:59am....
for
ITVITV is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC. ITV is the oldest commercial television network in the UK...
from 10 October 1992 to 1 January 2000. It is an adaptation of the United States game show
American GladiatorsAmerican Gladiators was an American competition television program that matched a cast of amateur athletes against each other, as well as against the show's own "gladiators", in contests of strength and agility....
. An
Australian spin-offGladiators is an Australian television series which aired on Saturday nights on the Seven Network from 1995 until 1996 almost consecutively for eighteen months. It was based on the American and British versions of the same name...
and a Swedish one followed. A
revival of the showGladiators was a British television series which aired on Sky1 from 11 May 2008 to 12 April 2009. It was filmed in Shepperton Studios and is produced by Shine Limited. It is a revival of the earlier series of the same name and is based on the American version of the show which itself along with...
was broadcast on Sky1 in 2008 and 2009 prior to being axed.
The show was originally presented by
John FashanuJohn "Fash" Fashanu is a British television presenter and ex-footballer of Nigerian and Guyanese descent. In his former career, he was a centre-forward.-Early life:...
and
Ulrika JonssonEva Ulrika Jonsson is a Swedish born television presenter, who became famous as the presenter of 'Gladiators' and as part of the show 'Shooting Stars' which returned for a new series in August 2009 on BBC 2.-Early life:...
. John Fashanu was replaced by
Jeremy GuscottJeremy Clayton Guscott is a former rugby union outside centre who played for Bath, England and the British and Irish Lions. On rare occasions, he has also appeared for England on the wing....
in 1997, before returning for the final mini series in 1999.
The referee was John Anderson and the timekeepers over the show's run were Andrew Norgate, Derek Redmond and Eugene Gilkes.
John SachsJohn Sachs is a British television presenter, voiceover and commentator known for his narration on the original series of Gladiators and as a long time DJ on London's 95.8 CapitalFM....
commentated for the show from the beginning to the end and the gladiators were cheered on by a group of cheerleaders, known as G-Force.
Despite being made by
London Weekend TelevisionLondon Weekend Television is the ITV network franchise holder for London and the South East at weekends, broadcasting from Fridays at 5:15pm. to Monday mornings at 5:59am....
, all episodes of
Gladiators and
International Gladiators were recorded at the
National Indoor ArenaThe National Indoor Arena or The NIA is a large indoor arena and is owned by the NEC Group. It is situated in central Birmingham, England and was opened in 1991, as the largest indoor arena at the time in the UK...
in Birmingham.
Gladiators: The Ashes 1 and
Gladiators: Springbok Challenge 2, however, was filmed on the sets of the Australian and South African versions of the shows respectively.
Female
| Gladiator name |
Career |
Real name |
| Amazon |
Series 4; Wembley 1996. |
Sharron DaviesSharron Elizabeth Davies, MBE is a successful swimmer from the United Kingdom. Having won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and a silver at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, Davies has built a successful second career as television presenter and patron for charities for disabled children and...
|
| Blaze |
Sheffield 1995. |
Eunice Huthart Eunice Huthart is best known for winning Gladiators and then being invited to return to the show as a Gladiator herself, "Blaze"...
|
| Falcon |
Series 2-8; International Gladiators 1-2; Wembley 1994, 1996; Sheffield 1995. |
Bernadette Hunt |
| Flame |
Series 1; Wembley 1993; Legends 1. |
Kimbra LeAnne Standish |
| Fox |
Series 6-8; Royal Tournament 2; Springbok Challenge 2; MTN GladiatorsMTN Gladiators was a game show produced by MTN for SABC3 in South Africa from 1999 to 2001. Following South Africa's initial participation in the second International Gladiators and Springbok Challenge tournaments in Birmingham, England, the format developed a cult following in South Africa...
Series 5. |
Tammy Baker |
| Gold |
Series 6; Springbok Challenge 2. |
Lize Van Der Walt |
| Jet |
Series 1-4; Wembley 1993, 1994, 1996, International Gladiators 1-2; Sheffield 1995; The Ashes 1. |
Diane Youdale Diane Youdale , is an English television personality, who was best known for her role as "Jet" on the television series Gladiators.-Biography:...
|
| Laser |
Series 5; The Ashes 2; Springbok Challenge 1 (As South African Gladiator "Sheena"). |
Tina Andrew |
| Lightning |
Series 1-8; Wembley 1993, 1994, 1996; International Gladiators 1-2; Sheffield 1995; The Ashes 1-2; Springbok Challenge 1; Legends 1 & 2. |
Kim Betts Kim Betts is an English Gymnast, bodybuilder and TV presenter best known as Lightning in the ITV show Gladiators, where she was the longest serving female star.-Gymnastics:...
|
| Nightshade |
Series 2-5; Wembley 1994, 1996; International Gladiators 1-2; Sheffield 1995; The Ashes 1. |
Judy Simpson Judith Earline Veronica Simpson , is a former British heptathlete. She competed in three Commonwealth Games, 1982, 1986 and 1990, winning a silver, gold and bronze respectively in the heptathlon...
|
| Panther |
Series 1-5; Wembley 1993, 1994, 1996; Sheffield 1995; International Gladiators 2; Legends 3. |
Helen O'Reilly |
| Phoenix |
Series 1; Wembley 1993. |
Sandy Young |
| Rebel |
Series 5-8; Wembley 1996, 1997: Springbok Challenge 1 (1997); Legends 1 & 3. |
Jennifer Stoute Jennifer Elaine Stoute is a former sprinter from Great Britain.At the 1990 Commonwealth Games, Stoute won a gold medal in the women's 4x400 m, along with a silver in the 4x100 m....
|
| Rio |
Series 5-8; Wembley 1996; Springbok Challenge 1 & 2. |
Jane OmorogbeJaine Grace Omorogbe is an English model and actress, perhaps best known as "Rio" on ITVs "Gladiators", who is now a TV presenter and motorcycling journalist....
|
| Rocket |
Series 6; Springbok Challenge 1; Royal Tournament 2; Legends 1 & 2. |
Pauline Richards |
| Scorpio |
Series 1-3; Wembley 1993, 1994; International Gladiators 1; Legends 2. |
Nikki Diamond |
| Siren |
Series 6-8; Springbok Challenge 2; Legends 2 & 3. |
Alison Paton |
| Vogue |
Series 4-8; Sheffield 1995; International Gladiators 2; The Ashes 1 & 2; Wembley 1996; Springbok Challenge 1 & 2; Legends 3. |
Suzanne Cox Suzanne Cox is an English aerobic instructor. She was at one point a gladiator in the UK television show Gladiators. She went by the name Vogue.- Early life :Suzanne Cox was born in Hertfordshire, England on March 19 1972....
|
| Zodiac |
Series 2-5; Wembley 1993, 1994, 1996; International Gladiators 1 & 2; Sheffield 1995. |
Kate Staples |
Male
| Gladiator name |
Career |
Real name |
| Ace |
Series 5-8; Wembley 1996; The Ashes 2; Springbok Challenge 1 & 2; Legends 1 & 3. |
Warren Furman Warren Furman is best known for his role of Ace on the British TV show Gladiators from 1996 to 2000.He is currently residing in York, England and working for his brother's loft-conversion company. He was also at one point engaged to model, Katie Price, better known as Jordan and has appeared on...
|
| Bullit |
Wembley 1993; Legends 2. |
Mike Harvey |
| Cobra |
Series 1-8; Wembley 1993, 1994, 1996; International Gladiators 1 & 2; Sheffield 1995; Springbok Challenge 2; Legends 2 & 3. |
Michael Willson Michael Willson is a former professional sportsman best known for his role as Cobra on the British TV show Gladiators from 1992-2000.-Career:...
|
| Diesel |
Series 7. |
Darren (Daz) Crawford |
| Hawk |
Series 1; Wembley 1993. |
Aleks Georgijev |
| Hunter |
Series 2-8; Wembley 1994, 1996; International Gladiators 1 & 2; Sheffield 1995; The Ashes 1 & 2; Royal Tournament 1 & 2; Springbok Challenge 1 & 2; Legends 1. |
James Crossley |
| Khan |
Series 6; Royal Tournament 2; Legends 3. |
Radosev Nekic |
| Raider |
Series 4; Sheffield 1995; International Gladiators 2. |
Carlton Headley |
| Rhino |
Series 4-8; Sheffield 1995; International Gladiators 2; The Ashes 1 & 2; Wembley 1996; Royal Tournament 1; Springbok Challenge 1 & 2. |
Mark Smith Mark Smith is an English body builder who competed as Rhino on the popular ITV show, Gladiators.-Career:...
|
| Saracen |
Series 1-8; Wembley 1993, 1994, 1996; International Gladiators 1; Sheffield 1995; The Ashes 2; Springbok Challenge 1 & 2. |
Mike Lewis |
| Shadow |
Series 1-3; Wembley 1993, 1994; International Gladiators 1. |
Jefferson King Jefferson King is a British bodybuilder, best known for playing Shadow in the ITV show Gladiators.-Gladiators:He played Shadow in the ITV show Gladiators. As his alias Shadow, he was legendary for his icy stare and his record in the 'Duel' event. He once hit his opponent so hard in the event...
|
| Trojan |
Series 2-5; Wembley 1993, 1994, 1996; International Gladiators 1 & 2; Sheffield 1995; Legends 1, 2 & 3. |
Mark Griffin |
| Vulcan |
Series 7; As part of Australian team - Ashes 1 & 2; International Gladiators 2. |
John Seru John Seru is an actor and former professional wrestler. He is best known as "Vulcan" in the Australian version of TV Series Gladiators, as well as joining the British Gladiators team in Seasons 7 and 8. He is also known for his part in the James Bond film, The World Is Not Enough, where he plays...
|
| Warrior |
Series 1-6; Wembley 1994, 1996; International Gladiators 1 & 2; Sheffield 1995; The Ashes 1; Royal Tournament 1. |
Michael Ahearne |
| Wolf |
Series 1-8; Wembley 1993, 1994, 1996; International Gladiators 1 & 2; Sheffield 1995; The Ashes 1 & 2; Royal Tournament 1; Springbok Challenge 1; Legends 1 & 2. |
Michael Van Wijk Michael Van Wijk , is a professional sportsman, bodybuilder, actor and TV presenter in the UK.Van Wijk is most well-known for his role as Wolf on British TV endurance sports game show Gladiators, a role he held for seven years...
|
An unseen UK Gladiator called Shark, real name Metin Hussein, was hired but never used in action. He was all set to be a new bad guy but for unknown reasons he was dropped just before the filming of the 1997 series. He was briefly featured in the background on the Gladiator Training Camp clips in Mauritus. He was replaced by Khan.
Cobra and Lightning were originally not on the 1992 team but were actually going to be contenders. It was decided that two more Gladiators would be needed and so both were added to the final team as reserves, However by show three of that series both were upgraded to full time members of the team. They both stayed with the show till the very end.
Laser, like Cobra and Lightning was originally going to be a contender, then a reserve Gladiator before being upgraded to full member of the team, replacing an injured Nightshade half way through the 1996 series.
Fox, a contender at the original 1993 Wembley live shows, joined the team as a reserve Gladiator four years later. Like Laser the series before, Fox was added to the team full time filling in for fellow new female Gladiator Gold, who had injured herself during training for the series.
Both Fox and Laser would later join the MTN South African Gladiators Team. Whilst Fox would keep her Gladiator name, Laser who competed in the first Springbok Challenge series was renamed "Sheena" she however never competed in a domestic series of
MTN GladiatorsMTN Gladiators was a game show produced by MTN for SABC3 in South Africa from 1999 to 2001. Following South Africa's initial participation in the second International Gladiators and Springbok Challenge tournaments in Birmingham, England, the format developed a cult following in South Africa...
.
The contenders
Applicants who wanted to take part in the show had to go through fitness tests to before they were selected to take part in the show. Future British 400 metre hurdler
Chris RawlinsonChristopher Lee Rawlinson is an all-round athlete who has made his name as a 400 m hurdler.He also appeared in the 1995 series of the popular TV series Gladiators....
and Wales International Rugby Union winger
Glen WebbeGlen Webbe is a former international Wales rugby union player. A winger, he played his club rugby for Bridgend RFC and was in the Wales squad for the 1987 Rugby World Cup...
were the most famous of these to compete. Most competitors achieved brief local fame, but series three women's champion
Eunice HuthartEunice Huthart is best known for winning Gladiators and then being invited to return to the show as a Gladiator herself, "Blaze"...
earned great recognition, and briefly presented late night television before becoming a stunt double.
Controversies
The relationship between "Hunter" (James Crossley) and presenter Ulrika Jonsson was a tabloid focus during 1996 and 1997. The pair initially denied the affair, but later Jonsson admitted it in her 2003 biography.
After the Wembley live shows in 1993 Phoenix, Flame and Hawk were sensationally sacked from the show having received the lowest number of votes in a magazine poll.
"Bullit" having only just joined the team for the 1993 live shows, was dropped from the show shortly after they had finished. He remains the only Gladiator (excluding Blaze) who was not transferred over to the TV series, No reason for this was ever given.
"Shadow" was sacked from the show in 1994, after a newspaper uncovered evidence that he had taken steroids.
"Warrior" after being arrested for a fire arms offence found himself also cut from the show in 1998.
"Raider" remains the only Gladiator on the show to receive a straight Red Card and face an exclusion from the show for having pushed a contender who beat him in the Gauntlet. The contender, while on the floor, had kicked Raider out of the Gauntlet so as to win, and was not punished.
Gladiators Nightshade, Jet, Amazon and Zodiac all quit the show following serious injury, either during training or on the show itself. Panther suffered one of the most shocking injuries during a game of "Tilt" in series 3, She made a welcome return to the show the following series and remained with the show for a further two years before hanging up her lycra for good.
Contender Nicola Bawden caused controversy following the very first game of The Wall after she literally gave Scorpio the slip. Scorpio had managed to get hold of her, but she slipped off moments later and dropped to the floor. It turned out that Bawden had greased her legs so Scorpio could not get a firm grip of her. It also turned out that Bawden had undone her laces so that Scorpio could not hold onto her trainers. Strangely, Bawden was not disqualified for this, but when she advanced to the semi-finals, Scorpio was given a second chance to chase her up The Wall. This time, she was successful in wrenching Bawden off The Wall.
John Anderson
John Anderson has been the head official for all nine series (including the revival). Before every event he called: "Contender ready! Gladiator ready!," similar to his American counterpart, Larry Thompson, but also he added a countdown, "Three! Two! One!" before starting the match. During celebrity specials Anderson took a more light-hearted attitude to the show such as adapting his call to "Little contender ready!" when
Willie CarsonWilliam Fisher Hunter Carson, OBE is a retired jockey in thoroughbred horse racing.Best known as "Willie", Carson was born in Stirling, Scotland. In 1957 he was apprenticed to Captain Gerald Armstrong at his stables at Tupgill, North Yorkshire...
took part.
Former American League (Major League Baseball) umpire Al Kaplon adopted Anderson's countdown before the whistle in the 2008 US revival.
Anderson is also known as John 'Kipper' Anderson, due to his renowned love for kippers with his Scottish breakfast in the mornings.
Train 2 Win
In the late 1990s, when the popularity of the programme began to wane, a spin-off entitled
Gladiators: Train2Win was produced and was broadcast on CITV in 1996, based on
Gladiators 2000Gladiators 2000 was a spinoff television show of American Gladiators. It was hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Maria Sansone . Season 5 American Gladiators grand champion Peggy Odita served as head referee. It premiered on September 17, 1994 and ran until May 11, 1996...
, the kids' version of
American Gladiators. The show featured two teams of children, each captained by a gladiator (varying each week) which sought to gain the most points. Some of the games differed from those on the parent show; for example, the "Eliminator" round was more similar to the "Pursuit" round (though it still featured the famous "Travelator").
Celebrity specials
Four celebrity specials were produced during the shows history. The first one, in 1993 was broadcast in the week between semi-final 2 and the final and the other three in 1994, 1996 and 1997 were broadcast over the Christmas period.
Celebrity special winners
1993:
John FashanuJohn "Fash" Fashanu is a British television presenter and ex-footballer of Nigerian and Guyanese descent. In his former career, he was a centre-forward.-Early life:...
1994:
Derek RedmondDerek Anthony Redmond is a retired British athlete. During his career, he held the British record for the 400 metres sprint, and won gold medals in the 4x400 metres relay at the World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games.However his career was blighted by a series of...
1996:
Steve RedgraveSir Steven Geoffrey Redgrave CBE is an English rower who won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000...
1997: Celebrities v Jockeys - Jockeys team (
Bob ChampionBob Champion MBE is an English jump jockey who won the 1981 Grand National on Aldaniti. Champion was diagnosed with testicular cancer in July 1979. He was treated with an orchidectomy and with the chemotherapeutic drugs bleomycin, vinblastine and cisplatin, and also had an exploratory operation to...
,
Willie CarsonWilliam Fisher Hunter Carson, OBE is a retired jockey in thoroughbred horse racing.Best known as "Willie", Carson was born in Stirling, Scotland. In 1957 he was apprenticed to Captain Gerald Armstrong at his stables at Tupgill, North Yorkshire...
,
Tony DobbinTony Dobbin is a retired Northern Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He rode the winner of the Grand National on Lord Gyllene in 1997 and won over 1,200 races during his career in the saddle. He was the regular stable jockey for Nicky Richards...
, Carl Llewelyn and
Peter ScudamorePeter Scudamore is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was an eight-time Champion Jockey , riding 1,678 winners in his career....
) Celebrities Team (
Bradley WalshBradley Walsh is an English comedian and television actor.-Background:Bradley Walsh grew up in Leavesden, near Watford. He attended Francis Combe, a comprehensive school in Garston, Hertfordshire. -Football:...
,
Mark SpeightMark Warwick Fordham Speight was an English television presenter, best known as the host of children's art programme SMart. Speight grew up in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, and left school at 16 to become a cartoonist...
,
Paul RossPaul Ross Paul Ross Paul Ross (born April, 1956, Leytonstone, London, is an English television and radio presenter, journalist, and media personality. He is the son of Martha Ross and the elder brother of Jonathan Ross.-Career:...
, Mr. Motivator,
Samuel KaneSamuel Kane is a British actor, who has appeared in the soap operas Brookside, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.Kane was born in Huyton; his father is Ken McGlashan, a local Labour Councillor...
)
International shows
While the show itself was inspired by the USA's
American Gladiators, the UK show inspired many other countries to start their own series. The first two countries to get in on the act after the US and UK were Russia and
FinlandGladiaattorit was a Finnish competition television program part of the international Gladiators franchise. The show ran 1993-1994, was directed by Hollywood director Renny Harlin, produced by Markus Selin, and filmed at Planet FunFun...
. All four appeared on the
first International GladiatorsInternational Gladiators 1 was the first full scale international competition using the Gladiators format. Champions and other contenders from Gladiators series in the United States , United Kingdom , and Finland competed against an international team of Gladiators...
series. Shortly after this series other countries such as Nigeria, Australia,
South AfricaMTN Gladiators was a game show produced by MTN for SABC3 in South Africa from 1999 to 2001. Following South Africa's initial participation in the second International Gladiators and Springbok Challenge tournaments in Birmingham, England, the format developed a cult following in South Africa...
and Germany followed the trend. The last two nations to broadcast the show were Denmark and Sweden, Denmark beginning in 2002 and ending quickly afterwards. Sweden started in 2001 and ended in 2004, after much success including the only ever Gladiators PC game, 'Gladiatorerna'. With Sweden gone in 2004, no other nations remained, and therefore the Gladiators craze was over for the time being until discussions erupted in the United States in 2007 about a
revivalAmerican Gladiators is an American competition TV show 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...
.
Legends
There have been three "Legends" shows for the new Sky1 series, one for the first series and a further two for the second series. In these specials, former Gladiators from the UK show's original incarnation return as special contenders, taking on the might of the new generation of Gladiators. These specials are filmed in the aid of charity.
For the first show "The Legends Return", Gladiators Wolf, Lightning, Flame, Hunter, Trojan, Ace, Rebel and Rocket made a welcome return in the new revamped 2008 arena. The event was broadcast on 31 August 2008 on Sky1 and resulted in the women "Legends" defeating the current Gladiators and the male "Legends" beaten by the current group of Gladiators.
Former Gladiator Hunter proved he still has what it takes in the arena by instantly defeating Spartan on Duel. Hunter lived up to his crown of being the "Ultimate Gladiator", a status he achieved in "Battle of the Giants" in 1999.
A second show for Series 2 was recently filmed, "The Legends Strike Back". Returning from Legends 1 were Wolf, Lightning, Trojan and Rocket, who were now joined by Scorpio, Cobra, Siren and Bullitt. It was classed as the very first show of Series 2 and was broadcast on 21 December 2008.
Legends 3 has also now completed filming. The returning Female Legends were Vogue, Rebel and the original Panther and Siren.
The returning Male Legends were Ace, Cobra, Khan and Trojan (who is now the only Gladiator, male or female, to take part in all three Legends shows). It was due to air on Sky2 during August 2009, but was dropped before airing. The Sky website labelled it as repeat, but it has never aired before.
Because of copyright issues with ITV, the Legends were not allowed to wear their trademark Gladiator costumes and instead had brand new costumes made especially for the charity specials.
Toys
During 1992 and 1995, Hornby made a selection of Action Figures + Playsets.
ACTION FIGURES
- B800- Jet
- B801- Shadow
- B802- Wolf
- B803- Saracen
- B804- Cobra
- B805- Warrior
- B806- Male Contender
- B807- Female Contender
PLAYSETS
- B821- Duel
- B822- Atlasphere Attack (With Wolf)
- B823- Danger Zone (With Warrior And Male Contender)
- B824- Atlasphere Challenge (With Cobra And Male Contender)
- B825- Super Duel (With Shadow And Male Contender)
- B826- The Ultimate Challenge (With Saracen And Male Contender)
B823 (Danger Zone) was due to have a Hawk action figure included but because he left the show it was later scrapped, although a few sets left the factory with Hawk figures still in them.
A second wave, released in 1993, contained:
- Hunter Action Figure
- Zodiac Action Figure
- Trojan Action Figure
- Panther Action Figure
- The Wall Playset
A later International Gladiators wave contained:
- Terminator (Finland) Action Figure
- Dynamite (Russia) Action Figure
- Hawk (United States) Action Figure
- Hunter (United Kingdom) Action Figure
An addition to this wave, a Gauntlet playset with Lightning (United Kingdom) action figure, was cancelled and never went into production.
A final "Australian gladiators" wave contained:
- Taipan Action Figure
- Tower Action Figure
- Vulcan Action Figure
- Hammer Action Figure
- Condor Action Figure
- Male Contender Figure
- Duel Playset
Original series
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|
| 1 |
10 October 1992 |
5 December 1992 |
9 |
| 2 |
18 September 1993 |
1 January 1994 |
15 |
| 3 |
10 September 1994 |
17 December 1994 |
15 |
| 4 |
16 September 1995 |
23 December 1995 |
15 |
| 5 |
28 September 1996 |
4 January 1997 |
15 |
| 6 |
13 September 1997 |
20 December 1997 |
15 |
| 7 |
5 September 1998 |
12 December 1998 |
15 |
| 8 |
11 December 1999 |
25 December 1999 |
3 |
International Gladiators
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|
| 1 International Gladiators 1 was the first full scale international competition using the Gladiators format. Champions and other contenders from Gladiators series in the United States , United Kingdom , and Finland competed against an international team of Gladiators...
|
7 January 1995 |
18 February 1995 |
7 |
| 2 International Gladiators 2 was filmed in the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham during 1995 and was broadcast on ITV in 1996, the second series of Gladiators using the International moniker...
|
20 April 1996 |
8 June 1996 |
7 |
Train2Win
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|
| 1 |
2 September 1995 |
16 September 1995 |
3 |
| 2 |
5 January 1996 |
8 March 1996 |
10 |
| 3 |
10 January 1997 |
21 March 1997 |
10 |
| 4 |
9 January 1998 |
13 March 1998 |
10 |
The Ashes
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|
| 1 |
30 December 1995 |
13 January 1996 |
3 |
| 2 |
18 January 1997 |
1 February 1997 |
3 |
Springbok Challenge
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|
| 1 |
3 January 1998 |
17 January 1998 |
3 |
| 2 |
Unknown |
Unknown |
11 |
Specials
| Date | Entitle |
|---|
| 9 January 1993 |
The Challenge of the Gladiators |
| 26 December 1993 |
Battle of the Gladiators: Celebrity Special |
| 24 December 1994 |
The Celebrity Challenge |
| 31 December 1994 |
The Fighting Forces Challenge |
| 20 January 1996 |
Battle of the Champions |
| 11 January 1997 |
Sport Celebrity Challenge |
| 27 December 1997 |
Celebrity Special |
| 1 January 2000 |
Battle Of The Giants |
Current Transmissions
Television channel
ChallengeChallenge is a United Kingdom digital TV channel owned by Virgin Media Television.It was originally called The Family Channel from 1 September 1993 to 31 January 1997, which aired a mixture of genre shows mainly including sitcoms, game shows, dramas and entertainment.It was later re-branded as...
currently air repeats of the show. To this date they have aired all 8 series, but currently only have the rights to series 3-8. They have also shown both Ashes series, both International Gladiators and most of the Specials. The only series they have never aired to date are both Springbok Challenge series nor the train2win series.
Virgin 1Virgin1 is the flagship television channel operated by the British broadcaster Virgin Media Television. The channel was launched on 1 October 2007 at 9pm on Freeview, Virgin Media and Sky Digital, replacing Ftn. The channel is broadcast 24 hours on cable, satellite and Freeview complemented by...
is currently showing series 5-8 plus the second ashes as well as the specials, it also showed series 3-5, both International series and both Ashes series, while its predecessor
ftnFtn was a television channel from Virgin Media Television transmitting free-to-air on Freeview and Virgin Media, and as a subscription channel on Sky Digital. The channel was broadcast between 6pm and 6am daily...
showed series 1-4, both International series and the first Ashes series.
External links
- Gladiators at UKGameshows.com
UKGameshows.com is a website dedicated to British game shows. The site currently provides information on more than 1,500 British game show formats from 1938 to the present day, over 500 mini-biographies of hosts, along with numerous other background articles....
- Gladiators at Gladiators Zone
- Gladiators at Challenge.co.uk