‘Gladiators’ was a show that I couldn’t wait to watch when I was growing up in the 90s. The show was unlike anything else on at the time and it was an occasion where the whole family gathered around the TV.
The original UK series ran from 1992 to 2000 presented by Ulrika Jonsson and John Fashanu, and it introduced viewers to a cast of Gladiators that went on to be huge pop culture icons including Wolf (Michael Van Wijk), Hunter (James Crossley), Jet (Diane Youdale) and Lightning (Kim Betts). Each week viewers in their millions tuned in to see ordinary people take on the mighty Gladiators in the hope of beating them in various challengers and besting their opponent during the Eliminator.
The show was revived in 2008 for two series and a series of specials by Sky but it tried too hard to differentiate itself from the original series. As was to be expected, there was a whole new cast of Gladiators (although Wolf returned as ‘Leader of the Pack’ for series 2) but somehow the format just didn’t quite work. Not even Ian Wright, who presented both series with Kirsty Gallacher in Series 1 and the late Caroline Flack in Series 2, could convince viewers to stick with the show.
When the BBC announced that it had bought the rights to show and was bringing it back, my initial reaction was one of trepidation. Given that the late noughties revival didn’t really land and the fact that TV has moved on a lot in the last 15 years, I wondered if ‘Gladiators’ still had a place in the modern world. Endless teasers for the series, which filmed at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, have been dripped out over the past few months and my feelings towards the reboot started to change. The Gladiators, who have been cleverly introduced well ahead of the series launch, all look the part and they’ve really taken to the individual characters. The sets and costumes stay true to the original series, and the glimpses of the games looked promising (and pleasingly familiar).
I managed to get my hands on a screener for the first episode of the series and I’m pleased to say that Hungry Bear Media and MGM Alternative UK, the production companies behind the show, have done a fantastic job. The minute that the opening credits roll and the ‘Gladiators’ appear with their title cards one-by-one to the sound of the original theme tune (yes, that epic rock track), I felt like a kid all over again. The nostalgia was real and I found myself very excited to watch the show.
This reboot is hosted by father-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh, who do a stellar job, and as per the original format two male and two female contestants battle through a series of challenges against the Gladiators before facing off against each other for the Eliminator. In episode one it’s Finley vs Myles, and Kerry vs Tasha, and all four contestants understand the assignment. They play up to the audience (with their families supporting them from the stands) and struggle to hide their competitive streaks when they come up against the Gladiators.
In terms of the games, I don’t want to reveal too much about what happens in episode 1 so I don’t spoil it but suffice to say there’s a mix of old and new games. Across the series old favourites such as ‘Hang Tough’, ‘The Wall’ and ‘Gauntlet’ will be back and there’s new games including ‘Collision’, an update on ‘Hit & Run’, ‘The Edge’ and ‘The Ring’. You’ll get to see one of the new games in the first episode and it’s probably the most brutal of the games that the contenders participate in. No episode of ‘Gladiators’ would be complete without the Eliminator and I’m pleased to say it’s as punishing as it ever was.
But what about the ‘Gladiators’? Not all of the new Gladiators appear in the first episode but the ones that do play their parts incredibly well. Viper (Quang Luong) is clearly the new Wolf while Steel (Zach George) and Nitro (Harry Aikines-Aryeetey) were the standouts from the male Gladiators for me, with their boundless energy and impressive physiques. As the series goes on, I think viewers are going to love booing Legend (Matt Morsia), who plays up to the villain role in the show. From the female ‘Gladiators’, Fire (Montell Douglas) makes a strong first impression in episode one as does Fury (Jodie Ounsley), the series’ first deaf Gladiator.
If you, like me, loved ‘Gladiators’ in the 90s then this new series is going to be a real treat for you. I’ve felt for years that Saturday night TV has lost its way, dominated by Ant & Dec and gameshows that lack the entertainment value that their predecessors had. With the return of ‘Gladiators’, Saturday night TV is about to get the shock to the system that it sorely needs and families will once again have a reason to gather around the TV at tea time. Never mind ‘Gladiators ready?’, I’m ready to enjoy every single minute of this 11-episode series.
‘Gladiators’ airs at 5.50pm Saturday on BBC One and iPlayer.
