Gladiators
Gladiators Logo, 1992-2000
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	8 domestic, 2 international, 2 Ashes, 2 Springbok Challenge, 4 Train 2 Win
No. of episodes	132
Production
Running time	60 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	ITV
Original run	10 October 1992 – 1 January 2000

Gladiators was a game show produced by LWT for ITV in the United Kingdom from 10 October 1992 to 1 January 2000. It was an adaptation of the United States game show American Gladiators, which had developed a cult following in the UK through its late night TV showings, as well as an Australian spin-off. Repeats of Gladiators series are currently shown on Challenge and its sister channel Ftn. Look up gladiator in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Image File history File links Gladiators_logo. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... ITV1 is the name, in England, Wales and the Scottish borders, for a terrestrial, free-to-air television channel, broadcast in the United Kingdom by the ITV network. ... is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... “Quiz show” redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Independent Television (generally known as ITV, but also as ITV Network) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority (ITA) to provide competition to the BBC. ITV is the oldest commercial television network in the UK. Since 1990 and the Broadcasting... is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... American Gladiators was a competition TV show that ran originally in weekly syndication from September 16, 1989 to May 11, 1996. ... Gladiators was an Australian television series, airing on Channel Seven from 1995 until 1997. ... Challenge is a British digital TV channel owned by Virgin Media Television. ... Ftn (Flextech Television Network) is 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 show pitted contestants in a variety of physical events against the 'Gladiators', who would attempt to prevent them from achieving maximum points on a variety of games. After this, the two contestants would race each other on The Eliminator, an assault course containing climbing, balancing, and cargo nets. The contender with the most points received a half second head start for every 1 point by which they were in front. This article needs cleanup. ...

The show was originally presented by John Fashanu and Ulrika Jonsson. John Fashanu was replaced by Jeremy Guscott in 1997, before returning for the final mini series in 1999. John Fash Fashanu (born September 18, 1962 in Kensington, London) is a British television presenter and ex-footballer. ... Eva Ulrika Jonsson (born 16 August 1967)) is a Swedish television presenter whose most famous work has been on British television. ... Jeremy Clayton Guscott (born 7 July 1965 in Bath) is a former rugby union outside centre who played for Bath, England and the British Lions. ...

The referee was John Anderson and the timekeepers over the show's run were Andrew Norgate, Derek Redmond and Eugene Gilkes. John Sachs 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. For other uses, see Gladiator (disambiguation). ... Derek Redmond (born September 3, 1965 in Bletchley) is a retired English athlete. ... John Sachs is a British voiceover and commentator most famous for his narration on the popular ITV show Gladiators. ...

Apart from the off-series live events, all the Gladiators tapings took place at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England. The NIA The National Indoor Arena (NIA) situated in Birmingham, England was opened in 1991. ... Birmingham (pron. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

The Gladiators

Female

Sharron Davies, MBE (born November 1, 1962) is one of Britains most successful swimmers ever. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Diane Youdale (born February 13, 1970 in Billingham, England) is a British television personality, who was best known for her role as Jet on the television series Gladiators, a game show where players competed in athletic contests against a cast of athletes. ... Kim Betts (née Williams; born December 25, 1971) 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. ... Judy Simpson (née Livermore) (born 14 November 1960 in Kingston, Jamaica), is a former British heptathlete. ... Jennifer Stoute (born April 16, 1965) is a former sprinter from Great Britain who won an Olympic bronze medal in 4 x 400 metres relay in Barcelona 1992. ... Jaine Grace Omorogbe (born 20 September 1971 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is an English model and actress, perhaps best known as Rio on ITV1s Gladiators, who is now a TV presenter and motorcycling journalist. ... Suzanne Cox is an English aerobic instructor. ...

Male

Warren Furman is best know for his role of Ace on the British TV show Gladiators from 1996 to 2000. ... Mikey Harvey (VIII) was a star in Gladiators in 1993. ... Michael Willson is best known for his role as Cobra on Gladiators from 1992-2000. ... James Crossley was the Gladiator Hunter on UK TV series Gladiators. ... Mark Smith (born 30 September 1970) is an English body builder who competed as Rhino on the popular ITV show, Gladiators. ... Jefferson King (born 1 July 1961) was Shadow in the ITV show Gladiators. ... John Seru (born 12 January 1964) is an actor and former professional wrestler. ... Michael Van Wijk, (born in Bombay, India, 9 August 1952) aka Wolf, was 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...

The Events

See Gladiators events main page The following events appeared during the eight-year run of the UK series of Gladiators. ...

The Contenders

Applicants that wanted to take part in the show had to go through rigorous fitness tests to prove themselves before they were selected to take part in the show. Future British 400 metre hurdler Chris Rawlinson and Wales International Rugby Union winger Glen Webbe were the most famous of these to compete. Most competitors achieved brief local fame, but Series 3 women's champion Eunice Huthart earned great recognition, and briefly presented late night television before becoming a stunt double. Chris Rawlinson (born: May 19, 1972 in Rotherham, England) is an all-round athlete who has made his name as a 400 m hurdler. ... Glen Webbe is a former international Wales rugby union player. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

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.^[1] Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

John Anderson

Anderson was the head official for the entire duration. He was best known for his call before every event of "Contender READY! Gladiator READY!". His strict attitude was often thought to be an act due to the fact he sometimes turned a blind eye to obvious cheating. During celebrity specials Anderson took a more comical attitude to the show such as adapting his call to "Little Contender READY!" when Willie Carson took part. Willie Carson (16 November 1942) is a Scottish jockey. ...

'The Wolfman'

Gladiator "Wolf" (aka Michael Van Wijk) remained in the show for its entire duration. The most outspoken and rebellious Gladiator, Wolf did everything to break the rules from fighting with contestants, arguing with the referee, pulling off contestants' trousers and bullying the presenters. American Gladiators fans who have watched Wolf see him as the British equivalent to the American Gladiator Danny Lee 'Nitro' Clark. Michael Van Wijk, (born in Bombay, India, 9 August 1952) aka Wolf, was 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... American Gladiators was a competition TV show that ran originally in weekly syndication from September 16, 1989 to May 11, 1996. ...

Train 2 Win

In the late 1990s, when the popularity of the programme began to wane, a spin-off entitled Gladiators: Train To Win was produced and aired on CITV in 1996, based on Gladiators 2000, 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"). Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Gladiators 2000 was a spinoff of the then-popular American Gladiators, and was co-hosted by 13-year-old Maria Sansone and 20-year-old Ryan Seacrest. ... American Gladiators was a competition TV show that ran originally in weekly syndication from September 16, 1989 to May 11, 1996. ...

Celebrity Specials

Four celebrity specials were produced during the shows history. The first two, in 1993 and 1994 were aired in the week between Semi-Final 2 and the Grand Final and the other two in 1996 and 1997 were aired over the Christmas period.

Celebrity Special Winners
1993: John Fashanu
1994: Derek Redmond
1996: Steve Redgrave
1997: Celebrities v Jockeys - Jockeys team (Bob Champion, Willie Carson, Tony Dobbin, Carl Llewelyn & Peter Scudamore) John Fash Fashanu (born September 18, 1962 in Kensington, London) is a British television presenter and ex-footballer. ... Derek Redmond (born September 3, 1965 in Bletchley) is a retired English athlete. ... Image:Stevebook. ... Bob Champion an English Jockey who won the 1981 Grand National on Aldaniti despite suffering from cancer. ... Willie Carson (16 November 1942) is a Scottish jockey. ... Peter Scudamore (born 1958) is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. ...

The Brian Conley Show

The Brian Conley Show included a sketch character who was a stuntman and mock Gladiator called Dangerous Brian, performed by Brian Conley himself. His commentator and "sidekick" was Gladiators' John Sachs. LWT produced both shows, and for one sketch, Dangerous had to run The Eliminator with Wolf. [1] The Brian Conley Show was a comedy variety show starring Brian Conley, consisting of comedy sketches, and music. ... Brian Conley presenting Let Me Entertain You. ... London Weekend Television logo, 1978-1996 London Weekend Television Limited (LWT) is the ITV contractor for London, Friday 5:15pm to Monday, 5:59am. ...

International Shows

The show inspired many other countries to start their own series. The first 4 countries to get in on the act were USA, Russia, UK and Finland. All four appeared on the first International Gladiators series. Shortly after this series other countries such as Nigeria, Australia, South Africa and Germany followed the trend. The last two nations to air 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.

A revival has been announced in the United States for the 2007-08 season by NBC. Australia's Seven network has also announced a comeback with a new series to air in 2008. The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... The Seven Network is an Australian television network, owned by the Seven Media Group. ...

External links

• Gladiators at Gladiators Zone
• Gladiators at UKGameshows.com
• Gladiators at Challenge.co.uk

Notes

1. ^ "Hurt girls looking for a father figure" http://news.scotsman.com, 23 April 2002. Retrieved: 30 June 2007