Gladiators (2008 UK TV series) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Gladiators was a British television

British television

Public television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channelsTaking the base Sky EPG TV Channels. A breakdown is impossible due to a) the number of...

series which aired on Sky1 from 11 May 2008 to 25 October 2009. It was filmed in Shepperton Studios

Shepperton Studios

Shepperton Studios is a film studio in Shepperton, Surrey, England with a history dating back to 1931 since when many notable films have been made there...

and was produced by Shine Limited

Shine Limited

Shine Limited is a British media production company with offices in London and Manchester....

. It was a revival of the earlier series of the same name and based on the American

American Gladiators

American Gladiators is an American competition television program that aired in syndication from September 1989 to May 1996. The series matched a cast of amateur athletes against each other, as well as against the show's own gladiators, in contests of strength and agility.The concept was created by...

version of the show. The US, UK and [Gladiators (Australian TV series)|Australian]] versions of the show were all revived in 2008. The winners of the show each earned £50,000. Commentary on the events wass provided by Alan Parry

Alan Parry

Alan Parry is a British sports commentator, born and raised in Garston, Liverpool, concentrating on football and athletics. He has commentated for all three main broadcasters of football in the UK - the BBC, ITV and Sky TV, as well as for both BBC and commercial radio.Starting his career at BBC...

.

For the first series, the show was hosted by Ian Wright

Ian Wright

Ian Edward Wright, MBE is a retired English footballer turned television and radio personality.Wright enjoyed success with London clubs Crystal Palace and Arsenal, spending six years with the former and seven years with the latter. With Arsenal he has lifted the Premier League title and both major...

and Kirsty Gallacher

Kirsty Gallacher

Kirsty Jane Gallacher , is a Scottish television presenter.-Biography:The daughter of the former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher, Gallacher was born in Edinburgh. When her father got the job of professional at Wentworth Golf Club, they moved south when she was 18 months old...

. For the second series Ian Wright was joined by Caroline Flack

Caroline Flack

Caroline Louise Flack is a British television presenter. She is known for presenting I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! from 2008 to 2010....

. John Anderson

John Anderson (Scottish TV Referee)

John Anderson is a former British television personality best known as referee and official trainer on the UK TV show, Gladiators. He has previously worked as a teacher and as a coach for Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games athletes....

, the referee in the original series, returned for the first series but was replaced by John Coyle for series two.

In May 2009, it was announced that the show had been cancelled.

Format

Each series featured 32 contenders (16 male, 16 female). Men and women competed in separate tournaments, with two men and two women competing in each episode. Contenders too part in for against the Gladiators, trying to earn as many points as possible before the final event, the Eliminator. In that event, each point separating the contenders translated into a half-second advantage. The four events leading up to the final were selected from a total of eleven events.

The grand prize in Series 1 was £50,000.

Changes from the original series

The show featured a lineup of new Gladiators, with new costumes. However, Amazon, Panther, Siren and Warrior share names with ladiators from the original UK series and several others share names with those from international series.

Due to Sky1's greater advertising requirements, and contestant interviews prior to each of the events starting, the number of events before the Eliminator was cut from five to four.

The revival also featured new music.

Events

The new Gladiators arena meant that there was only room for 11 events, 9 events from the original series: Duel

Duel (Gladiators)

Duel is an event played in several incarnations of the television series Gladiators. In this event, a contender and Gladiator engage in battle on raised podiums using pugil sticks. The object is to knock your opponent off....

, Gauntlet

Gauntlet (Gladiators)

Gauntlet is an event played in several incarnations of the television series Gladiators. In this event, a contender must run through a narrow alleyway defended by five Gladiators.-Rules:...

, Hang Tough

Hang Tough

Hang Tough is an event played in several incarnations of the television series Gladiators. In this event, a contender and Gladiator engage in what is often described as 'a game of aerial chess' on a grid of rings hanging from the ceiling.-Rules:...

, Hit & Run

Hit & Run (Gladiators)

Hit & Run is an event played in several incarnations of the television series Gladiators. In this event, a contender must run across the Suspension Bridge as many times as possible, avoiding the four demolition balls being swung by Gladiators on platforms adjacent to the bridge.-Rules:One contender...

, Powerball

Powerball (Gladiators)

Powerball is an event played in several incarnations of the television series Gladiators. In this event, two contenders simultaneously face three Gladiators on a field with the contenders trying to score by putting balls into scoring baskets whilst the Gladiators try to prevent this.-Rules:The...

, Pursuit

Pursuit

Pursuit may refer to:In aircraft:*Rans S-11 Pursuit, lifting body style light aircraft designIn cars:*Pontiac G5, formerly called Pontiac PursuitIn film and television:*Pursuit , a 1950s anthology...

, Pyramid

Pyramid (Gladiators)

Pyramid is an event played in several incarnations of the television series Gladiators. In this event played on a giant sponge Pyramid, two contenders must climb to the top whilst two Gladiators attempt to halt their progress.-Rules:...

, The Wall

The Wall (Gladiators)

The Wall is an event played in several incarnations of the television series Gladiators. In this event, contenders race against each other up a climbing wall with Gladiators pursuing them.-Rules:...

and Suspension Bridge

Suspension Bridge (Gladiators)

Suspension Bridge is an event played in several incarnations of the television series Gladiators. In this event, a contender and Gladiator engage in battle on a simple suspension bridge. The object for the contender is to reach the Gladiator's platform....

. The two new events were Earthquake

Earthquake (Gladiators)

Earthquake is an event played in several incarnations of the television series Gladiators. In this event, a contender and Gladiator face off on a suspended, gyrating circle, each trying to push the opponent off...

and Rocketball

Rocketball

Rocketball is an event played in the revival of the television series Gladiators. In this event, two Gladiators attempt to stop contenders from depositing scoring balls in baskets attached to a pole hanging from the ceiling.-Rules:...

, which originated in the first and second American Gladiators

American Gladiators (2008 TV series)

American 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...

series respectively.

Notable changes from the original series include Duel

Duel (Gladiators)

, Hang Tough

Hang Tough

, Hit & Run

Hit & Run (Gladiators)

Pursuit and Suspension Bridge

Suspension Bridge (Gladiators)

now being played over water. The revised Eliminator featured a swimming section, a climb to the top of the Pyramid

Pyramid (Gladiators)

and two Travelators.

Female Gladiators

Alias	Series		Name	Stats	Description
Alias	First	Last	Name	Stats	Description
Amazon	2	2	Zoe Williams Zoe Williams (Gladiators) Zoe Williams was born on 3 April 1980 and raised in Lancashire until she moved to the North East of England 2001 to study medicine at Newcastle University, where she gained her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, passing the course with merit....	5 ft 10 in, 10 st 6 lb	Regal and Amazonian, nature's powerful force runs through her veins.
Battleaxe	1	2	Shirley Webb Shirley Webb Shirley Webb is a British hammer thrower and Gladiator. She was born in Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, England and is the daughter of Andrew Webb, a Scottish international hurdler who competed at the Commonwealth Games...	5 ft 9 in, 13 st	A weapon of war; domineering, aggressive and indomitable, Battleaxe is a warrior Queen.
Cyclone	1 (temp), 2	2	Donna Williams	5 ft 4 in, 9 st 5 lb	Fast and furious, Cyclone leaves destruction all around her.
Enigma	1	2	Jenny Pacey	5 ft 11 in, 10 st 4 lb	Mysterious and beautiful, contradictory and unpredictable, Enigma is impossible to capture.
Ice	1	1	Caroline Pearce Caroline Pearce Caroline Pearce is an English athlete, sports model and was one of the Gladiators in Sky One's version of Gladiators.-Biography:...	5 ft 8 in, 9 st 3 lb	Ice is Cold, steely, frosty and beautiful.
Inferno	1	2	Jemma Palmer Jemma Palmer Jemma Palmer is an English model and professional wrestler. She was briefly signed to World Wrestling Entertainment. She is also known by the name Inferno, which she used in the 2008 British television series Gladiators...	5 ft 6 in, 9 st 10 lb	Inferno is hot, fiery, dangerous and destructive.
Panther	1	2	Kara Nwidobie Sharpe	5 ft 10 in, 13 st	Beautiful, sleek and prowling, fierce and aggressive, Panther is the most powerful of them all.
Siren	2	2	Amy Guy Amy Guy Amy Guy is a Welsh beauty queen, television performer and athlete.She attended Yale College, Wrexham and secondary school at Ysgol Rhiwabon, Wrexham, Wales, and was the Welsh Schools National 100m and 300m Hurdling Champion...	5 ft 9 in, 9 st	The goddess of perilous seduction, expect no mercy. She will entice any contender into the waters and show how dangerous she can be.
Tempest	1	2	Lucy Boggis	5 ft 9 in, 10 st 7 lb	Naturally beautiful, Tempest is a force of nature bringing furious agitation and commotion.

Male Gladiators

Alias	Series		Name	Stats	Description
Alias	First	Last	Name	Stats	Description
Atlas	1	2	Sam Bond Sam Bond Sam Bond is an English amateur natural bodybuilder, weightlifter and television personality who has competed for the British National Bodybuilding Federation and the National Physiques Competition.He attended St...	5 ft 11 in, 16 st 7 lb	As strong as He-man, Atlas fights hard but with dignity.
Destroyer	1	1	Damar Martin	5 ft 11 in, 17 st	Determined and strong, angry and unstoppable – nothing gets in his way.
Doom	2	2	Wayne Gordon Wayne Gordon Wayne Gordon is a retired boxer from Canada, who competed for his native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. There he was defeated in the first round of the men's welterweight division by eventual American gold medalist Mark Breland.-References:*...	6 ft 3 in, 15 st	Mere mortals beware, there’s a dark cloud that looms, judgment day is afoot and Doom is your worst nightmare.
Goliath	2	2	Barri Griffiths Barri Griffiths Barri Griffiths is a Welsh professional wrestler and former Gladiators competitor, also known as Goliath and by his ring name Mason Ryan. He is signed to WWE, where he wrestles on the Raw brand.He was also a member of The Nexus...	6 ft 6 in, 20 st	A man-mountain with brute force. As frightening to look at as he is unstoppable. Contenders will always be in his shadow – because his shadow’s so big!
Oblivion	1	2	Brutus Magnus Nick Aldis Nicholas Harry "Nick" Aldis is an English professional wrestler and actor. He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Magnus, where he is a one time World Tag Team Champion with Doug Williams...	6 ft 3 in, 16 st 7 lb	Oblivion leaves nothing in his path as he extinguishes the opposition.
Predator	1	2	Du'aine Ladejo Du'aine Ladejo Du'aine Ladejo is an English-born athlete and television personality. In his sports career, he was best known for winning the 400 metres sprint gold medal at the 1994 European Championships and being a member of the United Kingdom and England 400 metre relay squads at the European Championships,...	6 ft 2 in, 13 st 5 lb	Volatile, quick and poisonous, Predator hunts down prey and takes no prisoners.
Spartan	1	2	Roderick Bradley Roderick Bradley Roderick "Rod" Bradley is an English American footballer from Grantham, England.- Education :Roderick “Rod” Bradley is from Grantham, England and was born on the 29th of March 1983. Rod attended Oakham School for seven years between 1994 and 2001 before going to Loughborough to study art...	6 ft 3 in, 15 st	Handsome, disciplined and brave, Spartan is the perfect warrior.
Tornado	1	2	David McIntosh David McIntosh (Gladiators) David McIntosh is a serving Royal Marine Commando from Ashton in Makerfield, Greater Manchester and a member of the of Sky1 TV series Gladiators under the name Tornado....	6 ft 0 in, 15 st 4 lb	Violently destructive and full of unstoppable energy, Tornado will leave you in a spin.
Warrior	2	2	Daniel Singh	6 ft 3 in, 17 st 8 lb	A savage beast who takes no prisoner. A Warrior in name and nature with a fearful battle cry.

Leader of the pack

Wolf (who featured in all eight series of the original Gladiators) returned to be the – 'The Leader of the Pack' – of the Gladiators. He featured in all episodes of series 2. His real name is Michael Van Wijk

Michael Van Wijk

Michael van Wijk , is a professional sportsman, bodybuilder, actor and TV presenter in the United Kingdom. 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, eight series...

Series One
Gladiators (2008 TV series) Series One
-The Contenders:Notes: Red & Blue denote the colours worn by the contestant Contenders in bold are the ones that advanced-Events:The limitations of the new Gladiators arena meant that there was only room for 8 events - 7 events from the original series: Duel, Gauntlet, Hang Tough, Hit & Run,...

Male winner: Simon Wray
Female winner: Anna Miller

Series Two
Gladiators (2008 TV series) Series Two
The second series of Gladiators started in December 2008 with a Legends Special. The series aired on Sky1 and Sky1 HD. Many changes were made from the first series, including six new gladiators - Cyclone , Siren, Amazon, Warrior, Goliath and Doom...

Male winner: David Staff
David Staff
David Staff is an English footballer, born in Market Harborough, who played in the Football League for Boston United. He currently plays for Rugby Town....
Female winner: Kathryn Evans

Music

All the music to the new series was specially composed by British composer Paul Farrer

Paul Farrer

Paul Farrer is a British film and television music composer. He is best known for composing the music for the programmes The Weakest Link, Dancing on Ice, Gladiators, The Krypton Factor and the United Kingdom general election debates in 2010.-Early life:Farrer was born in Worcester, England in 1973...

also known for his music for The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and will end its run in 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ends her contract. The original British version of the show airs around the world on BBC Entertainment...

and Dancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice is a British television show co-hosted by Christine Bleakley and Philip Schofield, in which celebrities and their professional partners figure skate in front of a panel of judges. The format, devised by LWT and Granada Television, has been a prime-time hit in eight different...

. Other artists' music has been used in certain events.

Series One

According to reporst, at least one contestant has had to withdraw from the opening episode, while one of the Gladiators slipped on a bridge and had to leave the set. Another Gladiator had a stomach bug and Enigma suffered from an injured ankle. In addition, Enigma was involved in an incident on Gauntlet where a contender kicked a ram rod into her face, resulting in a confrontation and the contender being disqualified. Contestants also suffered injuries including a broken toe, a damaged knee, a neck injury, as well as one contestant suffering a broken arm in the quarter finals. One finalist was so badly injured that he refused to start after his whistle and the other contender won the show by default. In the second episode of "Gladiators: The Legends Strike Back" female legend Scorpio suffered an ankle fracture while participating in The Wall.

Sky1 responded to say that health and safety is their number one issue, and they want to minimise the injuries, but pointed out that; "This is Gladiators - a tough physical show for athletes. It's not Family Fortunes!"

Series Two

In the fourth episode a female contestant since the revival had to pull out due to sustaining a knee injury just before the Eliminator. David Staff broke his nose during the semi-finals while on Earthquake with Doom. However he went on to score points. He later went onto win the eliminator and eventually went on to win the series as Male champion. He also competed on the champion of champions special, aired on 5 April 2009, and won.

Gladiators G-Zone

Originally advertised as Gladiators: G-Force, this short ten-minute program profiled a selection of the gladiators, including Spartan, Panther and Atlas. With a 2min profile of Oblivion, not prviously shown, appearing as part of a repeat run.

Cancellation

In May 2009, Sky1's director of programmes Stuart Murphy

Stuart Murphy

Stuart Neil Luke Murphy is the Director of Programmes for Sky1, Sky Atlantic, Sky2 and Sky3 and Director of Commissioning, Sky Entertainment Channels.-Early life:...

announced that Gladiators was to be axed. Speaking to Broadcastnow, Murphy said, "Gladiators has done a great job for Sky 1 over two seasons, resonating with our young audience and showcasing our entertainment credentials. But now we need to prioritise and allow for both new entertainment formats and genres not recently seen on Sky 1 such as comedy."

The Gladiators Zone web site ran a campaign to try to save the show. The campaign included fans sending Sky1 and Stuart Murphy