Gladiators

Encyclopedia : G : GL : GLA : Gladiators

---

This is about the TV show. For historical Roman fighters see gladiator. For the reggae band, see The Gladiators (band).

Gladiators was a game show produced by LWT for ITV in the United Kingdom from 10 October 1992 to 1 January 2000, (though there was another, not televised, game later in 2000) an adaptation of the United States game show American Gladiators, which had developed a cult following in the UK through its night-time TV showings, as well as an Australian spin-off. Repeats of Gladiators series are shown on Challenge, a satellite and cable channel.

The show pitted contestants in a variety of physical challenges against the staff '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 across a course containing climbing, balancing, cargo nets, etc. The amount of points picked up earlier decided who would go first.

The show was originally presented by John Fashanu and Ulrika Jonsson. Fashanu was replaced by Jeremy Guscott in 1996.

The referee was John Anderson and the time keepers were Andrew Norgate and Derek Redmond. John Sachs commentated for the show and the Gladiators were cheered on by a group of cheerleaders, named The G-Force.

There was also an Australian version of the show in the mid-1990s, hosted by Mike Hammond and Kimberley Joseph, refereed by Mike Whitney, and featuring voiceovers from Tony Schibecci.

Apart from the off-series live events, all the Gladiators tapings took place at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England.

Series and shows

Series 1 (

• Cobra
• Flame
• Hawk
• Jet
• Lightning
• Panther
• Phoenix
• Saracen
• Scorpio
• Shadow
• Warrior
• Wolf

(12 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: Cobra, Flame, Hawk, Jet, Lightning, Panther, Phoenix, Saracen, Scorpio, Shadow, Warrior & Wolf
• Last appearances of: n/a

Wembley Live Shows (

• Bullit
• Cobra
• Flame
• Hawk
• Jet
• Lightning
• Panther
• Phoenix
• Saracen
• Scorpio
• Shadow
• Trojan
• Warrior
• Wolf
• Zodiac

(15 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: Bullit, Trojan & Zodiac
• Last appearances of: Bullit, Flame, Hawk & Phoenix

Series 2 (

• Cobra
• Falcon
• Hunter
• Jet
• Lightning
• Nightshade
• Panther
• Saracen
• Scorpio
• Shadow
• Trojan
• Warrior
• Wolf
• Zodiac

(14 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: Falcon, Hunter & Nightshade
• Last appearances of: n/a

Wembley live shows (

• Cobra
• Falcon
• Hunter
• Jet
• Lightning
• Nightshade
• Panther
• Saracen
• Scorpio
• Shadow
• Trojan
• Warrior
• Wolf
• Zodiac

(14 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: n/a
• Last appearances of: n/a

Series 3 (

• Cobra
• Falcon
• Hunter
• Jet
• Lightning
• Nightshade
• Panther
• Saracen
• Scorpio
• Shadow
• Trojan
• Warrior
• Wolf
• Zodiac

(14 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: n/a
• Last appearances of: n/a

International Gladiators 1 (

• Cobra
• Falcon
• Hunter
• Jet
• Lightning
• Nightshade
• Saracen
• Scorpio
• Shadow
• Trojan
• Warrior
• Wolf
• Zodiac

(14 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: n/a
• Last appearances of: Shadow & Scorpio

Sheffield live shows (

• Blaze
• Cobra
• Falcon
• Hunter
• Jet
• Lightning
• Nightshade
• Panther
• Raider
• Rhino
• Saracen
• Trojan
• Vogue
• Warrior
• Wolf
• Zodiac

(16 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: Blaze, Raider, Rhino & Vogue
• Last appearances of: Blaze

Series 4 (

• Amazon
• Cobra
• Falcon
• Hunter
• Jet
• Lightning
• Nightshade
• Panther
• Raider
• Rhino
• Saracen
• Trojan
• Vogue
• Warrior
• Wolf
• Zodiac

(16 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: Amazon
• Last appearances of: n/a

The Ashes 1 (

• Hunter
• Jet
• Lightning
• Nightshade
• Rhino
• Vogue
• Warrior
• Wolf

(8 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: n/a
• Last appearances of: n/a

International Gladiators 2 (

• Cobra
• Falcon
• Hunter
• Jet
• Lightning
• Panther
• Raider
• Rhino
• Trojan
• Vogue
• Warrior
• Wolf
• Zodiac

(12 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: n/a
• Last appearances of: Raider

Wembley Live Shows (

• Ace
• Amazon
• Cobra
• Falcon
• Hunter
• Jet
• Lightning
• Nightshade
• Panther
• Rebel
• Rhino
• Rio
• Saracen
• Trojan
• Vogue
• Warrior
• Wolf
• Zodiac

(18 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: Ace, Rebel & Rio
• Last appearances of: Amazon & Jet

Series 5 (

• Ace
• Cobra
• Falcon
• Hunter
• Laser
• Lightning
• Nightshade
• Panther
• Rebel
• Rhino
• Rio
• Saracen
• Trojan
• Vogue
• Warrior
• Wolf
• Zodiac

(17 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: Laser
• Last appearances of: Nightshade, Panther, Trojan & Zodiac

The Ashes 2 (

• Ace
• Hunter
• Laser
• Lightning
• Rhino
• Rio
• Saracen
• Vogue
• Wolf

(9 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: n/a
• Last appearances of: Laser

• Hunter
• Rhino
• Warrior
• Wolf

(4 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: n/a
• Last appearances of: n/a

Series 6 (

• Ace
• Cobra
• Falcon
• Fox
• Gold
• Hunter
• Khan
• Lightning
• Rebel
• Rhino
• Rio
• Rocket
• Saracen
• Siren
• Vogue
• Warrior
• Wolf

(17 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: Fox, Gold, Khan, Rocket & Siren
• Last appearances of: Warrior

Springbok Challenge 1 (

• Ace
• Hunter
• Lightning
• Rebel
• Rhino
• Rio
• Saracen
• Vogue
• Wolf

(9 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: n/a
• Last appearances of: n/a

• Fox
• Hunter
• Khan
• Rocket

(4 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: n/a
• Last appearances of: Khan & Rocket

Series 7 (

• Ace
• Cobra
• Diesel
• Falcon
• Fox
• Hunter
• Lightning
• Rebel
• Rhino
• Rio
• Saracen
• Siren
• Vogue
• Vulcan
• Wolf

(15 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: Diesel & Vulcan
• Last appearances of: n/a

Series 8 (

• Ace
• Cobra
• Diesel
• Falcon
• Fox
• Hunter
• Lightning
• Rebel
• Rhino
• Rio
• Saracen
• Siren
• Vogue
• Vulcan
• Wolf

(15 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: n/a
• Last appearances of: Diesel, Falcon, Lightning, Rebel, Vulcan & Wolf

Springbok Challenge 2 (

• Ace
• Cobra
• Fox
• Gold
• Hunter
• Rhino
• Rio
• Saracen
• Siren
• Vogue

(10 Gladiators)

• First appearances of: n/a
• Last appearances of: Ace, Cobra, Fox, Gold, Hunter, Rhino, Rio, Saracen, Siren & Vogue

The Gladiators

• Ace – Warren Furman (1996–2000)
• Amazon – Sharron Davies (1995–1996)
• Blaze – Eunice Huthart (1995) (also competed as a contender 1994–1995 and was the Team Coach in 1996)
• Bullit – Mike Harvey (1993)
• Cobra – Michael Willson (1992–2000)
• Diesel – Darren Crawford (1998–1999)
• Falcon – Bernadette Hunt (1993–1999)
• Flame – Kimbra Standish (1992–1993)
• Fox – Tammy Marie Baker (1997–2000) (South African Gladiators – 2001)
• Gold – Lize Van Der Walt (1997–2000)
• Hawk – Aleks Georgijev (1992–1993)
• Hunter – James Crossley (1993–2000)
• Jet – Diane Youdale Mayhew (1992–1996)
• Khan – Radosav Nekic (1997–1998)
• Laser – Tina Andrew (1996) (South African Gladiators – 1997)
• Lightning – Kim Betts (1992–1999)
• Nightshade – Judy Simpson (1993–1996)
• Panther – Helen O'Reilly (1992–1996)
• Phoenix – Sandy Young (1992–1993)
• Raider – Carlton Headley (1995)
• Rebel – Jennifer Stoute (1996–1999)
• Rhino – Mark Smith (1995–2000)
• Rio – Jane Omorogbe (1996–2000)
• Rocket – Pauline Richars (1997–1998)
• Saracen – Mike Lewis (1992–2000)
• Scorpio – Nikki Diamond (1992–1994)
• Shadow – Jefferson King (1992–1994)
• Siren – Alison Paton (1997–2000)
• Trojan – Mark Griffin (1993–1996)
• Vogue – Suzanne Cox (1995–2000)
• Vulcan – John Seru (1998–1999) (Australian Gladiators 1995–1996)
• Warrior – Michael Ahearne (1992–1997)
• Wolf – Michael Van Wijk (1992–1999)
• Zodiac – Kate Staples (1993–1996)

Controversies & Gladiators

Despite remaining a successful programme, particularly in its early years, Gladiators was not without controversy. One of the earliest criticisms to emerge was that the show seemed to glamorise the use of steroids and body-building, leading several tabloid newspapers to take a keener interest in the Gladiator's personal lives. In 1994, Jefferson King (Shadow) was caught snorting cocaine in a nightclub, and later admitted on daytime TV to using a large amount of steroids during training. He was subsequently fired from the show, due to producer Nigel Lythgoe's belief that he was an unsuitable role-model for children. Another controversy occurred in 1996 when John Fashanu was sacked as co-host of the show, allegedly because of premiership football match-fixing. The tabloids also focused on the relationship between Gladiator Hunter (James Crossley) and presenter Ulrika Jonsson; the pair initially denied the affair, but later Jonsson admitted it in her 2003 biography.

Injuries

Only four of the original Gladiators lineup remained by the time the show finished in early 2000: Cobra, Wolf, Lightning and Saracen. Several of the Gladiators were forced to retire due to personal circumstances and/or injuries. The most notable of these was Gladiator Panther, who sustained a neck injury after falling awkwardly on the game Tilt in 1996. Judy Simpson-Cook who played Nightshade contracted Epstein-Barr syndrome and left in 1996, as did Jet, who sustained a damaged hip after a tackle on the game Pyramid. She later pursued a brief career as a television presenter. More controversy followed as Warrior, the biggest of the Gladiators, was involved in gun scandals. He was found in possession of a firearm and was charged.

The role of 'The Wolfman'

Arguably the most famous Gladiator, as well as a hugely popular children's TV star, was Wolf (aka Michael Van Wijk), who 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 contestant's trousers and bullying the presenters. Much of this was seen as a type of comedy/pantomime performance, yet he remained hugely popular with the show's younger fans, appearing in nearly every show aired. John Fashanu later commented that his popularity in the early seasons was so big, that if he didn't come out at least once during a show, some parents would ask for their money back, as children would have felt cheated. Wolf's villain role was later undermined by the introduction of Australian Gladiator Vulcan, who clashed with Wolf on several occasions. American Gladiators fans who have watched Wolf see him as the British equivalent to the American Gladiator Danny Lee 'Nitro' Clark.

The show's demise

Later seasons of Gladiators began to drop in terms of ratings, leading to the show to be axed at the beginning of 2000. The decline in ratings has been put down to two possible causes: firstly, that the show had become tiresome and repetitive, with the same games and Gladiators, and secondly the rise of reality TV, which had started with the "docusoap" format in the late 1990s, meant that viewership was drawn towards other forms of "infotainment", rather than action gameshows.

External links

• [ITV website]
• [Gladiators Zone]
• [UK Gameshows Page: Gladiators]

 

---

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.

Search Titles

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

?