When does Gladiators series 2 start? Are Bradley and Barney Walsh returning as hosts? Who are the Gladiators taking part?

Virgin Radio

24 Jul 2024, 15:22

Gladiators, ready (for series 2)?

TV viewers were thrilled earlier this year following the release of the highly anticipated Gladiators reboot series, which brought plenty of action and excitement into the dreary winter months. 

The original Saturday night show ran on ITV from 1992 to 1996, and then again from 1999 to 2000. At its peak, it drew a huge 14 million viewers with Gladiators such as Wolf and Jet becoming household names over eight seasons.

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The new series, which concluded in March, pulled in an average 8.3 million viewers and introduced a whole new generation to the classic challenges, including the dreaded Eliminator. 

The second series of Gladiators is about to start filming once again at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, and we’ve got the lowdown on what we know so far!

Who are the Gladiators taking part?

The good news is that all 16 of the series one Gladiators are expected to return for another round. But who are they?

Fire (Montell Douglas) is a sprinter and former British record holder for the 100 metres sprint at 11.05 seconds. She switched to bobsledding in 2016 and competed for Team GB at last year’s Winter Olympics.

Giant (Jamie Christian Johal) is a 6ft 5in bodybuilder. Hence the nickname.

Legend (Matt Morsia) is a fitness YouTuber and personal trainer.

Dynamite (Emily Steel) is an elite CrossFit athlete and national swimming champion, as well as being the youngest Gladiator in the current line-up at 20 years of age.

Nitro (Harry Aikines-Aryeetey) is a Team GB sprinter.

Diamond - Livi Sheldon is a bodybuilder and online coach who has played football for Worcester City Ladies team.

Fury (Jodie Ounsley), who is an England rugby union player, will be making history as the show’s first deaf Gladiator.

Steel (Zack George) is a CrossFit athlete.

Athena (Karenjeet Kaur Bains) is a powerlifter and… a chartered accountant! She is the first Sikh Gladiator.

Comet (Ella-Mae Rayner) is a fitness model and coach.

Bionic (Matty Campbell) is a 6ft 6in bodybuilder.

Sabre (Sheli McCoy) is Scottish champion at both British Weightlifting and CrossFit Championships.

Viper (Quang Luong) is a fitness model who also featured as a gangster in the most recent Bond movie, Die Another Day.

Apollo (Alexander Gray) is a former rugby union and NFL player.

Electro (Jade Packer) is a sports model, fitness coach and hybrid athlete. 

Phantom (Toby Olubi) is a bobsledder who competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Are Bradley and Barney Walsh returning as hosts? 

Yes, Bradley Walsh and son Barney are expected to make a return as hosts of the celebrated series. 

Speaking to virginradio.co.uk ahead of the first season of Gladiators, Bradley revealed how out of his element he felt entering the arena for the very first time. 

Giving lots of praise to the adrenaline-pumping series, Bradley said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I would say in my career, that's 11 or 12 days of one of the most wonderful shows that I've ever worked on, and I was really nervous!

“Even with the amount of stuff I've done, I did my first TV in 1986, and I was really nervous going into that arena because I didn't know what to expect. Unless you got a crowd in there, when you walk out you see 3000 people…you can do stadium gigs and stand up comedy, but when you’ve got all the games and everyone is rooting for everyone, the screaming, the shouting. It's amazing!"

When does Gladiators series 2 start?

The BBC have yet to confirm when Gladiators series two might land on screens, but given filming is set to begin in August, and the previous series started in January, it’s likely we won’t see our superhuman competitors until 2025. 

Speaking about series two when it was commissioned back in March, Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC said: “Gladiators has really kicked this year off with a bang, and we’re so delighted that the fans have come to the show in their masses.

"It has been wonderful to hear how much families have loved watching this together, as part of the BBC’s Saturday evening entertainment offering. We can’t wait for more action from the Gladiators.”       

Dan Baldwin, Managing Director of Hungry Bear Media added: “It’s no exaggeration to say that the response to Gladiators has been phenomenal.

"The episodes have been packed with nail-biting drama, thrilling action and huge emotion. Series 2 will see the show go from strength-to-strength. We have some amazing surprises in store for the fans. Are you ready?!?”

There’s also still a question mark over a potential celebrity version of Gladiators, which has yet to have the BBC green-light, so watch this space!