Gladiators' Bradley Walsh leaves fans bitterly disappointed over show confession

09 January 2024 , 09:48

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Gladiators' Bradley Walsh leaves fans bitterly disappointed over show confession (Image: BBC / James Stack / © Hungry Bear Media Ltd)

Gladiators is set to return to our screens after 24 years, with a brand new look and hosts.

Bradley Walsh, 63, and his son Barney, 26, will be presenting the show in front of a live audience. The father-son duo have previously worked together on 'Breaking Dad'.

However, Bradley shared some disappointing news about the revival. "We said we'd do this show as it's a one-off," he revealed. The revamped Gladiators will air on the BBC for just 11 episodes. Contestants will face off against sixteen mighty Gladiators in five gruelling events before the final Eliminator round.

Barney commented on their hosting, saying, "I think the beauty of us doing it as a pair is that it's completely generational and the kids that watched the original Gladiators are now grown up with children of their own."

Bradley Walsh and son Barney share disappointing news about new Gladiators series (BBC / Nick Eagle / © Hungry Bear Media Ltd)

Original gladiators like Michael van Wijk, known as Wolf, and Diane Youdale, aka Jet, won't be returning. However, there are loads of new recruits who are just as brave. These newbies are athletes, bodybuilders, weightlifters, and even world record holders, making it a tough challenge for hopefuls to beat them.

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Scottish weightlifter Sabre (Sheli McCoy) said: "To be a Gladiator we have to be amazing athletes," adding that they need to combine fitness, strength, speed, power, co-ordination and flexibility with enthusiasm and a bit of being an entertainer."

Giant (Jamie Christian Johal), one of the show's biggest gladiators at 6ft 5in, shared: "This is a childhood dream and hopefully we'll inspire the next generation of kids and gladiators."

New gladiator Fury (Jodie Ounsley) also has a unique connection to the show. She recalls: "My dad was on the previous Gladiators and I remember watching him like it was yesterday. I was seven years old. Watching all his training. Then I got into training my dad built me a climbing wall in the garage."

She added: "I'm honoured to be the first UK deaf Gladiator. So for me it's pretty special to show that I have the chance to show the younger generation that yes, you can have a disability, but you can be a badass as well!"

Overseeing the action will be ex Premier League Football referee, Mark Clattenburg, who will be assisted by Sonia Mkoloma and Lee Phillips. Football commentator Guy Mowbray will provide the voiceover commentary on all the action.

The new batch of Gladiators will be looking to impress and include an Olympic bobsledder, one of the all-time tallest bodybuilders and championship bronze medal-winning long and triple jumper.

S P Jones