Contenders, ready! Gladiators, ready! The '90s TV show loved by millions is officially returning to our screens this year — and with a brand new group of incredibly fit stars. The show will follow the original format in which a set of competitors take on a number of challenges against a new generation of "superhuman" gladiators, culminating in The Eliminator. The winners of each show will then go through to the final to win a prize.
The 11-part series has begun filming at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield and is branded as the ultimate test of strength and speed. And the new hosts to guide us through the epic setup are none other than Bradley Walsh and his son, Barney. The duo are a solid choice as they have a closer link to "Gladiators" than you might realise. Bradley's wife, Donna, was actually the head choreographer for the cheerleaders on the original series, Barney took some of his first steps on set, and Bradley appeared on a celebrity special in 1997.
The original "Gladiators" premiered in 1992 and was presented by Ulrika Jonsson and John Fashanu, and it ran until 2000. Those who were cast as gladiators were household names with the likes of Wolf (Michael Van Wijk), Lightning (Kim Betts), and Trojan (Mark Griffin) fast becoming firm fan-favourites. There has already been one revival of the hit TV show, airing on Sky 1 in 2008 and 2009, so the BBC's undertaking marks its second comeback. And it seems nostalgic TV is having a moment as other old-school shows are getting a reboot. "Big Brother" is returning this summer [1], the reality TV series which made Alison Hammond famous, while "Deal or No Deal" [2] is coming later the year, hosted by Stephen Mulhern.
While we wait for the new "Gladiators" revival, we'll be making a list of the other '90s and '00s hits that we've been missing, just in case the powers of TV land are looking for more inspiration. Keep reading to learn more about the gladiators taking part in the BBC reboot.
Jodie "Fury" Ounsley
Jodie Ounsley, nicknamed "Fury" due to her power and passion when the competition heats up, is joining the show. The professional Exeter Chiefs rugby player is also a former England Women's Rugby Seven's player, as well as a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu British Champion and a five times World Coal Carrying champion. The star also won the title of Deaf Sports Personality of The Year in 2020. Is there anything she can't do?
Zack "Steel" George
Zack George, or "Steel", as he will henceforth be known, won the title of the UK's Fittest Man in 2020, and also ranked number 26 out of a whopping 120,000 others on the global CrossFit leaderboard. The CrossFit star now helps others with their fitness journey, after undergoing his own transformation as a teenager.
Jamie Christian "Giant" Johal
Jamie Christian Johal was affectionately coined "Giant", and we don't have to explain why. The firefighter-turned-bodybuilder stands at 6ft 5, which makes him one of the tallest bodybuilders in the game. Now, he'll be bringing all his stature into the "Gladiators" arena.
Montell "Fire" Douglas
Another gladiator to join the crew? Montell Douglas. Because of her dedication to burn through anyone who gets between her and a win, she's been nicknamed "Fire". The former Team GB Sprinter and Olympic Bobsledder holds the British women's record for the fastest 100 metre sprint at 11.05 seconds, smashing the previous record which was previously unbeaten for 27 years.
Matt "Legend" Morsia
You'll find Matt Morsia, nicknamed "legend", in the gym up to six times a week training in bodybuilding and powerlifting. The former international athlete is a Championship bronze medalist in long and triple jumping, and silver medalist in powerlifting. After retiring from international competitions, he continued performing to a huge audience, becoming a highly successful fitness influencer and professional YouTuber. In 2020, he released his first book, "The 24/7 Body", which became a Sunday Times Bestseller.
Sheli "Sabre" McCoy
Training between 16-19 hours a week, McCoy is a true "grafter" when it comes to fitness. The gym owner has competed in 5 British Weightlifting Championships events and numerous CrossFit championships across the world.
Alex "Apollo" Gray
Gray began his career as an under-16s rugby player, before moving onto the Premiership and the England-7s team. He captained English Rugby teams for 16's, 18's and 20's. But his journey didn't stop there. He was then scouted by NFL, making him the first British rugby player to transfer over to the US game.
Emily "Dynamite" Steel
Next to join the crew is "Dynamite". The 20-year-old is the youngest Gladiator so far in the current line-up. With a background in national-level swimming, she's now a full-time elite CrossFit athlete, as well as studying for a degree in sport and exercise science. She's even become an under-23's weightlifting British record holder. If anyone was to prove that women really can do it all, it's Steel.
Karenjeet Kaur "Athena" Bains
Representing Team GB in Powerlifting, Karenjeet Kaur Bains – a.k.a "Athena" – is the winner of three gold, and two silver Commonwealth medals, as well as five all England and five British Powerlifting Champion titles. She also holds the Guinness World Record for the "Most Bodyweight Squats in a minute", as well as being a chartered accountant.
Ella-Mae "Comet" Rayner
Ella-Mae Rayner, who is nicknamed "Comet", is a former elite gymnast who made the move into semi-professional diving before studying for a degree in Sport Science. Coaching and competing in University Cheerleading Championships, it wasn't until she suffered a career-changing ankle injury that she fell in love with the gym. Training six days a week, Rayner also finds the time to be a fitness model and coach. Her dedication to fitness is no easy feat!
Matty "Bionic" Campbell
Coming up at a towering 6ft6, it's not hard to see why this bodybuilder has gained the name "Bionic". In his youth, Campbell reached Academy level in football and hoped to become a professional, until he was involved in a car accident. Through rehab, he was able to find his love for the gym. We love the journey he's been on!
Jade "Electro" Packer
"Electro" is a sports model, fitness coach, and a hybrid athlete. This triple threat began her journey as a sprinter, where she ranked amongst the Top 10 Fastest Runners in the UK aged 12 for 150m and went onto to race for titles at various championships over the 100m and 200m. At the age of 18, she turned to bodybuilding, and represented the UK in both Barcelona and Madrid throughout her 2 seasons. If that wasn't enough, she's gone on to train in CrossFit, and still hails running as "her forte". Bring it on [3]!
Toby "Phantom" Olubi
Olubi, or "Phantom" as he's otherwise known, was a part of the Team GB Bobsleigh team and competed in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. He and his team broke the world record for the fastest ever bobsleigh, which came in at an impressive 97mph. They also made history by bringing home Great Britain's first-ever gold medal in the 2018 Whistler World Cup. Outside of the winter sport, he is also a domestic-level sprinter, and has won the county championship for the UK men's 60m sprints and has frequently competed in the British men's 100m sprint Olympic qualifying championships. We can't wait to see how he measures up to the other Gladiators!
Quang "Viper" Luong
Luong has dedicated the past 15 years to bodybuilding, as well as daily boxing. As a fitness model, "Viper" has often been cast in films in powerful roles. The star even appeared in the James Bond classic, "Die Another Day" with Pierce Brosnan [4], where he played a villainous gangster. If any of the Gladiators are ones to watch, it's Luong.
Harry Aikines "Nitro" Aryeetey
Commonwealth and World gold medallist sprinter, Aikines Aryeetey, who has been nicknamed "Nitro", is the next gladiator. The athlete has won two Olympian, three European Champion, two Commonwealth Champion, one Commonwealth Silver Medallist, one European Bronze Medallist, one World Bronze Medallist, one British Champion, two World Youth Champion, and one World Junior Champion award. Phew!
Livi "Diamond" Sheldon
Standing at an impressive 6ft, Sheldon earned the name "diamond" for her impeccable bodybuilding skills, becoming a British Finalist for "England Toned Figure". Outside of the gym, she previously played for the Worcester City Ladies team.
