Gladiators (2008 British TV series)

Did You Know?

• Wolf (Michael Van Wijk) from the original series appeared in two legends specials in 2008 before becoming the 'Leader of the Pack' in series 2, giving motivational talks and participating in interviews.
• All music for the new series was composed by British composer Paul Farrer, known for his work on The Weakest Link and Dancing on Ice.
• Samples of popular music used on the show included '...Baby One More Time' by Britney Spears, 'Boom! Shake the Room' by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, and 'Another One Bites the Dust' by Queen.

Format

The first series of this revival featured 32 contenders split evenly between men and women, who competed in separate tournaments. Each episode saw two men and two women take part in events against the Gladiators, earning points that gave them a half-second advantage per point in the final Eliminator. Four events were chosen for each episode from a pool of eleven, and the winners each took home £50,000. The Gladiator lineup was new, though the names Amazon, Panther, Siren, and Warrior had been used in the original UK series, and several other names appeared in international versions. Because Sky One needed more advertising time and included contestant interviews before events, the number of pre-Eliminator events dropped from five to four. The show adopted a more dramatic style and new theme music. Unlike the original series, where all Gladiators wore matching leotards, here each costume was unique. Some, like Spartan, Battleaxe, and Warrior, wore period battle armour, while others, such as Oblivion, Destroyer, and Ice, wore very little. The new studio set could only fit eleven events: nine from the original series (Duel, Gauntlet, Hang Tough, Hit & Run, Powerball, Pursuit, Pyramid, The Wall, and Suspension Bridge) plus two new ones, Earthquake and Rocketball, which came from the first and second American Gladiators series. Several events were changed to take place over water, including Duel, Hang Tough, Hit & Run, Pursuit, and Suspension Bridge. The Eliminator was also redesigned to include a swimming section, a climb up the Pyramid, and two Travelators in the second series.

Injuries

The opening episode saw at least one contestant pull out, and a Gladiator had to leave the set after slipping on a bridge. Gavin Sunshine injured his knee during Gauntlet and could not finish the Eliminator, so his opponent Kevin Dixon won by default. Dixon was the only contender who had to be replaced by a Gladiator before an event, with Ian Deeth stepping in. Greg Kirk broke his arm in Powerball during the quarter-finals and withdrew before the Eliminator, replaced by backup Andy Bell. Sky One stated that health and safety is their top priority and they aim to reduce injuries, but added, "This is Gladiators – a tough physical show for athletes. It's not Family Fortunes!" In the second episode of "Gladiators: The Legends Strike Back," female legend Scorpio fractured her ankle on The Wall. In the fourth episode, female contestant Gemma Green withdrew just before the Eliminator due to a knee injury in Gauntlet. During the semi-finals, David Staff broke his nose on Earthquake while facing Doom, yet still scored points and went on to win the series, later becoming the Champion of Champions in a special aired on April 5, 2009. Gladiator Warrior got a cut above his eye after a clash with contender Justin Thompson in Gauntlet, and Oblivion replaced him for that event.

Spinoffs

Originally promoted as Gladiators: G-Force, the ten-minute show featured profiles of Gladiators like Spartan, Panther, and Atlas, with interviews conducted by original series stars Jet and Hunter. A previously unaired two-minute Oblivion profile later appeared in a repeat. The DVD All New Gladiators, released October 20, 2008, included first-series highlights, behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with several Gladiators and referee John Anderson. Character Toys produced Gladiator figures and a speaking microphone featuring eight of Anderson's catchphrases.