Gladiators Ready to Return With New Series

The popular Saturday night show is returning for the fourth series next year with an all-new Gladiators Celebrity Special. Filmed at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, the returning hit will feature the iconic father-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh as hosts, with fan favorites like Duel and The Eliminator. Also, there will be shows coming back from last year like Everest, Destruction, and the Suspension Bridge.

In Gladiator duels, the objection is to knock the opponent off their pedestal. The scoring is 10 points if the contender stays on and knocks the Gladiator off. 5 points if both are standing when time runs out. You will get a foul if you strike with the plastic handles, hit an opponent who is already down, or strike below the knees or above the neck.

The one-off celebrity special will feature four famous faces stepping into the arena for a stand-alone contest, though the exact lineup of stars has not yet been announced. Unfortunately, the ultra-popular male Gladiator Giant (Jamie Bigg) officially announced his exit and will not be returning for Series 4.

Kalpna Patel‑Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC, says: “With a brand‑new series confirmed and another Celebrity Special on the way, audiences can look forward to even more colossal clashes, even more edge of your seat excitement and plenty of opportunities to raise those foam fingers high once again.”

The referee main is Mark Clattenburg: One of the most decorated and highly-rated European football referees of his generation. Before keeping the rebellious Gladiators (especially Viper) in line, he famously officiated the 2016 UEFA Champions League Final and the Euro 2016 Final. Also, Sonia Mkoloma and Lee Phillips will be the Assistant Referees.