Gladiators BBC: Release date, cast and hosts for reboot

The iconic competition show returned to screens earlier this year, with Bradley and Barney Walsh stepping into hosting duties alongside a brand new line-up of Gladiators ready to take on contenders from the public, and while the Gladiators have succeeded at times, the contenders have proven themselves as worthy opponents.

The first episode went down a storm with TV fans, with an impressive 6 million viewers tuning in to watch the launch show, and while a second season has not been confirmed, fans can only hope.

So, what time is Gladiators on this weekend?

Read on for all you need to know about the Gladiators 2024 reboot, including what time episodes air and who all the new Glads are.

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What time is Gladiators on TV?

The final episode of Gladiators will air on BBC One on Saturday 30th March at 5:50pm.

New Gladiators TV show: When did it start?

Gladiators returned with an 11-episode season on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 13th January at 5:50pm.

Where is Gladiators filmed?

Filming for the series took place in and around the spring school holidays at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield.

Gladiators cast: Who are the new stars?

A total of 13 Gladiators have now been announced for the upcoming series. The full cast are:

• Athena (Karenjeet Kaur Bains)
• Comet (Ella-Mae Raynor)
• Diamond (Livi Sheldon)
• Dynamite (Emily Steel)
• Electro (Jade Packer)
• Fire (Montell Douglas)
• Fury (Jodie Ounsley)
• Sabre (Sheli McCoy)
• Apollo (Alex Gray)
• Bionic (Matty Campbell)
• Giant (Jamie Christian Johal)
• Legend (Matt Morsia)
• Nitro (Harry Aikines-Aryeetey)
• Phantom (Toby Olubi)
• Steel (Zack George)
• Viper (Quang Luong)

Jamie Christian Johal - who will go by the moniker Giant - stands at a whopping 6ft 5in and made history by becoming one of the all-time tallest bodybuilders; while former Team GB sprinter and Olympic bobsledder Montell ‘Fire’ Douglas held the British woman's record for fastest 100m sprint at 11.05 seconds.

Legend - aka Matt Morsia - is a former Championship bronze medal-winning long and triple jumper and silver medal-winning powerlifter, and Team GB sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey - who will go by the name Nitro - won BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2005, at the age of 17.

Also joining the line-up is Diamond, or Livi Sheldon - a bodybuilder who stands at 6ft tall, and who previously played football for Worcester City Women.

Jodie 'Fury' Ounsley will become the show's first deaf Gladiator, and CrossFit champion Zack 'Steel' George, who won the title of the UK’s Fittest Man in 2020, will also be taking part.

Other contestants include bodybuilder Matty Campbell, who stands at 6ft 6in and will go by the name Bionic, former sprinter Jade Packer aka Electro, Olympic bobsledder Toby 'Phantom' Olubi and fitness model Quang Luong, who will go by the alter ego Viper and has previously appeared in a James Bond film.

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Rounding out the cast will be powerlifter Karenjeet Kaur Bains, who will go by the name Athena and will be the first Sikh Gladiator, and former elite gymnast Ella-Mae 'Comet' Rayner, who is a fitness model and coach.

Overseeing the action will be ex Premier League Football referee, Mark Clattenburg. He'll be assisted by Sonia Mkoloma and Lee Phillips.

Meanwhile, providing the voiceover commentary on all the action will be football commentator Guy Mowbray.

Who will host the new series of Gladiators?

Bradley and Barney Walsh were announced as the hosts of the BBC reboot of Gladiators.

The father-son duo have previously hosted ITV's Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad, as well as being famous faces on TV separately.

Speaking about their new presenting roles for the 2024 reboot, Bradley Walsh said: “Wow! I can’t believe that I’ve been asked to be part of this iconic show. I used to sit backstage, or in the audience, every week watching my wife be part of this juggernaut and now I get to co-host a new version of GLADIATORS!!!

"Saturday night family entertainment at its best... ARE YOU READY?!"

Barney added: "Gladiators has been a massive part of our family and it's an honour to be asked to co-host this iconic show. I'm so excited for everyone to see the spectacle, elite athletes and fantastic family entertainment that is GLADIATORS."

The original ITV series featured Gladiators such as Sharron Davies as Amazon, Diane Youdale as Jet, Kim Betts as Lightning, James Crossley as Hunter, Jefferson King as Shadow and Michael Van Wijk as Wolf.

What is the new Gladiators format?

The new series will feature brand new games alongside classic challenges, as well as fan-favourite obstacle course The Eliminator.

"Gladiators is back and a whole new generation of viewers can now look forward to watching a Saturday night spectacle like no other. Will the contenders have the will and the skill to succeed against our mighty new Gladiators? You’ll have to tune in to find out!" said BBC director Kate Phillips.

Dan Baldwin, managing director of producers Hungry Bear, added: "It’s the perfect time for Gladiators to return. What other show combines electric excitement, superheroes, giant sponge fingers, elite athletes, and a pinch of pantomime? Watch out for the new breed of superhuman, supersized, superstars bursting on to your screens."

Is there a trailer for BBC's Gladiators?

Yes! A new trailer was recently released. Check out all the action:

Gladiators will come to a close on BBC One on Saturday 30th March.

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