Chances are, Gladiators was probably a huge part of your Saturday night TV schedule in the 90s.
The ITV sports entertainment show was one of one of the most recognised TV shows of the decade, where members of the public would take on the shows own mighty Gladiators in a series of athletic events.
At its peak, the show received 14 million views and 100,000 people have applied to take part since it first aired in 1992.
Gladiators set to make a come back
Father and son duo Bradley Walsh and Barney Walsh will bring their charm, wit and on-screen chemistry to the Gladiators arena as they host the much anticipated, iconic sports entertainment show when it returns to TV, on its new home on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The new 11-part series will see a fresh generation of superhuman Gladiators compete against a brave set of contenders in the ultimate test of speed and strength. They will take part in a series of brand new games alongside classic challenges including fan-favourites Duel, Hang Tough and The Eliminator.
We can see why Bradley and Barney would make such a good co-host duo after seeing the pair in their travel series, Breaking Dad. We're also huge fans of Bradley on The Chase, Blankety Blank and The Larkins.
In fact Gladiators has always been a huge part of the Walsh family; Donna Walsh, Barney’s mum and Bradley’s wife, was head choreographer for the Gladiator cheerleaders on the original series. Bradley, and a very young Barney were regular visitors on set, with Barney taking some of his first steps on the iconic arena floor.
The previous hosts of the show back when the show ran on ITV from 1992 to 1996 and 1999 to 2000, were John Fashanu and Ulrika Jonsson. There was also the 2008 revival on Sky hosted by Ian Wright and Kirsty Gallacher, but it only ran until 2009.
Where are the stars of Gladiators now?
From the mighty Wolf to Jet and Saracen, we take a look at what the TV stars are up to now...
Wolf (Michael Van Wijk)
The big bad Wolf was the star of the show. He burst onto the scenes in the first series and remained on screen right up until the show ended in 2000.
Despite being in his 60s, Michael is still the chiseled man he was decades ago. After Gladiators, he joined the Sky One show, Toughman, and even appeared on Weakest Link. Of course he made a reappearance for the show's special comeback in 2008.
Now, he lives in New Zealand, where he’s apparently opened a chain of gyms alongside his beautiful wife, Paula. They have four children together, Gina, Gareth, Elena and Nico and also run an indoor play centre called Chipmunks Playground, which looks after 3 to 12 year olds.
Jet (Diane Youdale)
Jet’s skill, good looks and a loveable personality made her one of Gladiators’ most popular cast members.
But her time on the show was cut short after she suffered a back injury in the 1996 live show, after she tackled a contender and fell awkwardly.
After gladiating, Diane went on to do other TV and radio presenter gigs for BBC, ITV, Sky; teach pilates and trained as a psychotherapist.
She became the guest therapist on Trisha Goddard’s Channel Five chat show and in 2013 she even became the psychotherapist on Big Brother’s Bit On The Side. More recently, she appeared as the resident psychotherapist on Channel 4's show Steph's Packed Lunch.
She didn’t join Wolf in the show’s 2008 revival, but did return as a behind the scenes reporter with fellow Gladiator, Hunter.
Saracen (Mike Lewis)
Gladiator Saracen starred in all eight series of the show and after it came to an end he became a different kind of fighter - a firefighter!
He’s also made appearances on ITV’s This Morning and Sport Relief. He even took part in the ITV series, Ninja Warrior, but ended up going out in the first round.
Hunter (James Crossley)
Hunter was one of the most popular Gladiators and easily could’ve had a role on a Baywatch.
He went on to present his own TV show, Peak Performance, on ITV 2 and toured in a variety of plays for eight years, including Shakespeare’s As You Like It.
Now, he runs his own fitness business, Fitat40plus, is a yoga teacher and a gong practitioner.
Lightning (Kim Betts)
Lightning was the longest serving female contender on Gladiators.
She gave birth to a baby boy, Lexus, three weeks before taking part in the Gladiators 1999 series. Afterwards, she did some presenting work on the kids show Room 785 on BFBS TV, a channel for Britain’s Armed Forces.
She then moved to Spain with her husband, Francis, and their two children, before returning to the UK. She co-founded the supplement brand, Reload Supplements, and set up her own property business. She still competes in bodybuilding competitions.
Cobra (Michael Willson)
Cobra never took himself too seriously, pulling faces at the judges and wearing wigs, and who could forget those high kicks and splits.
Since the show came to an end he has spent time going to schools and youth clubs all over the UK to promote that keeping fit can be fun. He also competed against South Africa in the Springbok Challenge 2000.
Ace (Warren Furman)
Ace also competed against South Africa in the Springbok Challenge, just like Cobra. He went on to have two children and took up work as a construction manager before becoming an evangelist Christian.
Amazon (Sharron Davies MBE)
Sharon was already a swimming Olympic champion before taking part in the show, however her time as a Gladiator was cut short and she left after just one series as she damaged a ligament in her knee.
She had a sparkling broadcast career though and presented the Big Breakfast show on Channel 4, took part in Dancing On Ice in 2010 and has been a pundit at numerous Olympic Games.
Rhino (Mark Smith)
On leaving the show in 2000 Mark went on to have a successful TV and movie career. He’s appeared in Eastenders, The Bill and Robin Hood and Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
Ironically, he even voiced the rhinoceros police officer in the film, Zootopia.
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