GladFans, it’s time to mark your calendars. The highly anticipated Gladiators: Celebrity Special will air on BBC One and iPlayer on New Year’s Day, 1 January 2025, at 6:00 pm. Four famous faces will tackle the power and agility of the Gladiators before going head-to-head in the iconic Eliminator. This hour-long special also kicks off the second series of the hit reboot, promising an action-packed start to the year.
Who Are the Celebrities?
Celebrities Ready? The contenders in this special edition are:
- Rob Beckett: The comedian is ready to bring laughs and maybe a few surprises to the arena. “I can’t wait to be absolutely crushed by the Gladiators in front of my wife and children in spandex whilst I watch Joel Dommett and his six-pack sprint past me on the Travelator. This is going to be a catastrophic humiliation in front of the nation. I’ve got no idea why I agreed to this. Is it too late to pull out?”
- Ellie Taylor: Ted Lasso star and comedian, Ellie is looking forward to the challenge. “Me being on Gladiators is the answer to the question, ‘What’s the most elaborate thing you’d do to get your 5-year-old a foam finger?’ We all love the show in my house and I’m so excited to take part! I can’t wait to get chased by athletic goddesses and ask Viper about his childhood.”
- Louise Minchin: Former BBC Breakfast presenter and accomplished triathlete. Louise says, “I am so excited to be on Gladiators. I have watched the show for years and have always thought it looked like terrifying fun. I can’t wait to be part of it!”
- Joel Dommett: Presenter and comedian is thrilled to live his dream of facing the Travelator. “I’ve been illegally running up escalators backwards all my life in preparation and now it’s happening for real. Super excited to be up against all my favourite muscly people in leotards and have some fun!”
What Can You Expect?
Filmed at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena in August 2024, the Celebrity Special will put the celebrities through demanding physical challenges against the Gladiators. The competition will build to an intense finale in the iconic Eliminator, a true test of endurance and determination.
The celebrities will take on 16 new-era Gladiators, including Legend, Comet, Apollo, and Athena, who have quickly become fan favourites since the show’s return. The mix of physical strength, agility, and charisma ensures each Gladiator offers a unique challenge.
Bradley Walsh: From Celebrity Contender to Host
Father-and-son duo Bradley Walsh and Barney Walsh return as hosts. Bradley’s connection to the series runs deep—he competed in a 1997 Gladiators Celebrity Special as team captain for the Celebrities in a memorable clash against the Jockeys team. “My wife, Donna, was involved in the original series running the cheerleading G Force and was an associate producer on the show so I used to visit her and watch the show being made and when my son, Barney was born it was still on air, so we used to take him to watch the show,” Bradley shared.
He humorously took on Wolf in Sumo Ball while dressed as ‘Crumpet,’ a tongue-in-cheek new Gladiator, and surprisingly earned 5 points against Lightning—one of the most formidable female Gladiators—in Danger Zone. Reflecting on his experience, Bradley admitted: “I was terrible, there is no advice I could give, none whatsoever. They were a lot fitter, faster, higher, stronger than I could ever be and consequently I was useless.” He also navigated the Travelator in the Eliminator relay, cementing his memorable appearance.
“My celebrity Gladiator name back in the day was ‘Crumpet’ for some peculiar reason! Someone gave me the name as I was walking out, and it stuck. Funnily enough when filming this series [BBC Gladiators], someone had a sign that read Brad do you remember being Crumpet? And of course, I didn’t remember it was Crumpet until that point.”
Bradley Walsh
Gladiators: A Look Back at Celeb Specials
The Celebrity Special tradition dates back to the 1990s, when stars took on the Gladiators for charity. Previous episodes include:
- 1993: Battle of the Gladiators
Contenders: Dennis Andries MBE (Boxer), Gary Mason (Boxer), Vinny Jones (Footballer), Oliver Skeete (Showjumper), Neil Adams MBE (Judoka), John Fashanu (Footballer & Gladiators Host)
Winner: John Fashanu / Runner-up: Neil Adams
- 1994: Celebrity Challenge
Contenders: Eddie Kidd OBE (Stunt Performer), Barry McGuigan MBE (Boxer), Ellery Hanley MBE (Rugby League Player), Martin Offiah MBE (Rugby League Player), Mark Bosnich (Australian Soccer Goalkeeper), Derek Redmond (Sprinter and Gladiators Timekeeper)
Winner: Derek Redmond / Runner-up: Martin Offiah
- 1996: Sport Celebrity Challenge
Contenders: Sir Steven Redgrave (Rower), Matthew Pinsent CBE (Rower), Nick Gillingham MBE (Swimmer), Ray Stevens (Judoka), Graham Bell (Skier), Neil Back MBE (Rugby Union Player)
Winner: Sir Steven Redgrave / Runner-up: Matthew Pinsent
- 1997: Celebrities vs Jockeys
Celebrity Team: Bradley Walsh (TV Presenter), Mark Speight (TV Presenter), Mr Motivator – Derrick Evans MBE (Fitness Coach), Paul Ross (TV Presenter), Sam Kane (Actor)
Jockey Team: Willie Carson OBE (Jockey), Bob Champion CBE (Jockey), Peter Scudamore MBE (Jockey), Carl Llewellyn (Jockey), Tony Dobbin (Jockey)
Winners: Jockeys Team / Runner-up: Celebrity Team
- 2008: Celebrity Special
Contenders: Bianca Gascoigne (Model), Danielle Lloyd (Model), Anthony Quinlan (Actor), Harvey (Rapper)
Winners: Bianca Gascoigne and Anthony Quinlan
- 2009: Battle of the Athletes
Contenders: Karen Pickering MBE (Swimmer), Kelly Smith MBE (Footballer), Kyran Bracken MBE (Rugby Union Player), James DeGale MBE (Boxer)
Winners: Kelly Smith and Kyran Bracken
The Reboot’s Success
The Gladiators reboot made waves earlier this year, becoming the BBC’s biggest entertainment launch in seven years. The first episode was watched by 9.8 million viewers within 28 days, and the series has averaged 8.3 million viewers. The combination of nostalgia and fresh faces like Sabre, Nitro, Fire, and Giant has breathed new life into the iconic format.
Don’t Miss It
Tune in to the Gladiators Celebrity Special on New Year’s Day at 6:00 pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Broadcast information about Series 2 of BBC’s Gladiators will follow in due course.
