First look at Gladiators series two as BBC bosses bring back controversial game despite injuries
GLADIATORS has unveiled a first-look at its second series after becoming a runaway ratings smash earlier this year.
A fiery new promo video sees the stars limbering up and getting into action ahead of the brand new series in the new year.
The Beeb has teased that the upcoming series will be “tougher than ever” with contestants vying to take down the Gladiators once again.
Father and son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh will be back to host proceedings once again from the Sheffield Arena.
In the upcoming run, the show will be bringing back one of its most controversial games ever for hopefuls to try their luck at.
The Sun were the first to reveal that the legendary Atlaspheres, in which contenders take on the Gladiators while caged in a giant hamster ball, will be back when the show returns in a matter of weeks.
A source said: “Atlaspheres is one of Gladiators’ most iconic games and was a real fan favourite in the Nineties.
“So when the cages were rolled out into Sheffield Arena this summer to film the game for the first time, the crowd erupted.
“Bosses know it’ll be a real blast from the past for older viewers, plus creates great telly for the new fans.”
In the game, a contender takes on two Gladiators as they try to roll their Atlasphere onto the scoring pods spaced across the arena floor.
In 1992 Michael Ahearne, who played Warrior, had to be taken to hospital after busting his knee while playing the game.
The hunk, who needed surgery on the dislocated joint, said: “I was in tremendous pain when the accident occurred . . . I turned around and my knee stayed behind me.”
All the Gladiators will be back with TWO brand new stars joining the line-up taking the total to 18.
Sabre, Legend, Diamond, Phantom, Athena, Bionic, Giant, Dynamite, Comet, Viper, Electro, Apollo, and Steel are all back in the ranks.
Strictly sensation Fire, aka Montell Douglas, also returns after swapping deadlifts for the dancefloor.
Nitro aka Harry Aikines-Aryeetey will however sit the series out as a Gladiator owing to injury and instead will act as a co-presenter alongside Bradley and Barney.
Meet the Gladiators finalists
The Gladiators final takes place on Easter Saturday at 5.30pm on BBC One.
After ten gruelling weeks facing the superhuman Gladiators, four contenders have made it through to the grand final.
The Gladiators 2024 finalists are:
Finlay Anderson – Army officer Finlay, 34, from Edinburgh has made it to the final despite being injured in the quarter-final.
Wesley Male – Even though he joined in the quarter-final stage, part-time Leeds wrestler Wesley, 35, has proved a force to be reckoned with on the Gladiators gauntlet.
Bronte Jones – This 23-year-old firefighter from Sheffield is the youngest contender in the final.
Marie-Louise Nicholson – Hailing from Dublin, Marie-Louise, 28, is a fitness coach who has scored maximum points five times on Gladiators.