Gladiators fans demand show axe huge part of series after celebrity special
GLADIATORS fans have been left demanding that show bosses officially AXE a major element of the game following the airing of the celebrity special.
The programme, hosted by father and son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh, made a comeback last year.
Ahead of a second full-length series, which is expected to premiere in just weeks, a celeb-packed special featuring four top TV stars aired in the BBC on New Year’s Day.
BBC Breakfast host Louise Minchin, actress Ellie Taylor and comedians Joel Dommett and Rob Beckett came together to battle one another and the mighty Gladiators.
In the episode, fans saw the stars taking on the brutal game of Collison.
Collision sees the stars racing across a suspension plank and transporting balls from one side to the other.
However, in the hopes of knocking them off their course, four big and strong Gladiators swing on ropes in a bid to knock them off.
During the celeb special, Joel proved his worth on the Collision course as he faced impressive attempts from Steel, Bionic, Viper and Apollo.
But unhappy fans have blasted the game and insisted it is the most “stupid” part of the show.
Demanding that the game is given the boot, fuming TV watches raged online: “COLLISION is the stupidest event GLADIATORS have.
“Get rid of it.”
Another echoed: “Still don’t understand the point of collision, hit and run just looked less awkward and it’s basically the same event.”
Collision was first added as one of two new games for the 2024 reboot and despite its frosty reception on the celeb series, has often gone down a treat with Beeb viewers as at home.
In a move that may impress fans, the second series of the show will be bringing back one of the most iconic games from its first incarnation – but it does not come without its risks.
The game proved to cause many injuries to contestants in the past which prompted the Beeb to ditch it from its first comeback.
But now Atlaspheres will be back in just a few weeks.
Contenders will take on the Gladiators while caged in a giant hamster ball.
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.”