Gladiators starting date confirmed by BBC ahead of 1990s reboot

The sports entertainment programme was watched by millions between 1992 and 2000

The Gladiators starting date has been confirmed by BBC ahead of the 1990s reboot. The programme will hit screens next week, the broadcaster has announced.

The sports entertainment show, which was originally broadcast from 1992 to 2000, is set to return to screens on January 13 with 16 new “superhumans” all eager to show off their speed and strength. Presenter Bradley Walsh and his son Barney will host the 11-episode series, which will see the Gladiators take on Contenders in new and old games, culminating with classic challenge The Eliminator.

Among the Gladiators line-up are Olympians, bodybuilders and weightlifting champions. Team GB sprinter and Olympic bobsledder Montell Douglas will star as Fire on the show, while Jamie Christian Johal will appear as Giant, earning his name as he is regarded as one of the tallest bodybuilders of all time at 6ft 5ins.

Sheli McCoy, who has competed in five British weightlifting championships and CrossFit championships around the world, will appear as Sabre and Emily Steel, a full-time elite CrossFit athlete, will be known as Dynamite. Matt Morsia, who became a fitness influencer after retiring from international athletic competitions, will go under the name Legend and Alex Gray, who previously played in the England rugby sevens team before transferring over to the NFL, will be called Apollo.

Team GB sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, nicknamed Nitro, and 6ft-tall bodybuilder Livi Sheldon, who will be known as Diamond, are also among the line-up. Karenjeet Kaur Bains, who is the Commonwealth powerlifting champion, will go by Athena, while Ella-Mae Rayner, a former elite gymnast and semi-professional diver, will be nicknamed Comet.

Bodybuilder Matty Campbell has acquired his name Bionic for his strength and 6ft 6ins height, sports model and fitness coach Jade Packer has been named Electro for her “electrifying” speed. Former Team GB bobsledder Toby Olubi has been given the title of Phantom as he is “frighteningly unstoppable”.

Bodybuilder Quang Luong, who has committed the last 15 years to fitness, will be dubbed Viper, and professional Exeter Chiefs rugby player Jodie Ounsley will be named Fury. CrossFit star Zack George, who won the title of the UK’s Fittest Man in 2020, completes the line-up as Steel.

The series was filmed in Sheffield last year. Gladiators will launch on BBC One on January 13 at 5.50pm and be available to rewatch on the iPlayer.