Gladiators (also known as Gladiators Australia) is an Australian television series, which premiered on 15 January 2024 on Network 10. It is hosted by Beau Ryan and Liz Ellis. It is based on the earlier Australian iterations of the American version of the franchise. The first iteration being broadcast from 1995–1996 and a short-lived revival being the second in 2008.
The referee of the show is the former Australian Gladiator and rugby league player, Mark McGaw, also known as "Hammer".Saint, Sinner, Shoosh (9 December 2023). Ex-NRL star lines up for Gladiators. Townsville Bulletin. Retrieved 9 December 2023. Casting for contenders for the first series began in August 2023 and the twelve "Gladiators" were announced on 26 September 2023. In May 2024, it was officially announced that Gladiators is being cancelled after only one season, that failed to find an audience.
Production The second possible revival of the Australian version of Gladiators was rumoured to be produced soon after the second British revival was announced. Casting for contenders to compete against the Gladiators was announced in August, and it was revealed that the show would air in early 2024 on Network 10. Distribution rights are held by Amazon MGM Studios Distribution, with the show being executively produced by John C. Ferraro and Barry Poznick. The episodes were filmed at Disney Studios Australia in Sydney, New South Wales.
The series was initially announced as premiering on 7 January 2024, within the summer non-ratings period; however, one month prior to the premiere, it was postponed by a day. It was later announced that the series would instead premiere on 15 January 2024, to enable a wider audience to view the revival series.
Marketing The series was announced to air in early 2024. It is sponsored by a wide range of companies, including QSR International and auto home delivery services, and will include "back-to-school" marketing. Similar to the original series, it is a comedic sports entertainment show with "cartoon-ish violence" for a family audience.
The first official teaser trailer for the series was released on 6 November 2023, featuring eight of the Gladiators of the show (females Arrow, Chaos, Comet, Halo, and males Cyclone, Phoenix, Spartan and Viking).
Format The show involves permanent competitors known as "Gladiators" that compete against "Contenders" (formerly called "Challengers") in several events made to test out both their physical and mental capabilities.
In each episode, two men and two women compete for points against the Gladiators across four different events, with separate events for males and females. After this, each pair then competes against each other in "The Eliminator", a grueling obstacle course, of which any points they have won previously go towards time for a head start on their opponent. The winner of this is dubbed the champion of the episode, and will advance to the Finals, in hope to be crowned as the overall champions.
The winners of the series had the opportunity to become a Gladiator in the next series of the show and face off against new challengers, though there was never going to be another series.
Events
On the show, the Challengers will face the Gladiators in events testing their speed, strength, stamina, agility and power. The series sees the return of some classic events, with a few brand-new events. Each episode featured four events chosen at random, with every episode finishing with The Eliminator obstacle course.
In the first series, the following events were introduced in this order: In the Heats, events Duel, Powerball, Pyramid and The Wall were played with a rotation. In the Quarter-Finals, two new events, Tilt and Hang Tough were introduced. In the Semi-Finals, new events Whiplash and The Edge premiered.
The Edge The Edge is a brand new event in Gladiators Australia, in which the challenger goes head-to-head against one gladiator in a criss-cross-shaped platform 5 metres above the arena floor. The challenger must make it to the other side without being knocked off the Edge by the gladiator. Each cross is worth a point.
The game is based on the British event with the same name.
The Eliminator The final Eliminator obstacle course includes nine different obstacles:
Over-under bars Balance beams (The grand final also featured the seesaw) Six meter rope climb (No platform in the grand final) Hand ladders Climbing up and down the Pyramid Cargo net climb Fire pole dismount Travelator Through the "foam brick" wall
Gladiators The 12 Australian and New Zealander athletes, appearing as Gladiators, were announced on 26 September 2023.
However, in November 2023, it was revealed that a seventh male Gladiator would appear on the show. Named "Dragon", light heavyweight mixed martial artist Tyson Pedro was revealed. Black Ops—real name Bertrand Venail—was also revealed during the airing of the series – bringing the total to 14 Gladiators.
The grand prize for the winners of the season, Kalani Lenehan and Taylah Bisshopp, was the title of Gladiator.
+Female GladiatorsAliasNameSeriesAgeStatsState/TerritoryBiography Arrow Harriet Roberts 1 31 QLD CrossFit Games athlete and gymnastic coach Chaos Jaymi-Lee Morris 1 30 NSW Bodybuilder and powerlifter Comet Tatyanna Pogonza-Dumas 1 24 NSW Basketball player, sports model and two-time Ninja Warrior Elektra Alethea Boon 1 39 NSW CrossFit Games and Commonwealth Games athlete Halo Chanique Greyling 1 30 NSW Hollywood stuntwoman, model and mixed martial artist Raven Katelin van Zyl 1 31 QLD CrossFit Games athlete and former Australian field hockey player
+Male GladiatorsAliasNameSeriesAgeStatsState/TerritoryBiography Black Ops Bertrand Venail 1 36 N/a NSW Former football player and F45 trainer Cobra Damien Rider 1 48 SA Athlete, extreme adventurer and TED speaker Cyclone Blessings Chilufya 1 22 QLD Fitness coach Dragon Tyson Pedro 1 31 NSW UFC mixed martial artist Maximus Kwame Duah 1 30 SA Bodybuilder and influencer Phoenix Sandor Earl 1 33 NSW Former NRL player for New Zealand Spartan Khan Porter 1 33 NSW CrossFit Games athlete Viking Jett Kenny 1 30 QLD Australian ironman, television personality and model
Episodes Episode Contest Original airdate Challengers (Female) Challengers (Male) Events1Heat 115 January 2024Ana v MakedonkaJonny v Ben/KurtDuel, Powerball, The Wall, Pyramid2Heat 216 January 2024Taylah v CaitlinChris v AlexPowerball, Duel, Pyramid, The Wall3Heat 317 January 2024Tee v YaniZak/Danny v ChrisThe Wall, Duel, Powerball, Pyramid4Heat 418 January 2024Julia v Emilia/BecLeo/Daine v DanPowerball, Duel, Pyramid, The Wall5Heat 519 January 2024Sam v RachelleKalani v ToreyDuel, Powerball, Pyramid, The Wall6Heat 621 January 2024Michelle v JaniceJason v SohrabThe Wall, Duel, Powerball, Pyramid7Quarter Final 122 January 2024Tee v JuliaJason v ChrisPyramid, Tilt, Hang Tough, The Wall8Quarter Final 223 January 2024Makedonka v JaniceJonny v KalaniHang Tough, Tilt, Pyramid, The Wall9Quarter Final 324 January 2024Taylah v SamDaine v DannyTilt, Hang Tough, The Wall, Pyramid10Semi Final 125 January 2024Taylah v TeeDaine v ChrisThe Edge, Pyramid, Whiplash, The Wall/Duel11Semi Final 226 January 2024Janice v Julia (wildcard)Kalani v Jason (wildcard)The Edge, The Wall, Duel, Pyramid, Whiplash12Grand Final28 January 2024Taylah v JaniceDaine v KalaniHang Tough, The Wall, The Edge, Pyramid Notes
Episode summary In the final eliminator round, each point is equal to 0.5 second head start for the leading challenger.
Heat 1 Female EventsGladiatorsDuel00ChaosPowerball10Arrow, Chaos, ElektraThe Wall50Halo & ElektraPyramid00Halo & ArrowTotal scores60 Male EventsGladiatorsDuel00PhoenixPowerball12Cobra, Phoenix, SpartanThe Wall00Spartan & CobraPyramid00Cyclone & PhoenixTotal scores12 The Eliminator
Winners: Makedonka and Jonny
Heat 2 Female EventsGladiatorsPowerball72Chaos, Elektra, ArrowDuel00HaloPyramid05Halo & ElektraThe Wall00Elektra & ArrowTotal scores77 Male EventsGladiatorsPowerball35Cobra, Viking, CycloneDuel00PhoenixPyramid50Cobra & SpartanThe Wall010Cobra & PhoenixTotal scores815 The Eliminator
Winners: Taylah and Chris
Heat 3 Female EventsGladiatorsThe Wall105Halo & ElektraDuel50ChaosPowerball54Arrow, Elektra, HaloPyramid100Arrow & ChaosTotal scores309 Male EventsGladiatorsThe Wall105Spartan & Black OpsDuel00PhoenixPowerball54Cobra, Phoenix, SpartanPyramid50Cobra & SpartanTotal scores209 The Eliminator
Winners: Tee and Danny
Heat 4 Female EventsGladiatorsPowerball22Chaos, Arrow, CometDuel105ChaosPyramid010Arrow & HaloThe Wall00Elektra & CometTotal scores1217 Male EventsGladiatorsPowerball43Viking, Phoenix, CycloneDuel50SpartanPyramid100Cobra & CycloneThe Wall010Viking & SpartanTotal scores1913 The Eliminator
Winners: Julia and Daine
Heat 5 Female EventsGladiatorsDuel00RavenPowerball20Comet, Arrow, ChaosPyramid00Halo & ElektraThe Wall510Raven & ElektraTotal scores710 Male EventsGladiatorsDuel00MaximusPowerball37Spartan, Phoenix, MaximusPyramid50Cyclone & PhoenixThe Wall100Cobra & Black OpsTotal scores187 The Eliminator
Winners: Sam and Kalani
Heat 6 Female Events GladiatorsThe Wall100Comet & ElektraDuel00HaloPowerball31Arrow, Raven, ChaosPyramid00Comet & RavenTotal scores131 Male EventsGladiatorsThe Wall100Black Ops & CobraDuel100PhoenixPowerball32Phoenix, Spartan, MaximusPyramid55Cyclone & CobraTotal scores287 The Eliminator
Winners: Janice and Jason
Quarter Final 1 Female EventsGladiatorsPyramid100Arrow & CometTilt50Elektra & ChaosHang Tough05Raven & HaloThe Wall105Raven & ElektraTotal scores2510 Male EventsGladiatorsPyramid00Dragon & CycloneTilt50Phoenix & MaximusHang Tough55Dragon & SpartanThe Wall105Phoenix & CobraTotal scores2010 The Eliminator
Winners: Tee and Chris
Quarter Final 2 Female EventsGladiatorsHang Tough50Comet & HaloTilt00Elektra & ArrowPyramid100Raven & ChaosThe Wall010Comet & ArrowTotal scores1510 EventsGladiatorsHang Tough05Spartan & CobraTilt00Maximus & DragonPyramid05Maximus & PhoenixThe Wall010Spartan & CobraTotal scores020 The Eliminator
Winners: Janice and Kalani
Quarter Final 3 Female EventsGladiatorsTilt00StrongwomanHang Tough00Raven & ElektraThe Wall00Comet & ArrowPyramid00Halo & ChaosTotal scores00 Male EventsGladiatorsTilt50StrongmanHang Tough05Dragon & SpartanThe Wall100Phoenix & CobraPyramid105Maximus & CycloneTotal scores2510 The Eliminator
Winners: Taylah and Daine
Semi Final 1 Female EventsGladiatorsThe Edge42Elektra & RavenPyramid00Comet & ArrowWhiplash1010Chaos & CometThe Wall010Arrow & ElektraTotal scores1422 Male EventsGladiatorsThe Edge106Cyclone & SpartanPyramid05Maximus & CycloneWhiplash100Spartan & CobraDuel 100DragonTotal scores3011 The Eliminator
Winners: Taylah and Daine
Semi Final 2 Female EventsGladiatorsThe Edge30Elektra & HaloThe Wall100Arrow & RavenDuel00Chaos & CometPyramid00Halo & ArrowWhiplash010Elektra & CometTotal scores1310 Male Events GladiatorsThe Edge51Cyclone & SpartanThe Wall100Cobra & DragonDuel50PhoenixPyramid100Cyclone & PhoenixWhiplash010Black Ops & MaximusTotal scores3011 The Eliminator
Winners: Janice and Kalani
Grand Final Female EventsGladiatorsHang Tough00Halo & ChaosThe Wall010Comet & ArrowThe Edge72Elektra & RavenPyramid05Halo & ArrowTotal scores717 Male EventsGladiatorsHang Tough105Dragon & CobraThe Wall00Phoenix & CobraThe Edge69Spartan & CyclonePyramid 105Maximus & CycloneTotal scores2619 The Eliminator
Winners: Taylah and Kalani
Challenger's progress Color key: Series champions Runners-up The challenger won the episode and advanced The challenger was medically withdrawn from the competition The challenger was a wildcard and qualified The challenger lost the episode and was eliminated