It’s been a smash hit for the BBC and there’s no surprise. It turns out the UK has been crying out for some properly old school Saturday night entertainment and, despite some flaws, Gladiators has provided exactly that.
Gladiators has united fans old and new, with misty eyed middle agers with a thing for Jet or Wolf immediately taking to the likes of Sabre and Legend, while a new generation of fans cheered on the likes of Diamond and Fury while memorable contenders Bronte, Finley and Marie-Louise got viewers talking.
The series, filmed at Sheffield Arena and featuring big names like Bradley Walsh, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg and BBC Match of the Day commentator Guy Mowbray has proven a surprise hit, beating Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway more than once in the ratings.
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But that’s not to say it’s perfect – and there’s three key things I’d like the BBC to change for series 2.
Get rid of the changing rooms scenes
Fans didn’t really take to this element of the new series and I can see why. It just felt… awkward? Seeing more of new Gladiators like Sabre and Diamond was very welcome, but the cut to the changing room as Gladiators say stuff like ‘I almost had her! I hate making mistakes!’, it just didn’t feel like it worked.
(Image: BBC)
There must be some other way to bring character to the Gladiators – who let’s remember are athletes first, actors second – without feeling so cringey. Perhaps a post event chat with a new host (see below) would be a better alternative.
Make the events harder
Too many shoes are lost on the Wall. Why do so many shoes fly off? There has to be a better way to run that event. And too many times the likes of Diamond and Sabre have been brushed aside on The Gauntlet. It isn’t their fault – the event is too easy; the gauntlet bit is too wide, and there’s one fewer Gladiator on it than in the 1990s version and this is a complaint I’ve seen time and again from fans this series.
(Image: BBC)
Change up the presenters
I don’t mind Bradley Walsh. I think he’s pretty entertaining, although he has a feel of ‘ITV’ about him – perhaps just from years of The Chase and Coronation Street. I don’t mind his son Barney either, despite the slightly unfair cries of ‘nepo baby’ on Twitter – sorry, on X.
(Image: BBC)
But I do think it couldn’t hurt to mix them up a bit. Keep them – but for god’s sake change the suits – and maybe add some more hosts, perhaps Alex Scott would be a good addition, or even Mary Earps. Someone with sports/athlete experience who could talk to contenders and Gladiators alike about the physical aspect of the contest. And although Sabre has been confirmed to return for series 2 as a Gladiator, she’d make a great presenter too one day.
More Sabre, less Viper
For me Sabre is the breakout star of the new series and it’s not just her looks. Sheli McCoy has done the best job of all the Gladiators in creating a rounded and fleshed out character to the show. The closest second is probably Legend. Sabre’s trademark move, her hisses and snarls, her no-nonsense attitude and of course, the way she’s constantly moving from side to side with a sort of nervous tension, it all adds up to create a feeling of an actual persona. On the other hand, Viper hasn’t worked out too well, and just comes off a bit too hammy.
(Image: BBC)
Otherwise, it does look like New Gladiators isn’t just a flash in the pan and could become a new Saturday night favourite to rival Strictly Come Dancing, Ant & Dec and Dancing On Ice.
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