Gladiators (also known as Gladiators Australia) is an Australian television series, which premiered on 15 January 2024 on Network 10.[1][2][3] It is hosted by Beau Ryan and Liz Ellis. It is based on the earlier Australian iterations of the American version of the franchise.[4] 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".[5][6] Casting for contenders for the first series began in August 2023[7] and the twelve "Gladiators" were announced on 26 September 2023.[8] In May 2024, it was officially announced that Gladiators is being cancelled after only one season, that failed to find an audience.[9]
Production
The second possible revival of the Australian version of Gladiators was rumoured to be produced soon after the second British revival was announced.[10] 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.[7] Distribution rights are held by Amazon MGM Studios Distribution, with the show being executively produced by John C. Ferraro and Barry Poznick.[11] The episodes were filmed at Disney Studios Australia in Sydney, New South Wales.[6]
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.[3] It was later announced that the series would instead premiere on 15 January 2024, to enable a wider audience to view the revival series.[2]
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.[12]
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).[13]
Format
The show involves permanent competitors known as "Gladiators" that compete against "Contenders" 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 contenders, though there was never going to be a second series.[3]
On the show, the Contenders will face the Gladiators in events testing their speed, strength, stamina, agility and power.[14] The series sees the return of some classic events, with a few brand-new events.[15] Each episode featured four events chosen at random, with every episode finishing with The Eliminator obstacle course.[16]
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 contender goes head-to-head against one gladiator in a criss-cross-shaped platform 5 metres above the arena floor. The contender must make it to the other side without being knocked off the Edge by the gladiator. Each cross is worth a point.
The 12 Australian and New Zealander athletes, appearing as Gladiators, were announced on 26 September 2023.[8]
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.[17][18] 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.[19]
^Ben got injured in Powerball, so he was replaced by reserve contender Kurt.
^Zak got injured in Duel, so he was replaced by reserve contender Danny.
^Emilia got injured in Pyramid, so she was replaced by reserve contender Bec.
^Leo got injured in The Wall, so he was replaced by reserve contender Daine.
Episode summary
In the final eliminator round, each point is equal to 0.5 second head start for the winning contender.
Heat 1
Female
Events
Ana
Makedonka
Gladiators
Duel
0
0
Chaos
Powerball
1
0
Arrow, Chaos, Elektra
The Wall
5
0
Halo & Elektra
Pyramid
0
0
Halo & Arrow
Total scores
6
0
Male
Events
Jonny
Ben/Kurt
Gladiators
Duel
0
0
Phoenix
Powerball
1
2
Cobra, Phoenix, Spartan
The Wall
0
0
Spartan & Cobra
Pyramid
0
0
Cyclone & Phoenix
Total scores
1
2
The Eliminator
Winners: Makedonka and Jonny
Heat 2
Female
Events
Taylah
Caitlin
Gladiators
Powerball
7
2
Chaos, Elektra, Arrow
Duel
0
0
Halo
Pyramid
0
5
Halo & Elektra
The Wall
0
0
Elektra & Arrow
Total scores
7
7
Male
Events
Chris
Alex
Gladiators
Powerball
3
5
Cobra, Viking, Cyclone
Duel
0
0
Phoenix
Pyramid
5
0
Cobra & Spartan
The Wall
0
10
Cobra & Phoenix
Total scores
8
15
The Eliminator
Winners: Taylah and Chris
Heat 3
Female
Events
Tee
Yani
Gladiators
The Wall
10
5
Halo & Elektra
Duel
5
0
Chaos
Powerball
5
4
Arrow, Elektra, Halo
Pyramid
10
0
Arrow & Chaos
Total scores
30
9
Male
Events
Zak/Danny
Chris
Gladiators
The Wall
10
5
Spartan & Black Ops
Duel
0
0
Phoenix
Powerball
5
4
Cobra, Phoenix, Spartan
Pyramid
5
0
Cobra & Spartan
Total scores
20
9
The Eliminator
Winners: Tee and Danny
Heat 4
Female
Events
Julia
Emilia/Bec
Gladiators
Powerball
2
2
Chaos, Arrow, Comet
Duel
10
5
Chaos
Pyramid
0
10
Arrow & Halo
The Wall
0
0
Elektra & Comet
Total scores
12
17
Male
Events
Leo/Daine
Dan
Gladiators
Powerball
4
3
Viking, Phoenix, Cyclone
Duel
5
0
Spartan
Pyramid
10
0
Cobra & Cyclone
The Wall
0
10
Viking & Spartan
Total scores
19
13
The Eliminator
Winners: Julia and Daine
Heat 5
Female
Events
Sam
Rachelle
Gladiators
Duel
0
0
Raven
Powerball
2
0
Comet, Arrow, Chaos
Pyramid
0
0
Halo & Elektra
The Wall
5
10
Raven & Elektra
Total scores
7
10
Male
Events
Kalani
Torey
Gladiators
Duel
0
0
Maximus
Powerball
3
7
Spartan, Phoenix, Maximus
Pyramid
5
0
Cyclone & Phoenix
The Wall
10
0
Cobra & Black Ops
Total scores
18
7
The Eliminator
Winners: Sam and Kalani
Heat 6
Female
Events
Michelle
Janice
Gladiators
The Wall
10
0
Comet & Elektra
Duel
0
0
Halo
Powerball
3
1
Arrow, Raven, Chaos
Pyramid
0
0
Comet & Raven
Total scores
13
1
Male
Events
Jason
Sohrab
Gladiators
The Wall
10
0
Black Ops & Cobra
Duel
10
0
Phoenix
Powerball
3
2
Phoenix, Spartan, Maximus
Pyramid
5
5
Cyclone & Cobra
Total scores
28
7
The Eliminator
Winners: Janice and Jason
Quarter Final 1
Female
Events
Tee
Julia
Gladiators
Pyramid
10
0
Arrow & Comet
Tilt
5
0
Elektra & Chaos
Hang Tough
0
5
Raven & Halo
The Wall
10
5
Raven & Elektra
Total scores
25
10
Male
Events
Jason
Chris
Gladiators
Pyramid
0
0
Dragon & Cyclone
Tilt
5
0
Phoenix & Maximus
Hang Tough
5
5
Dragon & Spartan
The Wall
10
5
Phoenix & Cobra
Total scores
20
10
The Eliminator
Winners: Tee and Chris
Quarter Final 2
Female
Events
Makedonka
Janice
Gladiators
Hang Tough
5
0
Comet & Halo
Tilt
0
0
Elektra & Arrow
Pyramid
10
0
Raven & Chaos
The Wall
0
10
Comet & Arrow
Total scores
15
10
Events
Jonny
Kalani
Gladiators
Hang Tough
0
5
Spartan & Cobra
Tilt
0
0
Maximus & Dragon
Pyramid
0
5
Maximus & Phoenix
The Wall
0
10
Spartan & Cobra
Total scores
0
20
The Eliminator
Winners: Janice and Kalani
Quarter Final 3
Female
Events
Taylah
Sam
Gladiators
Tilt
0
0
Strongwoman
Hang Tough
0
0
Raven & Elektra
The Wall
0
0
Comet & Arrow
Pyramid
0
0
Halo & Chaos
Total scores
0
0
Male
Events
Daine
Danny
Gladiators
Tilt
5
0
Strongman
Hang Tough
0
5
Dragon & Spartan
The Wall
10
0
Phoenix & Cobra
Pyramid
10
5
Maximus & Cyclone
Total scores
25
10
The Eliminator
Winners: Taylah and Daine
Semi Final 1
Female
Events
Taylah
Tee
Gladiators
The Edge
4
2
Elektra & Raven
Pyramid
0
0
Comet & Arrow
Whiplash
10
10
Chaos & Comet
The Wall
0
10
Arrow & Elektra
Total scores
14
22
Male
Events
Daine
Chris
Gladiators
The Edge
10
6
Cyclone & Spartan
Pyramid
0
5
Maximus & Cyclone
Whiplash
10
0
Spartan & Cobra
Duel
10
0
Dragon
Total scores
30
11
The Eliminator
Winners: Taylah and Daine
Semi Final 2
Female
Events
Janice
Julia
Gladiators
The Edge
3
0
Elektra & Halo
The Wall
10
0
Arrow & Raven
Duel
0
0
Chaos & Comet
Pyramid
0
0
Halo & Arrow
Whiplash
0
10
Elektra & Comet
Total scores
13
10
Male
Events
Kalani
Jason
Gladiators
The Edge
5
1
Cyclone & Spartan
The Wall
10
0
Cobra & Dragon
Duel
5
0
Phoenix
Pyramid
10
0
Cyclone & Phoenix
Whiplash
0
10
Black Ops & Maximus
Total scores
30
11
The Eliminator
Winners: Janice and Kalani
Grand Final
Female
Events
Taylah
Janice
Gladiators
Hang Tough
0
0
Halo & Chaos
The Wall
0
10
Comet & Arrow
The Edge
7
2
Elektra & Raven
Pyramid
0
5
Halo & Arrow
Total scores
7
17
Male
Events
Daine
Kalani
Gladiators
Hang Tough
10
5
Dragon & Cobra
The Wall
0
0
Phoenix & Cobra
The Edge
6
9
Spartan & Cyclone
Pyramid
10
5
Maximus & Cyclone
Total scores
26
19
The Eliminator
Winners: Taylah and Kalani
Contenders progress
Color key:
Series champions
Runners-up
The contender won the episode and advanced
The contender was medically withdrawn from the competition
The contender was a wildcard and qualified
The contender lost the episode and was eliminated
Contenders
Episodes
Heats
Quarter Finals
Semi Finals
Final
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Kalani
—
WIN
—
WIN
—
WIN
WINNER
Taylah
—
WIN
—
WIN
WIN
—
WINNER
Daine
—
WIN
—
WIN
WIN
—
RUNNER-UP
Janice
—
WIN
—
WIN
—
WIN
RUNNER-UP
Jason
—
WIN
WC
—
OUT
—
Julia
—
WIN
—
WC
—
OUT
—
Chris
—
WIN
—
WIN
—
OUT
—
Tee
—
WIN
—
WIN
—
OUT
—
Danny
—
WIN
—
OUT
—
Sam
—
WIN
—
OUT
—
Jonny
WIN
—
OUT
—
Makedonka
WIN
—
OUT
—
Sohrab
—
OUT
—
Michelle
—
OUT
—
Torey
—
OUT
—
Rachelle
—
OUT
—
Dan
—
OUT
—
Bec
—
OUT
—
Leo
—
WDR
—
Emilia
—
WDR
—
Chris
—
OUT
—
Zak
—
WDR
—
Yani
—
OUT
—
Alex
—
OUT
—
Caitlin
—
OUT
—
Kurt
OUT
—
Ben
WDR
—
Ana
OUT
—
Reception
Critical reception
The return of Gladiators has received mixed–to–poor critique. The series received a lot of negative comments via social media, relating to the "poor set design", and the slow pacing. The lack of audience and variety of events were also denounced.[20]
Ratings
Ratings data is from OzTAM and represents the top 20 viewership from the five largest Australian metropolitan centres (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth).
