Twenty four episodes were filmed at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in December 1995, including three three-part specials.
The series was once again presented by Kimberley Joseph and Mike Hammond with Tony Schibeci as commentator, Mike Whitney as referee, John Forsyth as assistant referee and the Kix cheerleaders performed in the background of the events. Forsyth also acted as a stand-in referee in Quarter-finals 1 and 2 after Mike Whitney caught a stomach bug virus, and Forsyth's position as assistant referee was taken over by Neil Waldron because of this.
The third series suffered a slight decline in viewing figures and due to an increase in costs, production on the fourth series was halted until the revival in 2008.
Predator suffered an injury in Heat 4 and was sidelined for the rest of the series.
Taipan missed a number of episodes due to a knee injury and was only able to play in non-contact games like Hang Tough, Joust and Swing Shot.
Female
Blade - Bev Carter
Cheeta - Nicky Davico
Delta - Karen Alley
Electra - Roz Forsyth
Flame - Lynda Byrnes
Fury - Julie Saunders
Glacier - Lourene Bevaart
Storm - Charlene Machin
Blade suffered an injury on Hang Tough in heat 7 when she landed on part of the arena floor not fully covered by crash mats. Whilst the fall was televised, Blade's injury was not referred to onscreen and she was sidelined until the semi-finals.[1]
Cheeta chose to leave the show after heat 4. Due to this, reserve Gladiator, Electra was brought in though she only appeared in six episodes and never appeared in the starting credits or any publicity material. The official Australian Gladiators magazine makes no reference to her. She is married to John Forsythe, who was assistant referee, stand in referee for quarter-finals 1 and 2, and Director of training.
Events
Atlaspheres, Duel, Gauntlet, Hang Tough, Hit & Run, Powerball, Pursuit, Pyramid, Swingshot, Suspension Bridge, Wall and Whiplash all returned. The layout of the Pursuit course was slightly changed or this series. Two new events were introduced, Skytrack and Joust, the latter of which had been recently axed in the UK series with the apparatus being shipped to Australia. Tilt which had only appeared once early on in the preceding series did not return.
Shows
A three-part individual sports athletes challenge preluded the third domestic series.
Fifteen shows were filmed in a progressive competition, followed by a further two specials at the conclusion of the domestic series.
Peter Gatti & Keith Lewis (Navy) Vs Gavin Davis & Ritchie Gibson (Army)
Duel, Skytrak, Gauntlet, Wall
23
Army Vs Navy 2
14 September 1996
Jacinta Peel & Candice Cushway (Army) Vs Donna Hunt & Tess Donellan (Navy)
Dwayne & Rick "Wombat" Morse (Army) Vs Tim O'Brien & John Iles (Navy)
Pyramid, Whiplash, Swingshot, Suspension Bridge
24
Army Vs Navy Final
21 September 1996
Sandra-Lee Walker & Michelle Perrone (Army A) Vs Candice Cushway & Jacinta Peel (Army B)
Gavin Davis & Ritchie Gibson (Army) Vs Tim O'Brien & John Iles (Navy)
Joust, Skytrack, Pyramid, Hang Tough
1These were the lasts appearances by Cheeta and Predator. 2This was the first appearance of reserve Gladiator Electra. 3Catherine Arlove was injured after Hang Tough and was unable to compete in the Eliminator. Marisa Huettner had to run the eliminator by herself against the clock. She won the series as the strongest competitor holding the fastest Eliminator time recorded in any series. 4All four finalists won the right to compete for Australia in the second Ashes series in Birmingham.
Episode summary
Individual Sports Challenge
Individual Sports Challenge Heat One
Original airdate: 13 April 1996 Challengers: Karla Gilbert (Iron Woman) v Emma George (Pole Vaulter), Chris Fydler (Swimmer) v Peter Winters (Decathlete)
Female
Event
Karla
Emma
Gladiators
Wall
0
0
Blade & Delta
Whiplash
10
10
Fury & Flame
Swing Shot
0
5
Fury & Blade
Duel
0
5
Flame & Storm
TOTAL
10
20
Male
Event
Chris
Peter
Gladiators
Wall
0
10
Commando & Condor
Whiplash
0
0
Tower & Vulcan
Swing Shot
7
11
Taipan & Hammer
Duel
0
0
Tower & Vulcan
TOTAL
7
21
Eliminator
Female: 5 second start for Emma
Male: 7 second start for Peter
Heat One Winners: Emma George & Peter Winters
Individual Sports Challenge Heat Two
Original airdate: 20 April 1996 Challengers: Shelley Oates (Kayaker) v Nici Andronicus (Triathlete), Guy Andrews (Iron Man) v Sean Carlan (Hammer Thrower)
Female
Event
Shelley
Nici
Gladiators
Pyramid
0
0
Delta & Fury
Atlaspheres
2
4
Cheeta & Flame
Hang Tough
0
0
Delta & Fury
Suspension Bridge
5
0
Flame & Storm
TOTAL
7
4
Male
Event
Guy
Sean
Gladiators
Pyramid
0
0
Hammer & Condor
Atlaspheres
4
0
Tower & Hammer
Hang Tough
0
0
Taipan & Commando
Suspension Bridge
0
0
Tower & Vulcan
TOTAL
4
0
Eliminator
Female: 1.5 second start for Shelley
Male: 2 second start for Guy
Heat Two Winners: Shelley Oates & Guy Andrews
Individual Sports Challenge Grand Final
Original airdate: 27 April 1996 Challengers: Shelley Oates (Kayaker) v Emma George (Pole Vaulter), Guy Andrews (Iron Man) v Peter Winter (Decathlete)
Female
Event
Shelley
Emma
Gladiators
Hang Tough
0
5
Delta & Fury
Suspension Bridge
5
10
Flame & Storm
Wall
5
10
Storm & Delta
Swing Shot
4
8
Flame & Fury
TOTAL
14
33
Male
Event
Guy
Peter
Gladiators
Hang Tough
0
0
Taipan & Commando
Suspension Bridge
0
0
Tower & Condor
Wall
0
10
Hammer & Condor
Swing Shot
0
3
Commando & Taipan
TOTAL
0
13
Eliminator
Female: 9.5 second start for Emma
Male: 6.5 second start for Peter
Heat Grand Winners: Emma George & Peter Winters
Domestic Series
Heat 1
Original airdate: 4 May 1996 Challengers: Allison Ferry v Joanne Rogers, Shane Vuletich v Wayne Neuendorf
Female
Event
Joanne
Allison
Gladiators
Hang Tough
0
0
Blade & Fury
Powerball
2
0
Blade, Delta & Storm
Duel
0
0
Flame & Glacier
Atlasphere
2
0
Storm & Flame
TOTAL
4
0
Male
Event
Shane
Wayne
Gladiators
Hang Tough
10
0
Condor & Commando
Powerball
4
0
Condor, Hammer & Vulcan
Duel
0
0
Vulcan & Tower
Atlasphere
4
2
Hammer & Commando
TOTAL
18
2
Eliminator
Female: 2 second head start for Joanne
Male: 8 second head start for Shane
Winners: Joanne Rogers & Shane Vuletich
Heat 2
Original airdate: 11 May 1996 Challengers: Liz Ruffin v Marisa Huettner, Paul Stubbs vs Sam Soliman
Female
Event
Liz
Marisa
Gladiators
Skytrack
10 1
0
Cheeta & Storm
Pyramid
0
0
Cheeta & Delta
Hang Tough
0
5
Blade & Fury
Suspension Bridge
0
5
Glacier & Flame
TOTAL
10
10
Male
Event
Paul
Sam
Gladiators
Skytrack
10
0
Predator & Commando
Pyramid
0
0
Hammer & Condor
Hang Tough
0
0
Commando & Condor
Suspension Bridge
0
0
Predator & Hammer
TOTAL
10
0
Eliminator
Female: No head start
Male: 5 second head start for Paul
Winners: Marisa Huettner & Paul Stubbs
1Cheeta caught Liz but was disqualified by Mike Whitney for starting before the whistle.
Heat 3
Original airdate: 18 May 1996 Challengers: Leanne Martin v Mary Kominos, Cameron Simon v Paul Reynolds
Female
Event
Leanne
Mary
Gladiators
Wall
0
10
Storm & Blade
Gauntlet
0
0
Cheeta, Delta, Glacier, Fury & Flame
Whiplash
0
0
Flame & Glacier
Swing Shot
4
1
Delta & Fury
TOTAL
4
11
Male
Event
Cameron
Paul
Gladiators
Wall
0
0
Condor & Hammer
Gauntlet
0
0
Predator, Tornado, Condor, Vulcan & Tower
Whiplash
10
0
Condor & Predator
Swing Shot
3
3
Commando & Taipan
TOTAL
13
3
Eliminator
Female: 3.5 second head start for Mary
Male: 5 second head start for Cameron
Winners: Leanne Martin & Paul Reynolds
Heat 4
Original airdate: 25 May 1996 Challengers: Nicki Richards v Kylie Saunders, Jamie Rafanelli v Phil Burgess
Female
Event
Nicki
Kylie
Gladiators
Powerball
6
0
Cheeta, Delta & Glacier
Skytrack
10
0
Blade & Fury
Duel
5
0
Storm & Flame
Hang Tough
0
0
Blade & Delta
TOTAL
21
0
Male
Event
Jamie
Phil
Gladiators
Powerball
6
6
Condor, Hammer & Predator/Vulcan1
Skytrack
10
0
Condor & Commando
Duel
0
10
Tower & Hammer
Hang Tough
5
0
Tornado & Commando
TOTAL
21
16
Eliminator
Female: 10.5 second head start for Nicki
Male: 2.5 second head start for Jamie
Winners: Nicki Richards & Phil Burges
1 Predator suffered a season-ending injury in Powerball and Vulcan was substituted in for the remainder of the game.
Heat 5
Original airdate: 1 June 1996 Challengers: Astrid Edlinger v Catherine Arlove, Joshua McEwan v Kerry Packer
Female
Event
Astrid
Catherine
Gladiators
Joust
5
5
Flame & Glacier
Powerball
6
2
Delta, Electra & Flame
Hit & Run
2
4
Blade, Delta, Fury & Electra
Pursuit
0
0
Fury & Glacier
TOTAL
13
9
Male
Event
Jousha
Kerry
Gladiators
Joust
5
5
Tower & Taipan
Powerball
5
0
Condor, Hammer & Vulcan
Hit and Run
10
10
Taipan, Tower, Commando & Vulcan
Pursuit
0
0
Condor & Tornado
TOTAL
20
15
Eliminator
Female: 2 second head start for Astrid
Male: 2.5 second head start for Joshua
Winners: Catherine Arlove & Joshua McEwan
Heat 6
Original airdate: 8 June 1996 Challengers: Jacqui Drew v Christine Dale, Jeff Prewett v Gavin Wise
Female
Event
Jacqui
Christine
Gladiators
Gauntlet
0
0
Delta, Fury, Glacier, Storm & Flame
Swing Shot
4
0
Blade & Delta
Suspension Bridge
0
5
Flame & Glacier
Wall
0
0
Fury & Storm
TOTAL
4
5
Male
Event
Jeff
Gavin
Gladiators
Gauntlet
5
0
Vulcan, Tornado, Hammer, Condor & Tower
Swing Shot
3
1
Taipan & Hammer
Suspension Bridge
5
0
Tower & Vulcan
Wall
10
0
Condor & Tornado
TOTAL
23
1
Eliminator
Female: 0.5 second head start for Christine
Male: 11 second head start for Jeff
Winners: Christine Dale & Jeff Prewett
Heat 7
Original airdate: 15 June 1996 Challengers: Leesa Sharpe v Debbie Santic, Daniel Di Paolo v James Lenehan
Female
Event
Leesa
Debbie
Gladiators
Pyramid
0
0
Delta & Glacier
Gauntlet
0
5
Delta, Storm, Glacier, Blade & Flame
Pursuit
0
0
Fury & Storm
Hang Tough
0
0
Fury & Blade
TOTAL
0
5
Male
Event
Daniel
James
Gladiators
Pyramid
0
0
Tower & Hammer
Gauntlet
0
0
Vulcan, Hammer, Condor, Tornado & Tower
Pursuit
0
10
Condor & Tornado
Hang Tough
10
0
Commando & Taipan
TOTAL
10
10
Eliminator
Female: 2.5 second head start for Debbie
Male: no head start
Winners: Debbie Santic & James Lenehan
Heat 8
Original airdate: 22 June 1996 Challengers: Sandra Hansen v Siobhan Skinner, Keith Hansen v Peter Cranney
Female
Event
Sandra
Siobhan
Gladiators
Duel
0
5
Flame & Storm
Atlaspheres
0
0
Fury & Glacier
Pyramid
0
10
Storm & Delta
Whiplash
10
0
Fury & Glacier
TOTAL
10
15
Male
Event
Keith
Peter
Gladiators
Duel
0
0
Commando & Vulcan
Atlaspheres
4
0
Condor & Tower
Pyramid
0
0
Tornado & Hammer
Whiplash
10
10
Tower & Vulcan
TOTAL
14
10
Eliminator
Female: 2 second head start for Keith
Male: 2.5 second head start for Siobhan
Winners: Sandra Hansen & Peter Cranney
Quarter-final 1
Original airdate: 29 June 1996 Challengers: Leanne Martin v Debbie Santic, Joshua McEwan v Paul Reynolds
Female
Event
Leanne
Debbie
Gladiators
Powerball
2
6
Delta, Glacier & Storm
Duel
5
5
Flame & Glacier
Skytrack
10
0
Fury & Storm
Gauntlet
0
0
Fury, Delta, Glacier, Storm & Flame
TOTAL
17
11
Male
Event
Joshua
Paul
Gladiators
Powerball
8
9
Hammer, Tornado & Tower
Duel
0
0
Tower & Vulcan
Skytrack
0
0
Condor & Tornado
Gauntlet
0
0
Hammer, Vulcan, Condor, Tornado & Tower
TOTAL
8
9
Eliminator
Female: 3 second head start for Leanne
Male: 0.5 second head start for Paul
Winners: Debbie Santic & Paul Reynolds
Quarter-final 2
Original airdate: 6 July 1996 Challengers: Marisa Huettner v Christine Dale, Paul Stubbs v Peter Cranney
Female
Event
Marisa
Christine
Gladiators
Atlasphere
4
4
Flame & Storm
Pyramid
0
0
Delta & Storm
Hang Tough
0
0
Fury & Delta
Suspension Bridge
5
0
Glacier & Flame
TOTAL
9
4
Male
Event
Paul
Peter
Gladiators
Atlasphere
0
0
Tower & Vulcan
Pyramid
0
0
Hammer & Condor
Hang Tough
10
0
Taipan & Commando
Suspension Bridge
0
0
Hammer & Vulcan
TOTAL
10
0
Eliminator
Female: 2.5 second head start for Christine
Male: 5 second head start for Paul
Winners: Marisa Huettner & Paul Stubbs
Quarter-final 3
Original airdate: 13 July 1996 Challengers: Joanne Rogers & Catherine Arlove, Phil Burgess v Jeff Prewett
Female
Event
Joanne
Catherine
Gladiators
Duel
0
0
Glacier & Flame
Skytrack
0
101
Fury & Delta
Hit and Run
0
8
Blade, Delta, Flame, Storm
Wall
0
0
Fury & Storm
TOTAL
0
18
Male
Event
Phil
Jeff
Gladiators
Duel
0
0
Condor & Vulcan
Skytrack
0
0
Commando & Tornado
Hit and Run
0
10
Vulcan, Taipan, Commando & Tornado
Wall
0
10
Hammer & Condor
TOTAL
0
20
Eliminator
Female: 9 second head start for Catherine
Male: 10 second head start for Jeff
Winners: Catherine Arlove & Jeff Prewett
1 Fury caught Joanne early but lost her footing on the track, forcing Catherine to crash in to her. Fury was taken down and Catherine re-ran her race with Delta which she won.
Quarter-final 4
Original airdate: 20 July 1996 Challengers: Nicki Richards v Sandra Hansen, Shane Vuletich v James Lenehan
Female
Event
Nicki
Sandra
Gladiators
Pyramid
0
0
Glacier & Fury
Swing Shot
3
0
Fury & Storm
Joust
5
5
Glacier & Flame
Hang Tough
0
5
Electra & Delta
TOTAL
8
10
Male
Event
Shane
James
Gladiators
Pyramid
0
10
Condor & Hammer
Swing Shot
9
0
Commando & Hammer
Joust
5
0
Taipan & Vulcan
Hang Tough
5
0
Tornado & Taipan
TOTAL
19
10
Eliminator
Female: 1 second head start for Sandra
Male: 4.5 second head start for Shane
Winners: Sandra Hansen & Shane Vuletich
Semi-final 1
Original airdate: 27 July 1996 Challengers: Sandra Hansen v Catherine Arlove, Shane Vuletich v Paul Stubbs
Female
Event
Sandra
Catherine
Gladiators
Wall
0
0
Blade & Storm
Gauntlet
0
10
Delta, Storm, Glacier, Fury & Flame
Skytrack
0
01
Fury & Delta
Suspension Bridge
0
52
Flame & Glacier
TOTAL
0
15
Male
Event
Shane
Paul
Gladiators
Wall
0
10
Condor & Hammer
Gauntlet
0
0
Hammer, Commando, Condor, Tornado & Vulcan
Skytrack
103
0
Tornado & Commando
Suspension Bridge
0
104
Vulcan & Hammer
TOTAL
10
20
Eliminator
Female: 7.5 second head start for Catherine
Male: 5 second head start for Paul
Winners: Catherine Arlove & Paul Stubbs
1 Despite appearing to hit Catherine's buzzer multiple times, no sparks appeared. Upon replay a malfunction was reported and Catherine received 0 points. 2 Catherine had legally hit Glacier off the bridge, however threw her hammerhead to the matts, and in a controversial ruling only scored five points. 3 Shane's detonator triggered despite Tornado not being remotely close to him, luckily he kept running the race to claim his ten points. 4 Hammer was disqualified for dropping his hammerhead.
Semi-final 2
Original airdate: 3 August 1996 Challengers: Marisa Huettner v Debbie Santic, Jeff Prewett v Paul Reynolds
Female
Event
Marisa
Debbie
Gladiators
Swing Shot
3
2
Blade & Fury
Duel
5
10
Flame & Electra
Whiplash
0
0
Glacier & Flame
Pyramid
0
0
Delta & Glacier
TOTAL
8
12
Male
Event
Jeff
Paul
Gladiators
Swing Shot
3
7
Taipan & Commando
Duel
0
0
Hammer & Vulcan
Whiplash
0
0
Condor & Vulcan
Pyramid
0
0
Condor & Hammer
TOTAL
3
7
Eliminator
Female: 2 second head start for Debbie
Male: 2 second head start for Paul
Winners: Marisa Huettner & Paul Reynolds
Grand Final
Original airdate: 10 August 1996 Challengers: Catherine Arlove v Marisa Huettner, Paul Reynolds v Paul Stubbs
Female
Event
Catherine
Marisa
Gladiators
Gauntlet
5
0
Glacier, Storm, Delta, Blade & Flame
Pursuit
10
101
Fury & Storm
Pyramid
0
0
Delta & Glacier
Hang Tough
0
5
Blade & Fury
TOTAL
15
15
Male
Event
Paul.R.
Paul.S.
Gladiators
Gauntlet
5
0
Hammer, Condor, Commando, Tornado & Tower
Pursuit
62
5
Condor & Tornado
Pyramid
0
0
Vulcan & Hammer
Hang Tough
0
5
Taipan & Commando
TOTAL
11
10
Eliminator
Female: Catherine forced to pull out of eliminator due to shoulder injury.
Male: 0.5 second start for Paul.R.
Series 3 Winners: Marisa Huettner & Paul Reynolds
1 Storm was disqualified for holding and impeding Marisa's progress during the web trap 2 Despite crossing the line first for 10 points, Paul Reynolds' score was reduced to 6 for knocking over two cones
Team Sports Special
This was a 3-episode team event between the Australian sports teams.
Johnny Platten & Richard Champion (AFL) v Graham Mackay & Jason Croker (Rugby League)
Female
Event
Softball
Water Polo
Gladiators
Wall
101
0
Storm & Blade
Pyramid
0
0
Glacier & Delta
Hang Tough
0
0
Fury & Delta
Suspension Bridge
0
0
Flame & Storm
TOTAL
10
0
Male
Event
AFL
Rugby League
Gladiators
Wall
0
0
Commando & Condor
Pyramid
0
0
Tower & Condor
Hang Tough
0
0
Commando & Taipan
Suspension Bridge
02
0
Tower & Vulcan
TOTAL
0
0
Eliminator
Female: 5 second head start for Softball (Natalie)
Male: No head start
Team Sports Special Winners: Softball & Rugby League
1 Storm was red-carded for attacking the challenger's head while pulling from the Wall. 2 In an Australian Gladiators first, both Richard and Tower fell from the bridge at exactly the same time, calling for a re-match.
Cheerleaders: Cintra Bedford, Jane Crichton, Jessica Emblen, Sarah Harlow, Tamra Lind, Tamara Raup, Emma Sieber, Leigh-Anne Vizer, Francene Vedelago, Kyle Watson[5]
Production
Production began in October 1995 following the success of series two. Recording dates were pencilled in for 11–22 December at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.[6]
The Gladiators were given their specialist training schedules in October and took a break from promotional activities in November whilst the production crew started work on the new events.
Filming began in December and continued through into the new year.[7] Seating in the Brisbane Entertainment Centre was increased to 8,000 and the arena itself had some subtle changes with darker lighting and an increased use of spotlights similar to the UK arena at the National Indoor Arena. The Arena floor was also changed to a black floor with lights, just like the UK.
A fourth series went into pre production. Pendulum, a UK event seen in the International series was to be introduced[8] and there were events being developed that would be unique to the Australian series.[9]
However, due to injuries, rising production costs and a slight decline in viewing figures, Channel 7 opted not to go ahead with a fourth series and after being on television for an almost constant eighteen months, Gladiators was over until its revival in 2008.
