Flame: Flame was the first Gladiator to not come from a bodybuilding background. A US native, she was a competitive swimmer and competed in many track and field events. She has many medals and trophies to her name and was also an Oregon State Championship swimming finalist.

Flame appeared for only one regular season and the 1993 live Wembley shows.

Jet: With some thanks to her sparkling personality and good looks, Jet became a firm favourite with the crowds, often drawing the loudest cheers from the audience on her arrival into the arena.
At an early age Jet took up gymnastics and was the North of England Junior Champion for four consecutive years. Jet gave up gymnastics at 13, and took up dance at the Darlington Arts Centre.

Jet appeared in four regular seasons, two seasons of International Gladiators as well as The Ashes and also wowed fans at 1993, 1994 and 1996 live Wembley shows as well as the 1995 live Sheffield show. Her career was not without a little drama, she suffered a broken nose during one of the live shows and her Gladiator life was ended at the 1996 live Wembley show when she sustained a compressed vertebrae and trapped nerves in her neck whilst playing Pyramid.

Lightning: At six years old Lightning took up gymnastics after she was accepted into Lichfield Olympic Gymnastic Club. Lightning had her first competitive event when she was eight years old. In her time as a gymnast she competed all over Great Britain as well as in Bulgaria, Belgium and Germany. Between the ages of 10 and 16 she trained with the British Squad and gained 32 medals.
After gymnastics Lightning took up weight training and competed four times in the Miss Figure Bodybuilding competition and came second in the British Championship Finals. She also won the Willenhall BB Show, Muscle Beach Open and the EFBB British Qualifier. Next came aerobics to help build up her stamina.

Later crowned the Queen of the Rings, Lightning was the only female Gladiator to appear throughout all 8 series of the show as well as the 1993, 1994 and 1996 live Wembley shows, 1995 live Sheffield shows, both series of International Gladiators, both Series of The Ashes and the Springbok Challenge 1.

Panther: Although Panther is a champion bodybuilder, at school she hated sports- but at the age of 27, Panther started to go to the gym and loved it! She worked hard and became one of Britain's top women bodybuilders. She has reigned as: Miss Central Britain, Miss Europe, Miss North Britain, Miss England, Miss World, Miss Great Britain, Miss Russia and Miss Universe.

Panther appeared in 5 series of the show, as well as the 1993, 1994 and 1996 live Wembley shows, the 1995 live Sheffield show and the second series of International Gladiators.
Her career was nearly ended in 1994 when she was involved in a horrible accident during Tilt when she fell badly and sustained serious neck and back injuries which put her out of action for 5 months. She did make a comeback for the fifth series but bowed out gracefully at its conclusion. She now runs her own successful business, Panthers Gym in Uxbridge.

Phoenix: Phoenix started bodybuilding to tone up her body after giving birth to her son, Lee. Eight months later she won the bodybuilding title Miss UK during 1990-91. She also went on to win other titles which include: Miss Midlands between 1990-92, Miss Oscar 1991, came second in the prestigious NABBA Miss Figure Competition and even represented Britain in the Miss Universe Competition. Phoenix is also an expert Thai and kick boxer!

Not the most popular Gladiator, Phoenix appeared for only one series and the 1993 live Wembley shows.

Scorpio: Scorpio is a former inter-school high-jump champion and gymnast and she also is a honors drama graduate. She started her modeling career at the age of 14 going on to win the title of Miss Isle of Man and competing in the Miss World Contest. Later, she started developing on her physique by bodybuilding, which was another of her passions.

Scorpio appeared in three regular series, one series of International Gladiators and the 1993 and 1994 live Wembley shows before taking the decision to step away from the show due to a back injury sustained outside of the show.

Cobra: Cobra was an amateur boxer, kick boxer, bodybuilder and martial arts expert! He began training to become fitter, gain muscle and definition. Cobra won bodybuilding titles Mr. South London and Mr. Kent, he has also won a half-marathon.
Cobra didn't lose his sense of humour while filming, and could often be found lightening the mood backstage.

He appeared in all 8 regular series, all the live shows in both Wembley and Sheffield as well as both International series and the second Springbok Challenge.

Hawk: Hawk began his sporting career at the age of 14 by playing rugby. He turned to athletics for a more individual sport and his height and natural strength made him an ideal long-jumper. He started competition in competitions and went on to represent Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club at long-jumping.
Hawk started weight training, to strengthen up his legs he found it appealed to him much more. He retired from long-jump at 18 and began to focus on weight training. He entered local bodybuilding shows and was twice named Mr. Wales.

Easily forgotten, Hawk appeared in only one series of the show and the 1993 live Wembley shows before disappearing from our screens.

Saracen: At 19 years old, Saracen first got into bodybuilding. During breaks from work, Saracen started training, and after watching a bodybuilding show in 1986 his training went up even further. Saracen changed careers and started work in a gym in Covent Garden. His career changed again and he became a full-time fireman in South London.
Saracen and his girlfriend, Chrissie, both tried out for the Gladiators show in 1992, Chrissie becoming a first series contender and of course Saracen joining the team.

Saracen appeared in all 8 regular series, all live shows at both Wembley and Sheffield, the second series of The Ashes as well as both International events.

Shadow: Shadow excelled at track and field events at school, particularly in the 100 and 200 metre races, the triple jump and shot putt. He then travelled to the USA following his ambition to become an American footballer in the NFL. He was a good player and coached and played with teams in Sweden, France and Germany.
On returning to the UK he started to pursue a career in bodybuilding going on to win the NABBA Mr. Teenage Britain title three years running in 1978, 1979 and 1980. In 1982 he won the Novice Mr. Britain title and in 1989 he came second in Moscow with the British weightlifting team.

Shadow appeared in 3 regular series, the 1993 and 1994 live Wembley shows and the first series Of International Gladiators. He was not invited to renew his contract after he was caught with a controlled substance in a nightclub.

Warrior: A firm favourite, Warrior played a lot of rugby at school and he played in the England Colts Under 19's English RUFC. He did trials for the English team and by the age of 21 he was ranked 5th in the country in his age group, he was also a junior ranked decathlete.
Warrior progressed into senior rugby and started lifting weights. He soon got a taste for bodybuilding and went on to win the Natwest Bank British Bodybuilding competition and became the overall North West Britain Title holder and runner-up Mr. Britain. He represented Britain in the European Bodybuilding Championships (third place) and the Mr. Universe competition, he had won over 15 titles.

Warrior appeared in 6 regular series, all the live shows at both Wembley and Sheffield, both International series as well as the first Ashes series and in 1997, the Royal Tournament.

Wolf: Wolf has always been an avid bodybuilder but before Gladiators, Wolf was already appearing on television in shows such as London's Burning. During Gladiators Wolf made it big in the film industry starring as a bad guy in the film The Bruce.
Wolf has been the resident bad guy of the UK Gladiators since the first series and is one of the most popular Gladiators ever. As contenders, the audience and in some cases the Gladiators presenters have found out- Wolf hates loosing.

Wolf appeared throughout all 8 series, both International and Ashes series and well as all the live shows in Wembley and Sheffield and one series of the Springbok challenge. Wolf really is the man we love to hate.

Atlaspheres:

A simple idea, 2 contenders, 2 Gladiators and 60 seconds to score as many points as possible while the opposing Gladiator tried to block you. The only drawback? Both Gladiators and contenders are in steal balls, not dissimilar to giant hamster balls.
Starting on ramps opposite each other, contenders and Gladiators rolled towards each other across the arena. When points were scored by rolling across pods within the floor, a plume of CO2 would emerge from a pod, signaling a direct hit.

This event was featured in all 8 series.

The Wall:

Contenders have to climb a 10m/36ft high wall, after 10 seconds for the men and 15 seconds for the women, the Gladiators chase them, trying to prevent them from reaching the top by pulling them off The Wall.

This event was featured in all 8 series.

Danger Zone:

A Gladiator on a raised platform at one end of the arena, before them a tennis ball rocket that shot balls up to 100mph. At the other end, the contender. The contender had 10 seconds to get to a ‘weapons station’ and fire the weapon at the target above the Gladiators head before the station ‘exploded’. If the contender failed to hit the target with any of the weapons, they dove through a Perspex tube and hit a target on ground level to win their points…. all this without being picked off by the sharp shooting Gladiator.

This event was featured from series 1 through 7.

Hang Tough:

Both contender and Gladiator start at opposite ends of the arena, between them approx. 80m. On the whistle, the contenders aim was to swing, using the rings, to the Gladiators platform without being caught, a task much easier said than done.

This event was featured through all 8 series.

Swingshot:

On the whistle the Contenders must jump from their platform attached by a shock cord. After dismounting they must jump and try and grab coloured balls which are attached to a pole by Velcro in the centre of the playing area. Contenders must then deposit the balls into their scoring bins on top of their platform to register the score.

This event featured through all 8 series.

Duel:

Stood on opposite platforms armed with pugil sticks, the aim of the game is to knock your opponent from the platform without stepping across to their platform. This game requires both strength and balance.

This event featured through all 8 series.

The second series saw both arrivals and departures in the Gladiator camp.

New gladiators this series were:

Falcon: At 18 years old Falcon was a dancer, she was accepted at the London Contemporary Ballet School but sadly her plans were scrapped when she suffered a back injury. Falcon then started training to become an aerobics teacher.
Her college lecturers spotted her potential and recommended she should take up bodybuilding. Within months she had entered and won her first contest– Miss Natural Health 1992. She went on to win other titles which include: Miss Novice Britain, Miss London and Home Countries 1992 and Miss South Britain.

Falcon appeared in all remaining regular series as well as the ’94 and ’96 live Wembley shows, the ’95 live Sheffield shows and both series of International Gladiators.

Nightshade: Nightshade was regarded as one of Britain's greatest all-round female athletes, competing in the Commonwealth Games, European Championships, World Championships and she is a three time Olympian.
In 1982 she was a Commonwealth Silver medalist; in 1983 became Commonwealth Record Holder; in 1986 she was Commonwealth Gold Medal and European Bronze medal holder; and in 1990 won the Commonwealth Bronze medal. She was ranked fifth with the highest placing in the Olympic Games.

Her Gladiators career was reasonably short lived, appearing up until series 5 as well as the ‘94 and ’96 live Wembley shows, ’95 live Sheffield shows and the first series of both International Gladiators and The Ashes. She retired before the sixth season after contracting a virus.

Zodiac: Zodiac has been interested in all sports since childhood, particularly athletics, lacrosse and swimming, but its pole vaulting at which she excels most. Zodiac has since become a champion pole-vaulter, becoming the British record holder in pole vault and has competed at international level.
She improved on the sport's Commonwealth record three times during an indoor event featuring Russia against Great Britain and won the AAA pole vault championships in Germany. Overall, Zodiac has broke over 29 British and Commonwealth records and was ranked ninth in the world!

Zodiac appeared until series 6 which she had to watch from the sidelines due to a serious injury which resulted in surgery. She was unable to return for the 7th series as she was pregnant with Gladiators co-star Trojans baby.

Hunter: Hunter has been competing in bodybuilding competitions since the age of 15. He went on to win bodybuilding competitions Teenage Mr. York and Teenage Mr. England. At 19 years old he won Junior North East Britain and came second in Mr. Britain. Hunter's ambition was to become Mr. Universe but he joined Gladiators to become the youngest UK Gladiator at 19 years old.

A firm favourite with the crowd, Hunter appeared for all remaining series, all live shows and both series of the International Gladiators and The Ashes as well as the Springbok Challenges and Royal Tournaments.

Trojan: Trojan was a talented squash player from an early age. He was County Champion, received invitation into the National Squad Training Camp and competed in the World Open Under 19 Squash Championships. He also represented his district at rugby, javelin, discus and shot. However his direction changed to bodybuilding. Through a lot of hard work he transformed his 12 stone squash player's physique into a physique of a Gladiator!

Trojan appeared up to and including series 5 as well as all the live shows at both Wembley and Sheffield and both series of International Gladiators.

Series 2 also saw the introduction of 6 new events:

Powerball:

Originally 3 Gladiators faced 2 contenders although this was later evened out to 2 on 2, the aim of the game was to get as many balls in as many ‘pods’ as possible. The Gladiators aim was to stop them anyway they could. A hugely physically demanding game.

This event featured until the final series.

Gauntlet:

Contender's attempt to run the 45m long Gauntlet which is divided into five sections with a Gladiator protecting each zone. The Gladiators use ramrods and power-pads in order to stop the Contender from running the Gauntlet.

This event featured until the final series.

Tilt:

Contender and Gladiator are stood on two tilt platforms joined by a rope. The Gladiator is on a higher tilt table angled forwards and a Contender on a lower tilt table angled backwards. On the whistle each competitor must pull the rope with both hands and try to dislodge the other by pulling them off their tilt table.

This event only ran through series 4 when it was scrapped for safety reasons.

Joust:

Gladiator and Contender are sat astride sky bikes armed with a combat club. Holding on to the sky bike, each competitor tries to unseat the other using the combat club. The sky bikes vigorously twist, turn, swerve, rise, fall back and rotates, so a good sense of balance is needed.

This event also only ran through series 4 when it was scrapped for safety reasons.

Skytrak:

Two Contenders and two Gladiators are attached upside down to the figure of eight Skytrak ceiling. The Gladiators are situated further back on the course to give the Contenders a head start. On the whistle, each of the Contenders pull a detonator behind them and there aim to race around the course without the detonator being hit by the chasing Gladiator. If the Gladiator strikes the detonator, it is registered by an explosion and the Contender is put out of play.

This event featured up to and including series 7.

Suspension Bridge:

Gladiator and Contender start at opposite ends of the Suspension Bridge. On the whistle they advance towards each other armed with hammer heads with the intention of removing each other from the bridge, the Contender's objective is to get to the Gladiators platform at the opposite side of the bridge to pick up the points by removing the Gladiator or getting past them.

This event featured up to and including series 7.

The following years saw the arrival of many new faces in the Gladiator camp.

Amazon: Amazon, also known as Olympic and Commonwealth swimming champion, Sharron Davies joined the team in 1994. She has over 200 British swimming records to her name and has been awarded the MBE. Amazon has 2 gold commonwealth medals and in 1992, broke her own British 400 metre individual medley record.

Amazon only appeared for the 4th series as she snapped a ligament in her knee which required surgery, she managed to return for the 1996 live Wembley shows but had to retire as the strain made her knee swell and resulted in further surgery.

Raider: Raider was the nearest the show ever saw as a replacement to Shadow. Joining in 1995, Raider came from a Tae Kwon do background where he achieved a 1st dan black belt and won the British open for three consecutive years.

Raider only appeared for the 1995 season, appearing in the live Sheffield shows as well as the second series of International Gladiators.

Rhino: Rhino took up bodybuilding at 17 years old after his champion bodybuilding cousin inspired him to shape up his body. Within six months of hard training he had won his first competition which was an under 18's bodybuilding show.

Rhino was a firm favourite with the fans, staying for the remainder of the shows, as well as appearing at the 11995 live Sheffield shows, 1996 live Wembley shows, the second series of The Ashes, and both series of the Springbok Challenge.

Vogue Vogue joined a local gymnastics club at a young age and reached regional level. She is now a qualified coach and judge. Vogue also competed in athletics in county meetings in 100 metres, shot putt and long jump. At college she gained a PEA and RSA certificate in Exercise and Health Studies which qualifies her to teach aerobics and circuit training.

Joining for the fourth series, Vogue appeared until the show’s finale as well as the 1995 live Sheffield shows, 1996 live Wembley shows, the second series of The Ashes and both series of International Gladiators and the Springbok Challenges.

Ace: Ace left school at 16 and became an apprentice sign maker before joining his fathers roofing company. At 17, he took up bodybuilding and was an avid tennis player.

Joining in 1996, Ace appeared until the shows finale as well as at the 1996 live Wembley events, the second series of The Ashes and both Springbok Challenges.

Rebel: Rebel has been representing Britain in international athletics for over 10 years. She was a 200m Commonwealth Games finalist in 1986, and in 1988 after a highly successful number of meetings was a finalist in the 4x400m Olympic Games.

Joining in 1996, Rebel was a familiar face until the end of the show and appeared at the 1996 live Wembley shows and the first series of the Springbok Challenge.

Rio: In 1995, Rio entered and won the title of Miss Wessex and was entered into the Miss UK final. Although she didn't win the title she says it was a great experience.

Joining for the 1996 live Wembley shows, Rio remained until the end of the show as well as appearing in the second series of The Ashes and both Springbok Challenges.

As well as new Gladiators, the show also introduced 11 new events, some lasting until the shows end, and some being ditched after only one appearance.

Pursuit:

To the untrained eye, the Pursuit course may look like dog agility, each component of the course marked in various stages with yellow ‘touch zones’. The contenders must race across the various obstacle course ensuring to touch each yellow mark while trying to beat the other contender and being chased by a Gladiator.

This event featured in series, 3, 4 and 5.

Catapult:

A bizarre game where contender and Gladiator are suspended from the ceiling in bungee cord, on the whistle the contender must bounce up to a ball dispenser and try and score goals in a net located behind the Gladiator. Not dissimilar to bouncing Netball.

This event only ran through series 7.

Pyramid:

A 7.5 meter pyramid, contenders at the bottom, Gladiators at the top, the objective to get to the top and strike a detonator. Gladiators must take down the contender in any way possible resulting in flying tackles and falling contenders and Gladiators.
An event that sounds much easier than it really is.

This event ran from series 3 until series 6, it was scrapped due to some safety concerns.

Dogfight:

Gladiator and Contender are each suspended beneath an inflated Zeppelin air-ship. The two air-ships lift and glide the competitors into position for the Dogfight. On their back is a fan-drive unit and on their fronts is a pressure pad target. Using combat clubs, each competitor must defend their pressure pad and also attack their opponents. After two successful hits to the pressure pad the looser is sent crashing to the safety nets below.

This event only ran for the 7th series.

Sumo Ball:

A Contender and Gladiator face-off against each other, but between them in the Sumo Ball weighing approximately 75 kilograms. The Sumo Ball is suspended from the arena ceiling. Both Gladiator and Contender are stood on a circular platform 10 feet off the arena floor. The object of the event is for the Contender or Gladiator to push each other off the platform by using the Sumo Ball.

This event featured in series 5, 6 and 7.

Tightrope:

In an aerial race, Gladiator and contender pull themselves along a rope to a platform, where they must strike a target that activates a zip line. At the end of the zip line is a second target. The winner is the one who strikes this target first, activating a release in their opponents line and sending them falling to the safety nets below.

This even featured in series 6 and 7.

Hit and Run:

A bridge suspended between two platforms is the contenders challenge; they must go back and forth as many times as possible within 60 seconds. 4 Gladiators, armed with ‘demolition balls’ must try and knock the contender off.

This event first featured at the 1994 live Wembley show and remained until series 7.

Vertigo:

A straight forward race between contender and Gladiator. On the whistle, both must climb a 27 foot flexible pole and rock it back and forth to the grab a second pole. This continues for 5 poles where they then reach a hanging run, which when grabbed will lower them to the floor.

This event ran only through the 7th series.

Pendulum:

A huge ball covered in cargo net is suspended 40 feet from the floor. The contender wears a paper flag on their back and must evade the Gladiator, a task made harder as the pendulum swings back and forwards.

This event first appeared in series 4 and ran until series 7.

Whiplash:

Within a marked circle, contender and Gladiator hold onto a ‘dogbone’. In order to win points, the contender must pull the Gladiator from the circle.

This event first appeared in series 4 and made its final appearance in the 1999 Battle of the Gladiators.

Pole Axe:

10 metres of pole with retractable climbing struts. Contender and Gladiator race to be the first to the top of the pole. The first to the top strikes a button which retracts their opponents climbing struts, plummeting them to the huge mats below.

This event ran from series 3 to series 7.

Throughout its run, Gladiators managed to make keeping fit popular and exciting, not just to an army of kids but their parents as well.
It inspired a range of merchandise, everything from dolls through t-shirts videos, posters and toys.

Even today, over seven years since the last new show, Gladiators still has a strong and devoted army of followers and thanks to repeats on channels such as Challenge and FTN, its gaining new fans every day.

Many forums exist and are still being created, each one a dedication to the popularity of the show. Some obviously are more popular that the others although the Official site, Gladiators Zone is the only one to boast live webchats with some of the stars from the show as well as complete profiles of all the Gladiators and so much more.

Nothing before and definitely nothing since Gladiators have captured the hearts and minds of audiences and made exercise the cool thing to be doing.

While the show may be over, it will forever stand as a testament to the power, athleticism and good sportsmanship of Great Britain, as well as the rest of the world.

Thanks to Paul at Gladiators Zone