Gladiators: Celebrity Special brings four of Britain’s most recognizable personalities into the arena to test their mettle against the show’s superhuman athletes. Hosted by Bradley and Barney Walsh, the hour-long special sees fitness coach Joe Wicks MBE, boxing legend Nicola Adams OBE, television presenter and I’m A Celebrity winner Sam Thompson, and broadcaster Vogue Williams take on one of television’s toughest challenges in a bid to prove they possess the speed, strength, and skill required to claim victory.
The special airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 at 6:00 PM, positioning it as part of the BBC’s New Year’s Day entertainment offering and allowing families settling into their post-Christmas routines to gather around the screen for an unmissable celebrity showdown.
This Celebrity Special represents a significant cultural moment: the return of an 1990s television icon now reimagined for contemporary audiences. Gladiators has evolved from nostalgic revival into genuine Saturday night phenomenon, achieving average viewership of 5.3 million across series one and two, with nearly 40% streaming on-demand, establishing it as the most-watched Saturday night series on BBC iPlayer and the 3rd most-watched entertainment series overall.
The Celebrity Contestants: A Diverse Lineup of High-Achievers
Joe Wicks MBE (Age 39) – The Fitness Coach – Wicks represents contemporary fitness culture. Born during the rise of social media, he rose to phenomenal fame during the COVID-19 pandemic when his “PE With Joe” YouTube channel became a global sensation, introducing millions of children to daily physical education during lockdown. His channel amassed tens of millions of subscribers, establishing him as one of the world’s most influential fitness personalities.
Beyond YouTube stardom, Wicks has expanded into television presenting, book publishing, and merchandise, creating a multi-million-pound fitness empire. His MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) honors his services to health and fitness during the pandemic.
On Competing in Gladiators: Wicks expressed genuine enthusiasm tempered with healthy respect for the competition: “Gladiators is one of the most iconic shows of all time, and I’m absolutely buzzing to be taking part. I grew up watching it, so to now step into the arena myself is going to be an incredible experience. I know it’s going to be tough, but I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got.”
Given his fitness background and current physical conditioning, Wicks represents a credible contender who might genuinely challenge the Gladiators’ dominance.
Nicola Adams OBE (Age 42) – The Retired Olympian – Adams brings genuine elite athletic credentials. A former professional boxer with an undefeated professional record, Adams was a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2012 London, 2016 Rio) and multiple-time World Champion. She retired from professional boxing in 2019 at the height of her powers, cementing her legacy as one of Britain’s greatest combat athletes.
Beyond boxing, Adams has transitioned into television, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 (where she was eliminated in Week 3) and establishing herself as a media personality and motivational figure. Her OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) honors her services to sport.
On Competing in Gladiators: Adams emphasized both her competitive drive and respect for the format’s challenges: “I’m absolutely buzzing to be part of the Gladiators Celebrity Special! It’s such an iconic show, and growing up, I loved watching the epic battles and strong personalities. Now, getting the chance to step into that arena myself, it’s a whole new kind of challenge. I may be a champion in the boxing ring, but this is different. I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got!”
Multiple sources identify Adams as the “most likely to win” among the contestants, given her athletic elite status and competitive track record.
Sam Thompson (Age in early 30s) – The Television Presenter and I’m A Celebrity Champion – Thompson gained mainstream recognition as a winner of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! 2023, where he overcame fellow contestants to claim the crown. Beyond reality television, Thompson works as a showbiz news journalist on ITV’s This Morning and hosts a podcast called “Staying Relevant” alongside Pete Wicks.
Thompson’s reality television victory proved his resilience under pressure and willingness to embrace uncomfortable challenges—qualities that may serve him well in the Gladiators arena.
On Competing in Gladiators: Thompson brought self-deprecating humor to his announcement: “I can’t wait to be absolutely crushed by the Gladiators in front of my wife and children in spandex whilst I watch Joel Dommett and his six-pack sprint past me on the travelator.” (Note: This quote references the earlier 2025 Celebrity Special guest Joel Dommett, not the 2025 July celebrity special line-up, suggesting multiple Celebrity Special editions have been recorded.)
Vogue Williams (Age in early 30s) – The Broadcaster and Model – Williams represents the entertainment industry’s glamour and media presence. As a broadcaster, model, and television personality, she brings name recognition and media savvy. She is married to Spencer Matthews, the Made in Chelsea personality, further embedding her in British celebrity culture.
On Competing in Gladiators: Williams emphasized both childhood nostalgia and genuine anxiety about facing the Gladiators: “This is wild. I have loved this show since I was little and I’ll be living out my childhood dream just stepping into the arena. But I can’t quite process how I’ll actually face these amazing Gladiators. I’m just delighted to be a contender.”
The Gladiators: 18 Elite Athletes Return
The celebrity contenders face an intimidating array of elite athletes. The 2024-2025 Gladiators series introduced 18 new Gladiators, each earning evocative superhero-style names:
The Complete Gladiator Roster: Apollo, Athena, Bionic, Comet, Cyclone, Diamond, Dynamite, Electro, Fire, Fury, Giant, Hammer, Legend, Nitro, Phantom, Sabre, Steel, and Viper.
These Gladiators represent elite athletes including bodybuilders, track-and-field specialists, CrossFit competitors, and martial artists. They function as both entertaining personalities and genuine physical threats, creating dramatic tension when celebrities face them in competitive events.
Notable Gladiators include:
- Diamond – A heavyweight contender known for raw strength
- Fury – Associated with aggressive physicality and dominance
- Legend – An experienced veteran Gladiator
- Athena – The prominent female Gladiator
The Gladiators have quickly become household names through their television performances and social media presence, creating genuine celebrity status within the sports entertainment sphere.
The Format: Tests of Speed, Strength, and Strategic Thinking
The Celebrity Special follows the established Gladiators format while potentially introducing celebrity-specific variations. The standard format includes:
Iconic Events:
- Duel – A one-on-one combat sport where contenders must outmaneuver their Gladiator opponent
- The Wall – Contenders climb a suspended wall while their Gladiator opponent attempts to prevent them from reaching the top
- Powerball – A handball-style game combining speed, agility, and strategic positioning
- Travelator – Contenders run on a moving platform while maintaining balance and speed
- The Eliminator – The final head-to-head challenge where winning this event often determines overall victory
The Eliminator combines multiple physical and mental challenges into a climactic battle. Success requires explosive power, endurance, problem-solving under pressure, and psychological resilience.
Celebrity-Specific Considerations: While the core format remains consistent, celebrity versions occasionally introduce comedic variations or additional entertainment elements designed to showcase contestant personalities and vulnerabilities.
Production Details: Hungry Bear and MGM Alternative’s Proven Success
Gladiators: Celebrity Special is produced by Hungry Bear Media and MGM Alternative UK (a division of Amazon MGM Studios) for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Production Structure:
- Executive Producers: Dan Baldwin and Lou Brown (Hungry Bear), Dom Bird and Barry Poznick (MGM Alternative UK)
- Commissioning: Kalpna Patel-Knight (BBC Head of Entertainment Commissioning)
- BBC Commissioning Editor: Clodagh O’Donoghue
- Hosts: Bradley Walsh and Barney Walsh
- Judges/Referees: Mark Clattenburg (with assistant referees Sonia Mkoloma and Lee Phillips)
- Commentary: Guy Mowbray (voice-over)
Format Origins: The show adapts the original American Gladiators series created by Johnny C. Ferraro and Dan Carr and developed by Johnny C. Ferraro. The British revival reimagines the format for contemporary audiences while maintaining the original’s core appeal.
Filming Timeline: The Celebrity Special was filmed in August 2025 alongside Series 2 production, allowing efficient production scheduling and immediate broadcast following series completion.
Viewership Success: A Saturday Night Phenomenon
The 2024-2025 Gladiators revival has achieved exceptional ratings, establishing itself as a genuine cultural moment rather than nostalgic curiosity:
- Series 1 Premiere: 6+ million viewers (within first 28 days: 9.8 million viewers)
- Series Average: 8.3 million viewers across episodes
- Series 2 Performance: Averaging 5.3 million viewers with 40% watching on-demand
- Demographic Strength: 1.3 million younger viewers (ages 16-34) per episode, representing nearly a quarter of overall audience—making it the most-watched title for this demographic across the entertainment market
These numbers place Gladiators among the BBC’s most successful entertainment launches of the past seven years, surpassing viewing figures for most contemporary competition shows.
Strategic Positioning: New Year’s Day Entertainment
The choice to air Gladiators: Celebrity Special on January 1st, 2025 at 6:00 PM reflects strategic scheduling. This timeslot captures:
- Family audiences who gather during the post-Christmas period for group entertainment
- Post-dinner viewing when casual audiences settle in after New Year’s Day meals
- Festive tradition slot traditionally used for special entertainment events
- Prime-time competition slot ahead of evening news and entertainment programming
This positioning makes the Celebrity Special a genuine event viewing experience rather than routine weekly programming.
When and Where to Watch
Gladiators: Celebrity Special aired on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 at 6:00 PM.
For those who missed the live broadcast, the special remains available on:
- BBC iPlayer for on-demand streaming access
- BBC One repeats (pending scheduling)
- Highlights packages through BBC social media and entertainment sites
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Gladiators: Celebrity Special air?
The special aired on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 at 6:00 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Who were the celebrity contestants?
The four celebrities were Joe Wicks MBE (fitness coach), Nicola Adams OBE (retired boxer), Sam Thompson (television presenter and I’m A Celebrity winner), and Vogue Williams (broadcaster and model).
Who hosted the special?
Bradley Walsh and Barney Walsh hosted the special, maintaining consistency with the regular series format.
How many Gladiators competed?
18 Gladiators competed against the celebrities, including Apollo, Athena, Bionic, Comet, Cyclone, Diamond, Dynamite, Electro, Fire, Fury, Giant, Hammer, Legend, Nitro, Phantom, Sabre, Steel, and Viper.
What events did they compete in?
The celebrities faced iconic Gladiators challenges including Duel, The Wall, The Eliminator, and other events testing speed, strength, and strategic thinking.
Can I watch the special now?
Yes, the special is available on BBC iPlayer for on-demand streaming.
Who was predicted to win?
Nicola Adams was identified as the “most likely to win” due to her elite athletic background and competitive track record.
Will there be more Gladiators celebrity specials?
The BBC has confirmed that Gladiators will return with another Celebrity Special, though specific details haven’t been announced.
How did the special perform in ratings?
Specific viewership figures for the Celebrity Special haven’t been released, but the regular series averages 5.3 million viewers with significant on-demand streaming.
Is Gladiators returning for more series?
Yes, Gladiators Series 3 has been commissioned and will air in January 2026, with filming expected in summer 2025
