From Hollywood to prison sentences and tragic death - what happened to the original stars of TV show Gladiators
13.01.2024 - 07:59
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
TV's Gladiators is back! Fans of the hit original 1990s show will welcome a new breed of muscle-bound competitors back on our screens tonight.
For those too young to remember, Gladiators on ITV was a 'must watch' slice of prime time Saturday night television in the '90s. Presented by Ulrika Jonsson and ex-football star John Fashanu, contestants would compete in physical challenges while being hunted down by a rippling Amazonian, or Adonis, with names like Nightshade and Rhino.
A simple concept, really, but one watched my millions before the show finally came to an end after eight years in 2000. The show was also famous for its bombastic theme tune and catchphrases. Head referee John Anderson's "Contender ready? Gladiator ready?" before blowing his whistle and Fashanu's hype-man howl of 'AWWWOOOOOOOGAAAA' were all part of the show's panto appeal.
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In 2008, show was revived on Sky One for two series and a hand-full of special episodes. Now the show returns to Saturday night TV once again, this time on BBC One on January 13, with a completely new cast of Gladiators who have some extremely tiny leotards to fill.
So to celebrate the show's return, we've taken a look at what some of the original cast of Gladiators went on to do after the show ended. While some went back into the fitness and bodybuilding industry from which many of the came, others found fame on the big screen, while the fortunes of a few plummeted following their time on the show.
The trained gymnast starred in the TV series She-Wolf of London