It was a huge TV hit in the 1990s, attracting up to 14 million viewers during its original eight series run. ITV's Gladiators was watched by all the family and the strong men and athletic women who starred in it became celebrities in their own right.
What became of Hang Tough champion Lightening, Duel supremo Cobra and bad-boy Wolf? Read on to find out more about your favourite stars of the show...
Jet - Diane Youdale
A former gymnast, gorgeous Jet was a talented all rounder when it came to Gladiators events and extremely popular with fans. She quit after four series when she injured herself in the show's live event at Wembley Arena in 1996, going onto work as a PE teaching assistant before training as a psychotherapist. Her TV work has included analysing housemates on Big Brother's Bit On The Side. Last July Diane, 53, revealed she had secretly tied the knot with her partner Zoe a year after they met in a supermarket.
Jet became a psychotherapist (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Wolf emigrated to New Zealand (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Wolf - Michael van Wijk
Bernice Blackstock suffers new blow in Emmerdale as she struggles with illness
Wolf was the Gladiator we all loved to hate, with his supreme confidence and bad-boy antics. The bodybuilder emigrated to New Zealand when the show finished, marrying long-term love Paula with four children. Now 71, Michael manages a chain of fitness studios and remains in great shape, telling GMB's Ben Shepherd and Kate Garraway last year: "'To be honest I could do all the games comfortably".
Lightening is still super fit (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Saracen was a firefighter as well as a Gladiator (ITV/Shutterstock)Lightening - Kim Betts
Lightening was the undisputed queen of Hang Tough, with no UK contestant ever managing to outmanoeuvre her in the game of aerial chess. The former gymnast is now a successful businesswoman and property developer, with companies including a beauty parlour and fishery. Now in her 50s, married mum-of-two is still into fitness, regularly posting age-defying pictures on social media.
Saracen - Mike Lewis
Saracen, who excelled at Hang Tough, starred in every series of Gladiators until the original show ended in 2000. Mike was a firefighter before he appeared on TV, impressively continuing his day job while filming as Saracen. Now retired, he is married to Chrissie, who tried out to be a Gladiator with him and went onto be a contender in the first series of the show. Mike, 60, still gets called Saracen to this day.
Hunter appeared in Emmerdale (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Panther runs her own gym (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Hunter - James Crossley
A teenage bodybuilder and professional rugby player before he became a Gladiator, Hunter was one of the toughest opponents for the contenders. He even beat his co-stars to win The Ultimate Gladiator battle in a TV special. Now 50, James dabbled in acting, appearing in shows including Emmerdale. He is now a strength and conditioning coach with a yoga teacher girlfriend, Arianna and two bulldogs.
Warrior - Michael Ahearne
The heaviest UK Gladiator, Warrior had represented the UK in Mr Universe before the show and went onto excel in events including Powerball and Tilt. But Michael later fell from grace, hitting the headlines when he was jailed for 15 months for his involvement in a drug gang run by kingpin Curtis Warren. He went onto manage a gym in Birkenhead, Liverpool.
Panther - Helen O'Reilly
Stalking terror rocks Coronation Street as barmaid targeted
One of the UK's top bodybuilders before joining the show Panther was a great Gladiator and managed to make a comeback after sustaining a horrible injury during a game of Tilt in the fifth series, suffering neck and back injuries. Now 62 Helen, who once owned a fashion shop with fellow Gladiators Vogue and Saracen, runs her own gym in West London and travels the world judging fitness competitions.
Cobra is a fitness promotor (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Falcon worked as a PT (LWT)Falcon - Bernadette Hunt
A former ballet dancer and aerobics instructor, Falcon was an all-rounder of a Gladiator, known to turn her hand to any events in the contest. She was also renowned for being one of the friendliest Gladiators, beloved by the fans of the show for her smiling, easygoing nature. Bernadette preferred to keep a low profile afterwards, working as a personal trainer. She died last March after a long battle with cancer, aged 59.
Cobra - Michael Willson
Cobra was one of the smallest male Gladiators but he was the best at the Duel event, never getting knocked off the podium in his years on the show and excelling at Hang Tough too. Michael later confessed to being drunk during filming, saying: "I remember looking at The Wall and thinking, 'I've got to chase this guy up it and I'm bleeding drunk'." Now 60, Michael paints watercolours and works as a fitness promoter.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
