DURING its Nineties heyday Gladiators was the ultimate teatime telly, serving up beefcakes including Wolf, Hunter and Rhino to millions of viewers every Saturday.
But the upcoming 21st-century version is changing tack as bosses at the BBC, the show’s new home, are eyeing up a flamboyant 5ft 8in male “Barbie Gladiator” to star in the reboot.
Openly gay wrestler Cassius Paule, known as Cassius The Neon Explosion, has been approached by bosses as part of their plan to update the show, with Gladiators of all shapes and sizes and from different backgrounds, where personality is just as important as muscles.
They feel London-born Cassius, who weighs just 10st 7lb, fits the bill as the show moves into a new era.
As for the possibility of becoming an unlikely Gladiator, Cassius told The Sun: “It would be massive.
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“The original was decades ago. Lots has changed since then and of course, these days not all Gladiators are going to be straight.
“In 2023 if someone from the LGBT+ community could be on there it would be brilliant, and even better if it was me. I’d be the modern day Gladiator.”
Cassius, 28, has been wrestling for ten years after scrapping plans to work in TV production, which he studied at university, when he realised he was “born to be in front of the camera”.
He secretly joined a wrestling school in his late teens and only told friends and family of his passion after he turned pro.
He now features in wrestling events across the UK under his ring name, wearing an eye-catching pink costume.
His eccentricity caught the attention of TV producers, who asked him to audition for Gladiators.
Cassius said: “Gladiators crew members found my Instagram and asked me to send in a tape.
“I intend to be 1,000 per cent as flamboyant on the show as I am in wrestling.
"I wouldn’t know what else to bring — that is me. They would love that.
“I would bring that full force and hopefully they’ll let me wear pink or purple.
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"I could accessorise my Lycra outfit with tassels, and it needs to be shiny. That’s just me.”
So how would he feel about taking on male contenders who could be twice his size?
Cassius said: “I’ve been doing that my entire career. I’m always outweighed by whoever I wrestle — nobody is my height and weight.
“When it comes to doing Gladiators, it’s just another day.
“If the contenders were coming up against me, I feel like they would presume they had the easy one and they wouldn’t expect much.
“But all of a sudden . . . Bam! — I’d catch them out.”
The BBC announced last August that Gladiators would be returning to TV after a 14-year absence.
The show — in which members of the public take part in physical contests against the programme’s Gladiators — ran from 1992 to 2000 on ITV, then Sky One attempted a short-lived and more serious revival in 2008, which lasted just two series.
The new BBC1 version, hosted by Bradley Walsh and his son Barney, will be more of a nod to the classic series, featuring Gladiators with huge personalities.
Eleven hour-long episodes have been commissioned, to be filmed at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield.
They will feature new games as well as some old favourites, including the Eliminator obstacle course.
Last November Michael Van Wijk, alias popular Gladiator Wolf, revealed that his son Dean had applied to be a Gladiator in the new series.
He said: “I can’t imagine anyone being the new Wolf except my son Dean.
"He has the same sense of humour and sharp wit that will tear the contenders to pieces.”
As for Cassius, he sees becoming a Gladiator as a step towards his ultimate dream of joining US wrestling organisation WWE, home of legendary wrestlers including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan.
He added: “I feel like this is a stepping stone to joining the WWE. It would be amazing to perform out there.”
And when it comes to his Gladiator name, he has a stand-out favourite.
He said: “I’d love to be known as Barbie, but there’s a good chance that could get ruled out due to trademark issues.
“So the other option I like is Karma.
“I always get revenge on my enemies, in and out of the ring, and it’s a dish best served cold.
“I feel like I wrote the book on that sometimes.
“Karma tracks everyone down. As a true Aries, I always get the last laugh, so Karma would be a very fitting name for me.”
