Gladiators (UK series 3)

This was the only series of Gladiators in which there were no changes to the gladiator line up. As such there were no changes to the starting credits and, despite the series popularity, there were no new photoshoots for promotional materials with the photography from the 1993 series re-used for the programmes and merchandise.

The most notable difference in previous years was that the events were cut from six events to five events (plus the Eliminator). This reduction coupled with the increased event pool meant that several events appeared sparingly throughout the series, in particular many of the events introduced the previous series.

Gauntlet received a significant change with the event being a 30-second time limit to pass through five Gladiators through a much narrower Gauntlet (as opposed to passing through three as quickly as possible). Reaching the end within 20 seconds scored 10 points and within 30 seconds, 5 points. Power pads were utilised for The Two additional Gladiators and all participants worse chest guards. The same chest guards would be worn in Danger Zone from this series onwards.

The Atlaspheres used from this season onwards were lighter and moved quicker across the arena floor (often referred to as 'turbo charged') with the contenders atlaspheres being yellow and blue in colour (rather than yellow and red as previous). Due to it being used as part of Hit & Run, the Suspension Bridge had ends added onto it - primarily to stop the contenders running off the end when the bridge was used for Hit & Run. Additionally on Suspension Bridge, contenders and Gladiators started from opposite ends compared to the previous series. A minor amendment to the rules of Swingshot allowed contenders to now grab as many balls as they could in one jump.

Andrew Norgate was replaced as timekeeper by Derek Redmond whose then wife Sharron Davies presented the junior Gladiators series Train II Win before being asked to audition as a Gladiator the following year. The contenders outfits for the heats were markedly different from the pink/ yellow (women) and red/blue (men) pieces used for the majority of the show. The female contenders wore peach and lilac outfits with the male contenders wearing simple red and blue vests with black shorts. From the Quarter-finals onwards, the contender outfits reverted to the familiar pink/ yellow and red/blue outfits.

Finally, between the women's and men's Eliminator, a Time Out section was added in which various Gladiators discussed their favourite events, past times and music.

New events

Four new events were introduced in this series. Unlike previous series, the new events were gradually introduced through the televised order series with this being the only series in which no new events debuted in the first televised heat (despite all being featured in the opening PREview episode).

Pyramid

Contenders and Gladiators face one another on a giant pyramid with the Gladiators at the top and Contenders at the bottom. Contenders had 60 seconds to reach the top of the Pyramid with the Gladiators trying to PReVENT them by grappling or pushing and rolling them down. The first contender to the top received 10 points with he second receiving 5. This event was taken from the American series and despite this being the most popular of the new events and frequently appearing in Series Four, the event would be axed twice during the shows later run.

Hit & Run

Contenders had to run across the suspension bridge as many times as possible in 30 seconds scoring 2 points per successful crossing. Four Gladiators stand on two podiums either side of the bridge swinging a demolition ball attempting to knock the contender off. This event initially appeared in the 1994 Wembley Shows (under the name Cannonball Run) though did not prove popular, appearing sparingly in later series. Ironically it was the only new event introduced in 1994 that would not get axed and became one of the most frequently played series in the US and British revivals.

Pursuit

Contenders race against each other across an obstacle course with Gladiators chasing them after a three-second headstart. The obstacle course consisted of a balance beam, wire bridge, hand ladder, web trap, low wall, web trap, high wall, sprint finish. 10 points were awarded for the first contender to pass the finish, 5 points for second with no points awarded if a contender was tagged.

Pole-Axe

Contender and Gladiators have to climb a 36-foot pole, hitting a button at the top which would retract the climbing pegs of their opponents pole, causing them to fall to a six-foot crash mat below. 10 points were awarded should the contender achieve this. Due to the amount of time it took to set up, Pole-Axe would be set up and played live as the first event (before the initial contender InterViews) though would often be played out of sync in televised shows. Pole-Axe would have the latest debut of any new event and would be axed a couple of series later.

Episodes

scope="col" style="background:#0000CC; | Episode

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scope="col" style="background:#0000CC; | Original airdate {{Episode list

EpisodeNumber=1

Title=The Return

OriginalAirDate=

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EpisodeNumber=2

Title=Heat 1: Claire Hillman vs. Erika Rogerson / Gladstone Mackenzie vs. Dean Pollen

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

Claire 10 - 2 Erika / Gladstone 12 - 2 Dean

  • Event 2 - The Wall

Claire 15 - 12 Erika / Gladstone 22 - 12 Dean

  • Event 3 - Swingshot

Claire 15 - 20 Erika / Gladstone 22 - 17 Dean

  • Event 4 - Hang Tough

Claire 15 - 20 Erika / Gladstone 22 - 17 Dean

  • Event 5 - Duel

Claire 20 - 25 Erika / Gladstone 22 - 17 Dean

  • Eliminator

Claire LOSER - WINNER Erika / Gladstone LOSER - WINNER Dean

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EpisodeNumber=3

Title=Heat 2: Rachel Culwick/Jo Neath vs. Jo Harrington / Ken George vs. Phil Campbell

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - The Wall

Rachel 5 - 10 Jo / Ken 5 - 10 Phil

  • Event 2 - Powerball

Rachel 17 - 16 Jo / Ken 17 - 10 Phil

  • Event 3 - Pyramid

Rachel 17 - 16 Jo / Ken 22 - 15 Phil

  • Event 4 - Joust

Rachel 17 - 21 Jo / Ken 27 - 20 Phil

  • Event 5 - Hang Tough

Jo 22 - 21 Jo / Ken 27 - 20 Phil

  • Eliminator

Jo WINNER - LOSER Jo / Ken LOSER - WINNER Phil

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EpisodeNumber=4

Title=Heat 3: Eunice Huthart vs. Lorraine Stanley / Lee Blackledge vs. Andy Riddoch

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Skytrak

Eunice 0 - 13 Lorraine / Lee 5 - 10 Andy

  • Event 2 - Atlaspheres

Eunice 6 - 13 Lorraine / Lee 5 - 13 Andy

  • Event 3 - The Wall

Eunice 16 - 13 Lorraine / Lee 5 - 23 Andy

  • Event 4 - Swingshot

Eunice 25 - 16 Lorraine / Lee 7 - 29 Andy

  • Event 5 - Duel

Eunice 30 - 21 Lorraine / Lee 7 - 29 Andy

  • Eliminator

Eunice WINNER - LOSER Lorraine / Lee LOSER - WINNER Andy

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EpisodeNumber=5

Title=Heat 4: Clancy Connor vs. Jo Banton / Ric Brown vs. Sam Codjoe

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Powerball

Clancy 2 - 2 Jo / Ric 4 - 2 Sam

  • Event 2 - The Wall

Clancy 2 - 12 Jo / Ric 4 - 12 Sam

  • Event 3 - Gauntlet

Clancy 7 - 12 Jo / Ric 4 - 12 Sam

  • Event 4 - Hang Tough

Clancy 7 - 12 Jo / Ric 4 - 17 Sam

  • Event 5 - Duel

Clancy 12 - 17 Jo / Ric 9 - 22 Sam

  • Eliminator

Clancy LOSER - WINNER Jo / Ric LOSER - WINNER Sam

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EpisodeNumber=6

Title=Heat 5: Kerryn Sampey vs. Jayne Ludden / Neil Dorrell vs. Mark Skipper

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Atlaspheres

Kerryn 0 - 0 Jayne / Neil 6 - 3 Mark

  • Event 2 - Tilt

Kerryn 5 - 7 Jayne / Neil 16 - 3 Mark

  • Event 3 - Danger Zone

Kerryn 5 - 12 Jayne / Neil 26 - 5 Mark

  • Event 4 - Hit & Run

Kerryn 13 - 14 Jayne / Neil 28 - 15 Mark

  • Event 5 - Duel

Kerryn 23 - 19 Jayne / Neil 38 - 25 Mark

  • Eliminator

Kerryn WINNER - LOSER Jayne / Neil LOSER - WINNER Mark

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EpisodeNumber=7

Title=Heat 6: Katie Budd vs. Melissa Spackman / Ian Simpson vs. Paul Beswick

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Powerball

Katie 11 - 12 Melissa / Ian 0 - 2 Paul

  • Event 2 - Duel

Katie 21 - 17 Melissa / Ian 10 - 7 Paul

  • Event 3 - Pyramid

Katie 31 - 17 Melissa / Ian 15 - 17 Paul

  • Event 4 - Hit & Run

Katie 39 - 29 Melissa / Ian 20 - 31 Paul

  • Event 5 - Hang Tough

Katie 39 - 34 Melissa / Ian 30 - 31 Paul

  • Eliminator

Katie LOSER - WINNER Melissa / Ian LOSER - WINNER Paul

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EpisodeNumber=8

Title=Heat 7: Sue Smith vs. Nikki Wyatt / Alex Lee vs. Paul Field

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Gauntlet

Sue 10 - 10 Nikki / Alex 10 - 0 Paul

  • Event 2 - Pyramid

Sue 20 - 10 Nikki / Alex 10 - 10 Paul

  • Event 3 - Pursuit

Sue 20 - 10 Nikki / Alex 15 - 20 Paul

  • Event 4 - Hang Tough

Sue 25 - 10 Nikki / Alex 15 - 30 Paul

  • Event 5 - Suspension Bridge

Sue 35 - 20 Nikki / Alex 15 - 40 Paul

  • Eliminator

Sue LOSER - WINNER Nikki / Alex LOSER - WINNER Paul

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EpisodeNumber=9

Title=Heat 8: Rowan Duxbury vs. Lisa Gibbs / Richard Barnett vs. Matt Beeke

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Atlaspheres

Rowan 9 - 3 Lisa / Richard 6 - 6 Matt

  • Event 2 - Powerball

Rowan 9 - 15 Lisa / Richard 8 - 8 Matt

  • Event 3 - Pole-Axe

Rowan 9 - 15 Lisa / Richard 8 - 8 Matt

  • Event 4 - Pursuir

Rowan 9 - 15 Lisa / Richard 13 - 18 Matt

  • Event 5 - Duel

Rowan 14 - 20 Lisa / Richard 23 - 23 Matt

  • Eliminator

Rowan LOSER - WINNER Lisa / Richard LOSER - WINNER Matt

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EpisodeNumber=10

Title=Quarter-final 1: Jo Neath vs. Erika Rogerson / Dean Pollen vs. Phil Campbell

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Powerball

Jo 7 - 2 Erika / Dean 6 - 7 Phil

  • Event 2 - Pyramid

Jo 7 - 12 Erika / Dean 6 - 17 Phil

  • Event 3 - Pole-Axe

Jo 17 - 22 Erika / Dean 6 - 17 Phil

  • Event 4 - Tilt

Jo 22 - 29 Erika / Dean 10 - 27 Phil

  • Event 5 - Duel

Jo 22 - 34 Erika / Dean 10 - 27 Phil

  • Eliminator

Jo LOSER - WINNER Erika / Dean LOSER - WINNER Phil

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EpisodeNumber=11

Title=Quarter-final 2: Eunice Huthart vs. Jo Benton / Andy Riddoch vs. Sam Codjoe

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Skytrak

Eunice 10 - 5 Jo / Andy 10 - 5 Sam

  • Event 2 - Gauntlet

Eunice 20 - 5 Jo / Andy 10 - 5 Sam

  • Event 3 - Hang Tough

Eunice 20 - 5 Jo / Andy 10 - 5 Sam

  • Event 4 - The Wall

Eunice 30 - 10 Jo / Andy 15 - 15 Sam

  • Event 5 - Suspension Bridge

Eunice 30 - 15 Jo / Andy 20 - 15 Sam

  • Eliminator

Eunice WINNER - LOSER Jo / Andy LOSER - WINNER Sam

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EpisodeNumber=12

Title=Quarter-final 3: Kerryn Sampey vs. Melissa Spackman / Mark Skipper vs. Paul Beswick

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Atlaspheres

Kerryn 0 - 0 Melissa / Mark 3 - 6 Paul

  • Event 2 - Powerball

Kerryn 13 - 11 Melissa / Mark 3 - 10 Paul

  • Event 3 - Pole-Axe

Kerryn 13 - 11 Melissa / Mark 3 - 20 Paul

  • Event 4 - Swingshot

Kerryn 17 - 18 Melissa / Mark 7 - 26 Paul

  • Event 5 - Duel

Kerryn 17 - 23 Melissa / Mark 12 - 31 Paul

  • Eliminator

Kerryn WINNER - LOSER Melissa / Mark LOSER - WINNER Paul

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EpisodeNumber=13

Title=Quarter-final 4: Katie Budd vs. Nikki Wyatt / Paul Field vs. Matt Beeke

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Hang Tough

Katie 0 - 0 Nikki / Paul 5 - 0 Matt

  • Event 2 - Danger Zone

Katie 1 - 5 Nikki / Paul 15 - 5 Matt

  • Event 3 - Pursuit

Katie 1 - 5 Nikki / Paul 15 - 15 Matt

  • Event 4 - The Wall

Katie 1 - 5 Nikki / Paul 25 - 20 Matt

  • Event 5 - Duel

Katie 1 - 5 Nikki / Paul 35 - 20 Matt

  • Eliminator

Katie LOSER - WINNER Nikki / Paul WINNER - LOSER Matt

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EpisodeNumber=14

Title=Semi-final 1: Eunice Huthart vs. Erika Rogerson / Sam Codjoe vs. Phil Campbell

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Powerball

Eunice 8 - 6 Erika / Sam 4 - 6 Phil

  • Event 2 - Pursuit

Eunice 18 - 6 Erika / Sam 14 - 11 Phil

  • Event 3 - Pole-Axe

Eunice 18 - 6 Erika / Sam 14 - 11 Phil

  • Event 4 - Hit & Run

Eunice 28 - 12 Erika / Sam 20 - 19 Phil

  • Event 5 - Duel

Eunice 33 - 12 Erika / Sam 25 - 19 Phil

  • Eliminator

Eunice WINNER - LOSER Erika / Sam WINNER - LOSER Phil

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EpisodeNumber=15

Title=Semi-final 2: Kerryn Sampey vs. Nikki Wyatt / Paul Field vs. Paul Beswick

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - The Wall

Kerryn 0 - 0 Nikki / Paul 10 - 0 Paul

  • Event 2 - Powerball

Kerryn 8 - 2 Nikki / Paul 12 - 4 Paul

  • Event 3 - Pyramid

Kerryn 18 - 2 Nikki / Paul 22 - 4 Paul

  • Event 4 - Suspension Bridge

Kerryn 18 - 2 Nikki / Paul 22 - 4 Paul

  • Event 5 - Hang Tough

Kerryn 18 - 2 Nikki / Paul 27 - 4 Paul

  • Eliminator

Kerryn WINNER - LOSER Nikki / Paul WINNER - LOSER Paul

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EpisodeNumber=16

Title=Grand Final: Eunice Huthart vs. Kerryn Sampey / Paul Field vs. Sam Codjoe/Phil Campbell

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Gauntlet

Eunice 10 - 5 Kerryn / Paul 10 - 0 Sam

  • Event 2 - Pursuit

Eunice 20 - 10 Kerryn / Paul 20 - 5 Sam

  • Event 3 - Pyramid

Eunice 20 - 10 Kerryn / Paul 30 - 5 Sam

  • Event 4 - Powerball

Eunice 28 - 14 Kerryn / Paul 34 - 9 Phil

  • Event 5 - Duel

Eunice 28 - 14 Kerryn / Paul 39 - 9 Phil

  • Eliminator

Eunice WINNER - LOSER Kerryn / Paul WINNER - LOSER Phil

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EpisodeNumber=17

Title=The Celebrity Challenge: Eddie Kidd vs. Barry McGuigan vs. Ellery Hanley vs. Martin Offiah vs. Mark Bosnich vs. Derek Redmond

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Atlaspheres

Mark 12
Ellery 9
Martin 9
Barry 6
Derek 3
Eddie 0

  • Event 2 - Pyramid

Mark 17
Derek 13
Eddie 10
Ellery 9
Martin 9
Barry 6

  • Event 3 - The Wall

Derek 23
Eddie 20
Martin 19
Mark 17
Barry 11
Ellery 9

  • Event 4 - Pursuit

Derek 33
Martin 29
Eddie 20
Ellery 19
Mark 17
Barry 11

  • Event 5 - Duel

Derek 43
Martin 29
Ellery 24
Eddie 20

  • Eliminator

Martin LOSER - WINNER Derek

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EpisodeNumber=18

Title=The Fighting Forces Challenge: Paul Gellender vs. Simon Lovell vs. Richard Harbard vs. Simon Horridge vs. John Tredgett vs. Phillip Delbaugh

OriginalAirDate=

ShortSummary=

  • Event 1 - Atlaspheres

Paul 12
Simon 12
John 9
Phillip 6
Richard 6
Simon 16

  • Event 2 - Pyramid

Simon 16
Paul 12
Simon 12
John 9
Phillip 6
Richard 6

  • Event 3 - The Wall

Simon 22
Simon 21
John 19
Phillip 16
Paul 12
Richard 11

  • Event 4 - Powerball

Phillip 26
Simon 24
Simon 23
John 21

  • Event 5 - Duel

Phillip 34
Simon 31
Simon 23
John 21

  • Eliminator

Simon LOSER - WINNER Phillip

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Rachel slipped off her Sky Bike quite awkwardly during Joust with Lightning and broke her back when she landed on the crash mat, which forced her to retire before the final event.

Rowan was invited back to take part after making in through to the Quarter-finals last year but had to pull out due to food poisoning.

Lisa injured her foot on some stairs after training for her Quarter-final and had to pull out. Katie replaced her as the highest scoring female loser from the heats.

Shadow came in with a high tackle on Sam in the opening seconds of Powerball injuring Sam in the process and sending him to A&E. Phil replaced him as the highest scoring male loser from the Semi-finals.

These events had the Female Gladiators against the male contenders.

In these special episodes, there were 6 contenders with 2 being eliminated after event 4 (event 3 in the Fighting Forces special) with the lowest scores and another 2 being eliminated after event 5 with the lowest scores.