When Gladiators finally returned last year with its long-awaited reboot, the second I heard that recognisable, nostalgic theme tune play, it made my heart swell.
That might sound dramatic… but as a 90s kid, Gladiators was a massive deal. The series transformed normal human beings into superheroes, and inspired me to never give up, no matter the obstacles in my path. My eyes were glued to the TV every week when it was on.
So at 30 years old, when I was given the chance to visit the set of Gladiators in Sheffield, check out the locker room, walk out on stage and meet some of the stars of the show themselves, I couldn’t have been more excited.
Even though I was there in a professional capacity for Metro to be given a behind-the-scenes look at the second season of the reboot, complete with two new games, the inner child in me was screaming beyond belief.
After a long journey from London one sunny August morning, I finally arrived at Utilita Arena Sheffield for the exciting day ahead. Following a security check, we were taken to a backstage area – which is when we had our first glimpse of the spherical Atlasphere cages.
Last year, fans were gutted when they found out that the Atlaspheres from the original 90s series hadn’t made it to the reboot. Thankfully, that’s now changed for the second season.
Any intention I’d had on trying to seem as tough as the competitors on Gladiators was quickly diminished by the almighty squeal that I let out at the sight of the cages.
That’s part of the allure of Gladiators, and why the revival has been so well-received. Children who watch it nowadays are obsessed – and so are the adults who grew up with it. It brings together generations with a dose of nostalgia, fun and pure escapism.
Living up to the legacy of the original stars of the show was always going to be a tall order for the new cast. However, they’ve certainly lived up to the task, and from speaking to them in person about being a part of the series, it’s clear how passionate they are in their roles.
As we (myself and a group of other journalists) sat backstage at the arena, Fury, Phantom, Legend, Steel, Sabre, Comet and Apollo casually swanned in, all looking even more imposing in person than they come across on screen.
It felt surreal to sit right next to these athletes while they were decked out in their signature metallic red and blue costumes. They were extremely friendly and at ease… and hours away from unleashing their ferocity on hopeful contenders during a gruelling day of filming.
The one Gladiator who pretty much remained in character the whole time we interviewed them was – of course – Legend, whose unabashed swagger and sense of superiority has made him a fan-favourite among TV audiences.
‘Every year that I am myself, I just assume more power and more knowledge. Imagine if you were me for a year? All the things you could do, all the things you’d learn, all the ability you’d have to impart on others,’ Legend told us. We wouldn’t expect any less from him.
He also gave us a tease of what to expect from the new episodes, stating: ‘It’s a step up. Series one to series two is a beast.’
Phantom added: ‘We’ve got loads of surprises this year. We’ve jampacked the shows with surprises. It’s gonna be epic again. The contenders have ranked up as well. Some of them are legit mutants. We’ve had to up our game again.’
Before we had a chance to check out one of the new games on the arena floor, it was time to go where few have a chance to tread – the infamous Gladiators locker room, where the stars celebrate their wins and lament their losses with hissy fits. Viper, we’re looking at you.
There was a faint smell of sweat in the air as we walked by leotards, crop tops and mini shorts slung up on hooks. At the sight of a contestant’s helmet on a bench, I couldn’t resist trying it on. It might’ve not been worth the sensation of my brain being squeezed to a pulp, but no regrets over here.
After spending way too much time messing around with one of the Duel pugil sticks (can you blame us?), we headed from the locker room to the main arena floor, where the cheerful Dynamite and ice-cold Bionic were waiting to greet us.
And then, we heard all about Unleash, a brand new game for the 2025 season, which is pretty much an ultimate cat and mouse chase. Contenders have to race around a course with a Gladiator hot on their tails trying to catch them, getting through obstacles and up a flight of stairs before leaping to grab a flag.
We can only imagine the terror that they must feel knowing that one of the fittest people in the country is chasing after them. Kind of like when you were a kid in a pool and you thought a shark was after you in the deep end.
We later got to see the game in action during the live taping, as thousands of people filled the arena to watch the episode unfold. The tickets for the tapings are completely free, and the atmosphere is utterly electric.
Children who came with their parents screamed at the top of their lungs for their favourite Gladiators, holding up posters adorned with adorable drawings and catchy slogans. The epitome of what the show is all about.
There was a bit of a wait in between games, as the brilliantly-talented crew assembled and disassembled apparatus in preparation for the next head-to-head – an essential part of the BBC programme that you don’t get to see when you’re watching on a Saturday evening.
Even with that bit of the curtain pulled back revealing some of the production secrets, Gladiators still brings magic to the masses in my eyes. It brings joy and excitement, and it has done for decades – what more could you want?
Gladiators returns on Saturday at 5.50pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Walking on the set of Gladiators turned me back into a 5-year-old kid
