Gladiators (1992 British TV series, series 3)
The third series of Gladiators aired in the UK from 3 September to 31 December 1994.
| Gladiators | |
|---|---|
| Season 3 | |
| Starring | Ulrika Jonsson John Fashanu John Anderson John Sachs |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Original release | 3 September – 31 December 1994 |
| Series chronology | |
Gladiators
| Gladiator name | Portrayed by |
|---|---|
| Cobra | Michael Willson |
| Falcon | Bernadette Hunt |
| Hunter | James Crossley |
| Jet | Diane Youdale |
| Lightning | Kim Betts |
| Nightshade | Judy Simpson |
| Panther | Helen O'Reilly |
| Saracen | Mike Lewis |
| Scorpio | Nikki Diamond |
| Shadow | Jefferson King |
| Trojan | Mark Griffin |
| Warrior | Michael Ahearne |
| Wolf | Michael Van Wijk |
| Zodiac | Kate Staples |
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 opening 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.
Events
Events were cut from six to five (plus the Eliminator) per episode. 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, having a 30-second time limit to pass through five Gladiators in 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 wore 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 coloured yellow and blue (rather than yellow and red as previous). Due to it being used as part of Hit & Run, the Suspension Bridge apparatus 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.
Four new events were introduced in this series. Unlike previous series, the new events were gradually introduced throughout the 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 faced 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 the 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 4, the event would later be axed twice during the show’s 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 stood on two podiums either side of the bridge, each swinging a demolition ball and attempting to knock the contender off. This event initially appeared in the 1994 Wembley live shows under the name Cannonball Run. It did not prove popular, appearing sparingly in later series. It was the only new event introduced in 1994 that did not get axed and became one of the most frequently-played events in the American and British revivals.
Pursuit
Contenders raced 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 and 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 Gladiator had to climb a 36-foot pole, hitting a button at the top which would retract the climbing pegs of their opponent’s 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 shown out of sync in televised shows. Pole-Axe had the latest debut of any new event and was axed a couple of series later.
Other changes
Andrew Norgate was replaced as timekeeper by Derek Redmond, whose wife Sharron Davies presented the junior spin-off series Gladiators: Train 2 Win before being asked to audition as a Gladiator the following year. The contenders’ outfits for the heats were 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 colours.
Finally, between the women's and men's Eliminator, a Time Out section was added in which various Gladiators discussed their favourite events, pastimes and music.
Episodes
| Episode | Title | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Return" | 3 September 1994[1] | |
| 2 | "Heat 1: Claire Hillman vs. Erika Rogerson / Gladstone Mackenzie vs. Dean Pollen" | 10 September 1994[2] | |
Panther, Scorpio, Zodiac / Hunter, Shadow, Warrior
Nightshade, Jet / Trojan, Cobra
Lightning, Scorpio / Wolf, Saracen
Lightning / Saracen
Falcon / Trojan
Claire LOSER - WINNER Erika / Gladstone LOSER - WINNER Dean | |||
| 3 | "Heat 2: Rachel Culwick/Jo Neath,1 vs. Jo Harrington / Ken George vs. Phil Campbell" | 17 September 1994[3] | |
Scorpio, Jet / Warrior, Wolf
Falcon, Nightshade, Panther / Cobra, Saracen, Shadow
Zodiac, Nightshade / Cobra, Hunter
Scorpio / Trojan
Lightning / Shadow
Jo Neath WINNER - LOSER Jo Harrington / Ken LOSER - WINNER Phil | |||
| 4 | "Heat 3: Eunice Huthart vs. Lorraine Stanley / Lee Blackledge vs. Andy Riddoch" | 24 September 1994[4] | |
Jet, Scorpio / Cobra, Wolf
Jet, Panther / Warrior, Saracen
Zodiac, Nightshade / Trojan, Hunter
Lightning, Falcon / Cobra, Hunter
Nightshade / Shadow
Eunice WINNER - LOSER Lorraine / Lee LOSER - WINNER Andy | |||
| 5 | "Heat 4: Clancy Connor vs. Jo Banton / Ric Brown vs. Sam Codjoe" | 1 October 1994[5] | |
Falcon, Jet, Panther / Cobra, Saracen, Shadow
Nightshade, Lightning / Warrior, Wolf
Nightshade, Scorpio, Zodiac, Panther, Lightning / Trojan, Saracen, Warrior, Hunter, Shadow
Jet / Wolf
Panther / Hunter
Clancy LOSER - WINNER Jo / Ric LOSER - WINNER Sam | |||
| 6 | "Heat 5: Kerryn Sampey vs. Jayne Ludden / Neil Dorrell vs. Mark Skipper" | 8 October 1994[6] | |
Falcon, Zodiac / Trojan, Cobra
Scorpio, Panther / Saracen, Warrior
Panther / Hunter
Jet & Lightning, Nightshade & Zodiac / Shadow & Trojan, Saracen & Wolf
Zodiac / Wolf
Kerryn WINNER - LOSER Jayne / Neil LOSER - WINNER Mark | |||
| 7 | "Heat 6: Katie Budd vs. Melissa Spackman / Ian Simpson vs. Paul Beswick" | 15 October 1994[7] | |
Falcon, Lightning, Nightshade / Hunter, Trojan, Warrior
Lightning / Shadow
Scorpio, Falcon / Warrior, Shadow
Jet & Nightshade, Panther & Scorpio / Trojan & Wolf, Cobra & Hunter
Zodiac / Saracen
Katie LOSER - WINNER Melissa / Ian LOSER - WINNER Paul | |||
| 8 | "Heat 7: Sue Smith vs. Nikki Wyatt / Alex Lee vs. Paul Field" | 22 October 1994[8] | |
Panther, Falcon, Scorpio, Jet, Lightning / Trojan, Saracen, Warrior, Hunter, Shadow
Nightshade, Jet / Wolf, Trojan
Scorpio, Lightning / Cobra, Saracen
Lightning / Shadow
Zodiac / Wolf
Sue LOSER - WINNER Nikki / Alex LOSER - WINNER Paul | |||
| 9 | "Heat 8: Rowan Duxbury,2 vs. Lisa Gibbs / Richard Barnett vs. Matt Beeke" | 29 October 1994[9] | |
Scorpio, Zodiac / Wolf, Saracen
Falcon, Jet, Panther / Hunter, Trojan, Warrior
Nightshade / Hunter
Jet, Lightning / Wolf, Cobra
Scorpio / Shadow
Rowan LOSER - WINNER Lisa / Richard LOSER - WINNER Matt | |||
| 10 | "Quarter-final 1: Jo Neath vs. Erika Rogerson / Dean Pollen vs. Phil Campbell" | 5 November 1994[10] | |
Nightshade, Scorpio, Zodiac / Saracen, Shadow, Trojan
Jet, Lightning / Cobra, Wolf
Falcon / Hunter
Zodiac, Panther/Zodiac,3 / Warrior, Trojan
Nightshade / Shadow
Jo LOSER - WINNER Erika / Dean LOSER - WINNER Phil | |||
| 11 | "Quarter-final 2: Eunice Huthart vs. Jo Benton / Andy Riddoch vs. Sam Codjoe" | 12 November 1994[11] | |
Scorpio, Jet / Shadow, Saracen
Nightshade, Jet, Zodiac, Scorpio, Falcon / Trojan, Saracen, Warrior, Hunter, Shadow
Lightning / Wolf
Nightshade, Lightning / Wolf, Hunter
Scorpio / Trojan
Eunice WINNER - LOSER Jo / Andy LOSER - WINNER Sam | |||
| 12 | "Quarter-final 3: Kerryn Sampey vs. Melissa Spackman / Mark Skipper vs. Paul Beswick" | 19 November 1994[12] | |
Zodiac, Lightning / Trojan, Wolf
Falcon, Jet, Scorpio / Hunter, Shadow, Warrior
Nightshade / Hunter
Falcon, Lightning / Hunter, Saracen
Nightshade / Shadow
Kerryn WINNER - LOSER Melissa / Mark LOSER - WINNER Paul | |||
| 13 | "Quarter-final 4: Katie Budd,4 vs. Nikki Wyatt / Paul Field vs. Matt Beeke" | 26 November 1994[13] | |
Lightning / Saracen
Falcon / Wolf
Scorpio, Falcon / Saracen, Shadow
Zodiac, Jet / Warrior, Hunter
Nightshade / Trojan
Katie LOSER - WINNER Nikki / Paul WINNER - LOSER Matt | |||
| 14 | "Semi-final 1: Eunice Huthart vs. Erika Rogerson / Sam Codjoe vs. Phil Campbell" | 3 December 1994[14] | |
Jet, Lightning, Nightshade / Shadow, Trojan, Warrior
Jet, Lightning / Saracen, Wolf
Nightshade / Hunter
Panther & Scorpio, Falcon & Zodiac / Cobra & Trojan, Hunter & Warrior
Nightshade / Shadow
Eunice WINNER - LOSER Erika / Sam WINNER - LOSER Phil | |||
| 15 | "Semi-final 2: Kerryn Sampey vs. Nikki Wyatt / Paul Field vs. Paul Beswick" | 10 December 1994[15] | |
Scorpio, Jet / Cobra, Hunter
Jet, Lightning, Nightshade / Hunter, Trojan, Warrior
Falcon, Zodiac / Shadow, Wolf
Nightshade / Saracen
Lightning / Wolf
Kerryn WINNER - LOSER Nikki / Paul Field WINNER - LOSER Paul Beswick | |||
| 16 | "Grand Final: Eunice Huthart vs. Kerryn Sampey / Paul Field vs. Sam Codjoe/Phil Campbell,5" | 17 December 1994[16] | |
Lightning, Falcon, Zodiac, Scorpio, Panther / Trojan, Cobra/Wolf, Warrior, Hunter, Saracen
Scorpio, Zodiac / Wolf, Trojan
Jet, Lightning / Saracen, Wolf
Jet, Lightning, Nightshade / Hunter, Shadow, Warrior
Nightshade / Warrior
Eunice WINNER - LOSER Kerryn / Paul WINNER - LOSER Phil | |||
| 17 | "The Celebrity Challenge: Eddie Kidd vs. Barry McGuigan vs. Ellery Hanley vs. Martin Offiah vs. Mark Bosnich vs. Derek Redmond" | 24 December 1994[17] | |
Shadow and Trojan against Barry, Eddie and Ellery
Wolf, Shadow and Hunter against Barry, Eddie and Ellery
Falcon chasing Barry, Scorpio chasing Eddie
Jet chasing Eddie, Lightning chasing Derek
Hunter against Ellery, Shadow against Eddie, Trojan against Martin, Saracen against Derek
Martin LOSER - WINNER Derek | |||
| 18 | "The Fighting Forces Challenge: Paul Gellender vs. Simon Lovell vs. Richard Harbard vs. Simon Horridge vs. John Tredgett vs. Phillip Delbaugh" | 31 December 1994[18] | |
Paul 12
Simon 16
Simon 22
Phillip 26
Phillip 34
Simon LOSER - WINNER Phillip | |||
- ^1 Rachel slipped off her sky bike awkwardly during Joust with Scorpio and broke her back when she landed on the crash mat, which forced her to retire before the final event.
- ^2 Rowan was invited back to take part after making in through to the quarter-finals the previous year but being forced to pull out due to food poisoning.
- ^3 Panther picked up an injury against Erika on tilt and had to withdraw from the competmotion. Zodiac replaced her for the second pull.
- ^4 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.
- ^5 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 loser with the fastest eliminator time from the semi-finals.
- ^6 These events had the female Gladiators against the male contenders.
- ^7 In these special episodes, there were 6 contenders with 2 being eliminated after event 4 (event 3 in the Fighting Forces special) and another 2 being eliminated after event 5.
References
- "GLADIATORS (GLADIATORS THE RETURN)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0001)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0002)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0003)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0004)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0005)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0006)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0007)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0008)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0009)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0010)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0011)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0012)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0013)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0014)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (EPISODE 0015 - THE FINAL)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (CELEBRITY SPECIAL)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "GLADIATORS (SERVICES SPECIAL)". ITN Source. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
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