The broadcaster has officially ordered a third season of the high-octane competition series, confirming its return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Bradley and Barney Walsh will reprise their hosting roles, fronting the action from the Sheffield arena as a new group of contenders face off against the returning stable of Gladiators.
Apollo, Athena, and Nitro are all locked in for the new run, which will introduce new challenges and more physical spectacle. The format remains familiar: strength, speed, and endurance tested in a theatrical showdown. The BBC has also lined up a celebrity special, with famous faces entering the arena for one-off battles designed to deliver both humour and havoc.
Gladiators has emerged as a key player in the BBC’s Saturday night schedule. The last series averaged 5.3 million viewers across platforms. BBC iPlayer accounted for a major slice of that, with 1.3 million viewers per episode coming from the under-35s. It’s the most-watched Saturday night title on iPlayer and ranks third overall in the entertainment category.
The BBC’s Kalpna Patel-Knight pointed to the show’s strong pull with younger audiences, saying “Audiences have loved getting together to watch our mighty Gladiators take on contenders from all across the UK with younger fans especially excited to cheer on their Saturday night superheroes.” Dan Baldwin of Hungry Bear Media signalled that the tone will stay as heightened and playful as ever.
The third season will again be filmed at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena. Free audience tickets are being handled by the Applause Store, with the first release opening Monday, June 24, 2025.
Gladiators will return in 2026. Specific dates are yet to be announced.
