Let’s get ready to rumble! BBC One is dusting off the lycra and reviving the spirit of ’90s Saturday nights once agan, this time with a celebrity-studded “Gladiators” special. It’s a full-throttle nostalgia trip back to a simpler time of foam-padded combat and epic slow-motion replays.
Forget awards season and prestige dramas, this is where real athleticism (or at least enthusiastic attempts at it) meets pure, unadulterated entertainment. Comedians Rob Beckett and Joel Dommett are set to square off, presumably trading quips as often as blows. And in a match-up that no one saw coming, breakfast TV stalwart Louise Minchin will test her mettle against comedian Ellie Taylor of “Ted Lasso” fame. One can only hope Minchin channels her inner Warrior Princess, while Taylor unleashes some Ted Lasso-esque positivity on the Gladiators arena.
Presiding over the mayhem are Bradley and Barney Walsh, a father-son duo guaranteed to bring their own brand of chaotic energy to the proceedings. Will they offer words of encouragement or just gleefully watch the celebrities flail? The one-hour special features classic “Gladiators” challenges, culminating in the legendary Eliminator, which, let’s be honest, is the only reason anyone ever watched the show in the first place. It’s the ultimate test of endurance, agility, and the ability to not face-plant on national television. This marks the second celebrity “Gladiators” special this year, following an Easter broadcast.
“Gladiators” airs Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at 6:00 PM on BBC One.
