Gladiators! Are you ready?! It’s possibly the most hyped-up revival we’ve seen in years and now Gladiators 2024 is finally upon us, bringing with it a whole new cast, hosting duo and challenges for fans old and new.
While the spirit of the original series — which premiered in 1995 — is still alive, according to host Liz Ellis (who will star alongside Network Ten staple Beau Ryan), the challenges have had a mega upgrade, inspired by the MCU a.k.a Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“I love that the new series is so obviously made for an audience that’s thirty years on,” Ellis told Mediaweek in an interview during December 2023, in preparation for the January 15 launch.
Gladiators 2024 cast. 10
According to the I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here winner, “the whole arena is inspired by the Marvel Universe”, as are the Gladiators themselves, whose costumes have been created to simulate “superhuman heroes”.
Even though the series has been elevated for a new audience, original elements will remain including challenges such as Hang Tough, the infamous Pyramid and the almighty Eliminator with the travelator at the end of each episode.
“There are lots of things about the original series that are still there,” Ellis said, adding that the cast has the same characteristics. “The Gladiators are larger-than-life. They have different names but are the same big characters, with big bodies and big everything!”
She later added: “I just think that people who loved the series will immediately recognise it in the new one.”
Original Gladiator Hammer makes a return
To add to the nostalgia, the series is welcoming back an original cast member and former NRL player, Mark McGaw, who played Hammer between 1995 – 1996. While no longer a Gladiator, McGaw will take on the role of Referee.
“He was great to have on set because he schooled us in the 1990s version of Gladiators,” she said. “And he told us about the international test series, America versus Australia versus England.
“He also had all the old [costume] sets so the bomber jacket, the unitard that he used to wear when he was Hammer. It was just amazing because it was a beautiful link back to the original show. He was able to tell us all about it.”
Mark McGaw as Hammer and as Referee Hammer, 10
With all the nostalgia of the original, is there a pressure associated with bringing Gladiators back?
Given that a loyal audience will no doubt be tuning in to the revival, Ellis said that the “biggest pressure” as host is that people “genuinely love the show”.
“For so many adults now, it was such a loved part of their childhood that there is a pressure to not ruin that,” she said. “From talking to people, they’re so excited because they loved the show, and they can’t wait to show their kids.
“So, we both [Ryan] feel the pressure to make sure that the next generation of people who watch it, love it as much as their parents did.”
Beau Ryan and Liz Ellis, Gladiators. 10
In addition to this, Ellis believes there are “two elements” that make up the series.
“One is to show how much fun it is,” she said. “I hope that the audience gets that sense of fun and the tongue-in-cheek nature of things. But also, the other thing that was important to both of us given our sporting backgrounds is to embrace the fact that at the very heart of it, it is a contest and while the Gladiators are these superhuman characters, they’re also unbelievable athletes.”
The Contenders are also not to be forgotten, with Ellis calling it a “World Cup moment” for them as well.
“They’re able to show their families and friends and the wider audience just how fit and strong they are,” she said.
But, there’s one final pay-off for the Contenders who go up against the likes of Jett Kenny, Sandor Earl and Tatyanna Dumas — the two winning competitors (a.k.a the top male and top female) will become Gladiators next season!
“So, there’s a lot at stake and we felt the responsibility to showcase them.”
Gladiators premieres at 7.30 pm on January 15 on 10 and 10Play.