The BBC has confirmed a third series of its revived Gladiators show, following the success of its 2024 return. A celebrity special will air on Christmas Day with contestants including Joe Wicks and Nicola Adams. The main series is expected to premiere in mid-to-late January 2026.
The Gladiators reboot captured audiences in 2024, marking the BBC's biggest TV launch in seven years. Hosted by Bradley and Barney Walsh, the series featured elite athletes as gladiators challenging contestants in events like Duel, Hang Tough, and The Wall. Series 2 introduced three new events, two additional gladiators, and an unusual 'romance' storyline between Sabre and Apollo.
All 18 gladiators from the previous seasons are set to return for series 3, including Apollo (Alex Gray), Athena (Karenjeet Kaur Bains), Bionic (Matty Campbell), Comet (Ella-Mae Rayner), Cyclone (Lystus Ebosele), Diamond (Livi Sheldon), Dynamite (Emily Steel), Electro (Jade Packer), Fire (Montell Douglas), Fury (Jodie Ounsley), Giant (Jamie Christian Johal), Hammer (Tom Wilson), Legend (Matt Morsia), Nitro (Harry Aikines-Aryeetey), Phantom (Toby Olubi), Sabre (Sheli McCoy), Steel (Zack George), and Viper (Quang Luong). Nitro, known as the King of The Wall, missed series 2 due to a knee injury but has confirmed his return in fighting form.
No new gladiators are planned for the 2025 cast, but the teaser trailer revealed three fresh events. One involves contestants and gladiators slamming against a clear wall to push each other off a platform. Another is a race through breakable walls to reach the center. The third, Suspension Bridge, sees opponents charging from opposite sides of a wobbly bridge, using a large battering ram to knock the other off in the middle—a nod to classic fans.
The celebrity special airs on December 25 at 3:35pm, featuring Joe Wicks, Sam Thompson, Nicola Adams, and Vogue Williams. Applications for regular contestants are closed, with filming dates unconfirmed. Building on past patterns, series 1 debuted on January 13 and series 2 on January 18, both following New Year's specials. This third installment is slated to air just after The Traitors series 4 premieres on New Year's Day.
