Gladiators is officially returning to the BBC in 2023
The news is official!
Last updated 25th Aug 2022
If you cast your minds back to the 90s, you'll no doubt remember sitting down in front of the TV on a Saturday night to watch popular entertainment show Gladiators, which originally aired between 1992 and 2000.
The hit show, which involved contestants going up against 'Gladiators' in events such as The Wall, Danger Zone, Swingshot, Hang Tough and Duel, is now OFFICIALLY returning to the BBC in 2023.
The revamped series will include 11 episodes and will welcome a brand new generation of 'superhumans' to compete against contestants in 'the ultimate test of speed and strength'.
Airing on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer, the brand new series of Gladiators will include both classic challenges, as well as a whole host of new games! And just like the past, each episode will end with the infamous Eliminator.
Kate Phillips, the BBC’s director of unscripted, said: “Gladiators is back and a whole new generation of viewers can now look forward to watching a Saturday night spectacle like no other.
“Will the contenders have the will and the skill to succeed against our mighty new Gladiators? You’ll have to tune in to find out.”
Check out all of the iconic TV shows we'd love to see a return of:
Dad's Army
Written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, Dad's Army ran for nine series on the BBC between 1968 and 1977.
The popular sitcom was about the UK's Home Guard during the Second World War and it gained an impressive 18 million viewers!
Fawlty Towers
Although only two series of Fawlty Towers was made, the show was very popular when it aired on BBC Two between 1975 and 1979.
Written by John Cleese and Connie Booth, the sitcom, which was set in the fictional hotel of Fawlty Towers in the seaside town of Torquay, starred the likes of John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Connie Booth and Andrew Sachs.
In February 2023 it was announced the series would be returning with John Cleese and his daughter Camilla playing his on-screen daughter.
The Royle Family
Running for three series between 1998 to 2000, and two specials in 2006 to 2012, The Royle Family was sure to make you laugh.
Created by the late Caroline Aherne, the sitcom followed the lives of fictional working-class family The Royles, including Jim Royle, his wife Barbara, their daughter Denise, their son Antony, and Denise's husband David.
Grange Hill
The gripping storylines and relatable characters in Grange Hill had us glued to our screens between 1978 and 2018.
With an incredible 31 series over 30 years, Grange Hill was one of the longest-running shows on British TV!
Only Fools and Horses
Perhaps one of the most iconic TV shows ever to grace our screens! Only Fools and Horses ran for seven series in the end, made up of 64 episodes in total.
Created and written by John Sullivan, the brilliant sitcom aired for 10 years on BBC One between 1981 and 1991 and followed the lives of market trader Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter and his younger brother Rodney.
Stars In Their Eyes
A true classic! Stars In Their Eyes, originally hosted by Leslie Crowther, first aired in 1990 with Matthew Kelly taking over in 1993. The show did make a return with Harry Hill in 2015, but it didn't quite take off!
Absolutely Fabulous
Absolutely Fabulous, or Ab Fab as it's more commonly known, was created off the back of the French and Saunders sketch and first aired back in 1992.
Featuring Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley and Julia Sawalha, the sitcom aired for five series, with 39 episodes.
More recently in 2019, a movie called Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie landed in cinemas much to the delight of fans.
The Bill
First broadcast in 1983, police drama The Bill certainly proved popular, airing until 2010. The show focused on the lives and work of police officers and starred well-known actors such as Trudie Goodwin, Graham Cole and Mark Wingett.
Blackadder
Starring the legendary Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, the popular period sitcom one split into four series, airing on BBC One between 1983 and 1989.
The series were called: The Black Adder, Blackadder II, Blackadder the Third, and Blackadder Goes Forth, as well as a number of specials.
Father Ted
We were gifted with three series of Father Ted between 1995 and 1998, which was written by Irish writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews.
Featuring Dermot Morgan as Father Ted Crilly, the sitcom showed the priests living together in a parochial house with their housekeeper Mrs Doyle.
With just 25 episodes in total, we'd love some more!
Porridge
Starring Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale, Porridge is certainly another iconic sitcom which graced our screens between 1974 and 1977.
With three series and two Christmas specials, Porridge followed the lives of two prison inmates, Norman Fletcher and Lennie Godber, who were serving at the fictional HMP Slade.
Where The Heart Is
British drama Where The Heart Is, which was filmed in the Yorkshire town of Skelthwaite, proved very popular with viewers between 1997-2006, showcasing the lives of a group of district nurses and their families.
The Young Ones
The Young Ones, which aired for two series between 1982 and 1984, kickstarted the careers of the likes of Adrian Edmondson, Mayall, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan, and Alexei Sayle.
Including surreal jokes, visual humour and slapstick gags, The Young Ones followed the lives of four students and their landlord's family.
'Allo 'Allo!
After being commissioned following a successful pilot episode, 'Allo 'Allo! ran for nine series between 1984 and 1992, airing on BBC One.
The show, which went on to run for nine series with 85 episodes, followed a café owner in Nouvion, during the German occupation of France in the Second World War.
Hi-de-Hi!
Written by Dad's Army writers Jimmy Perry and David Croft, Hi-de-Hi! was set in a fictional holiday camp called Maplins and aired between 1980 and 1988 for nine series.
The popular BBC sitcom revolved around Maplins' entertainers.
It's a Knockout
It was stupid, it was crazy, but it was certainly fun! It's a Knockout started way back in 1966, but the show made a number of returns on BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5!
Bottom
Airing on BBC Two for three series between 1991 and 1995, Bottom starred creators Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall as Edward Elizabeth 'Eddie' Hitler and Richard 'Richie Richard.
The show followed the two flatmates in Hammersmith, West London, with no jobs and little money.
Steptoe and Son
British sitcom Steptoe and Son had two runs on the BBC, one in black and white between 1962 and 1965, and another in colour between 1970 and 1974.
Are You Being Served?
Are You Being Served? followed the lives of staff in fictional department store Grace Brothers.
The sitcom ran for 10 series on the BBC between 1972 and 1985, as well as a number of Christmas specials!
The Vicar of Dibley
Set in a fictional Oxfordshire village called Dibley, The Vicar of Dibley stars Dawn French in the lead role as The Reverend Geraldine Granger.
The series, which ran between 1994-2020 (with a number of specials), also featured popular actors Gary Waldhorn, Roger Lloyd-Pack, Trevor Peacock and Emma Chambers.
Rising Damp
Produced for ITV, Rising Damp aired for four series between 1974 and 1978.
Due to the popularity of the TV show, Rising Damp was turned into a feature film in 1980.
London's Burning
Airing between 1988 and 2002, London's Burning documented the lives of a fictional London Fire Brigade Blue Watch at the fictional Blackwall fire station.
After originally airing on ITV in the 90s with Gladiators such as Jet, Lightning, Ace, Wolf and Warrior, Sky One revived the show back in 2008, but the programme only lasted one year.
The original show had eight successful series running between October 1992 and January 2000, featuring John Anderson and his famous "Contender ready! Gladiator ready!" quote.
Gladiators will air on BBC One in 2023.
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