The Gladiators are back to push the hardiest members of the public to the limit (Picture: Nick Eagle / BBC / Hungry Bear)
BBC Gladiators is ‘back and tougher than ever’ in season two with brand new cast members, games and adrenaline-pumping showdowns.
The game show rebooted after an over two-decade-long hiatus in 2024, drawing in a whopping average of eight million viewers and gaining a whole new fanbase.
After a gruelling celebrity special won by comedians Joel Dommett and Ellie Taylor, it’s back for a second season.
Each season our cast of elite athletes (the Gladiators) are pitted against the public (the Contenders) in a series of events to progress to the grand final and the chance to be crowned champion.
As described by the BBC: ‘The first episode sees Giant meet his match on the duel podium, Viper finally breaks his silence, and we witness the long-awaited return of the legendary, metal-crunching event, Atlaspheres.’
Presenting duo Bradley Walsh and son Barney are back together to guide us through the high-stakes action.
Bradley Walsh and son Barney are back for more action (Picture: BBC / Nick Eagle / Hungry Bear Media Ltd)
So with the show making a return for the new year, here’s everything you need to know about Gladiators season two.
When does Gladiators season 2 air?
Gladiators returns to BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday, January 18 at 5.50pm, with new episodes airing weekly.
Who is in the new cast of Gladiators?
Gladiators will see the return of many fan-favourites – Apollo, Athena, Bionic, Comet, Diamond, Dynamite, Electro, Fire, Fury, Giant, Legend, Nitro, Phantom, Sabre, Steel and Viper.
But there are also two new additions to the cast.
Cyclone, 23, is a five-foot 10-inch Irish powerlifter who calls themselves an ‘all-around athlete’.
Irish powerlifter Cyclone has joined the 2025 cast (Picture: BBC/Hungry Bear Media Ltd/Nick Eagle)
Alongside the six foot five inches Hammer (Picture: BBC/Hungry Bear Media Ltd/Nick Eagle)
She told the BBC: ‘I’ve got the look, I’ve got the energy and I’ve got the muscles.”‘
Hammer, 32 is a World Rowing Champion from Nottingham who is a towering six foot five inches.
‘When you’ve got 19 stone sprinting at you, you’ve got no chance. I’m getting you,’ he shared.
That means there will be a total of 18 Gladiators in the arena this year.
What games will be in Gladiators season 2?
Gladiators season two will see the return of an original series game Atlaspheres.
‘The Contenders and Gladiators are inside huge metal hamster balls – the contenders need to roll themselves over set points in the arena to score points, whilst the Gladiators smash into them to try to stop them,’ Bradley explained.
There will also be a brand new event, Unleash which sees Contenders thrown into a ‘smoke-filled tunnel’ where they must race around a track and up steps to ‘grab the winning flag’.
Atlaspheres is a returning favourite (Picture: BBC/Hungry Bear Media Ltd/David MacCormack)
Bradley continued: ‘But an unknown Gladiator is unleashed behind them trying to chase them down. You’re going to love it!’
This is alongside series classics such as Collision where the contender must carry a ball across a suspension bridge and throw it into a net while four Gladiators swing in on trapezes on either side of the bridge.
Or Duel where they attempt to knock their opponent off with a pugil stick on a high-rise podium.
In The Wall, two Contenders race up a climbing wall as they try to avoid being pulled off by Gladiators hot on their heels.
Other games include: The Ring, The Edge, Poweball, Hang Tough and Gauntlet.
All culminating in The Eliminator as our finalists go head to head, tackling several obstacles along the way like ziplines, trapezes and balance beams.
Gladiators is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.