The BBC has confirmed that its hit reboot of Gladiators will be back for a fourth season, while also announcing a brand-new celebrity special.
The series – which is the second revival of the classic entertainment programme that originally aired on ITV between 1992 and 2000 – will officially return in 2027.
The new episodes will once again be hosted by father-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh at Sheffield Arena and will “push competitors harder than ever, as they take on the might of the Gladiators”, treating fans to “high‑stakes challenges, dramatic showdowns and unforgettable Saturday‑night moments”, according to the BBC.
A new event will also be introduced in the new season, joining iconic classics Duel, Hang Tough and the Eliminator, with details set to be announced in due course. Last year’s additions Everest, Destruction and Suspension Bridge will also return.
Elsewhere, four more celebrities will enter the arena for another special, though the cast are yet to be announced.
Ellie Taylor, Joel Dommett, Rob Beckett and Louise Minchin competed in the first celebrity special, while Vogue Williams, Joe Wicks, Nicola Adams and Sam Thompson took on the challenges in the second.
When the series returns, it will be without one of its regular Gladiators, as Jamie Bigg – aka Giant – confirmed earlier this year that he will not be returning.
He wrote in Instagram: “To my Gladiator family. I want to tell you all that I won’t be coming back for season 4 of the TV show. Being a Gladiator has been one of the greatest honours of my life.
“Stepping into that arena, hearing the crowd, representing strength, resilience and being a role model… that’s something I’ll carry with me forever.
“What I do want to make clear is this wasn’t a decision I made to step away. I was faced with a choice that didn’t align with my values. And if you know me, you know this… I stand by my people and I stand by what I believe in. That’s what being a role model means to me.
“I’m proud of everything I gave to the show and grateful for every single person who supported me along the way. This isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning. Stay strong. Stand tall.”
The revival series has proved to be a significant hit for the BBC, with the corporation revealing that the latest season drew in 4.6 million viewers on average across 28 days on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
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Kalpna Patel‑Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, said in a statement that “audiences can look forward to even more colossal clashes, even more edge of your seat excitement and plenty of opportunities to raise those foam fingers high once again”.
Dan Baldwin, managing director of Hungry Bear Media, added: “This year is bigger, bolder, it’s more gruelling, and it’s going to be spectacular! We have some huge surprises for the audience. The countdown begins now…”
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Gladiators will return in 2027. Previous episodes of Gladiators are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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