Gladiators (1992 UK TV series) Series Seven

The seventh series of Gladiators started on September 5, 1998 and ended on December 12, 1998. The series aired on ITV. Ulrika Jonsson and Jeremy Guscott returned as presenters along with referee John Anderson and commentator John Sachs.

Changes from the last series

Following a dip in audience figures from the previous series, several changes were implemented for this series. Four gladiators left the show - Warrior (Michael Ahearne) was sacked after being arrested for a firearms offence. Gold (Lize Van Der Walt), Khan (Radosev Nekic) and Rocket (Pauline Richards) also departed, all three had only lasted one series. Two new gladiators joined the team, Diesel (Darren Crawford) and Vulcan (John Seru). Vulcan joined the UK series after his native Australian series had been cancelled, and was essentially brought in to give established bad guy Wolf (Michael Van Wijk) a run for his money. This dropped the number of gladiators for this series to fifteen. Somewhat strangely though, neither Diesel or Vulcan's faces were added to the opening credits of the show.

Furthermore, this series introduced new costumes for the gladiators. The iconic individual kits that signified each gladiator's identity were out, and in came a new, unified kit which looked more the same on every gladiator with the design's slightly altered on each one so that no gladiator had the same or similar outfit style.

Four established events were given major facelifts. Powerball now featured two contenders against just two gladiators, with each gladiator targeting a specific contender. Pendulum now became a game where contenders had to light flashing sectors to score points before they were caught in the usual way, with 2 points each for three main sectors and a special 4 point sector located at the bottom of the pendulum, if the gladiator falls, the contender still automatically scored 10 points. Gauntlet's point system changed to scoring 10 points for completing regardless of the time, which remained at a 30-second limit, if a contender was beaten by the clock, they would score a point for every gladiator they got past. And on Whiplash, the design of the dogbone was changed to make the game more of a challenge for both the contender and the gladiator.

Finally, more behind the scenes cuts were used in this series, this included showing the backstage coin toss for certain events when contenders discovered which gladiator they would face in each one.

New events

Three new events were introduced in this series. Pyramid was axed for a second time after its redesigned format in the previous series received a poor reception from viewers. In total, 19 events were used, the most in any one series.

Catapult
Contenders and gladiators face one another on bungee cords. Contenders have sixty seconds to deposit as many balls as possible into their goal basket, which the gladiators have to defend. 2 points are scored by the contender for each "goal".

Dogfight
Contender and gladiator are each strapped to their own airship (blue for the contender, red for the gladiator). Using hi-tech combat clubs, they have thirty seconds to try and eject their opponent from their airship. Two strikes to their body hit sensor results in an ejection. A contender scores 5 points for hitting the gladiator once and 10 points for ejecting them.

Vertigo
Contender and gladiator climb up a giant pole and must use only their body weight to traverse across four other similar poles, before grabbing a giant ring to fly back down to the floor. If the contender wins, they will score 10 points, if the gladiator wins, the contender scores a point for every pole they have successfully traversed.

Contenders

Listed in alphabetical order of surname.

Female
Name Location Occupation
Trudy Ballantine Edinburgh Anesthesiologist
Fiona Blaiklock Aberdeen Physiotherapist
Sue England Goole Tax Officer
Sharon Kewley Liverpool Marketing Assistant
Tara Leyden Weston-super-Mare Supermarket Assistant
Louise Raines Preston Bridal Shop Owner
Helena Redwood Hampton, Middlesex Full Time Mother
Kate Evers Andover, Hampshire Mail Order Worker
Sarah Hasselby Scunthorpe Fitness Instructor
Judith Huntington ?? Bank Clerk
Margo McMillan Stirling Mechanic
Kate Rudd Moneygall, County Offaly Amateur Jockey
Pauline Shirt Derbyshire Riding Instructor
Claire Short Fareham, Portsmouth Pet Shop Manager
Jane Smith Sheffield Full Time Athlete
Maria Ward London (originally Romania) Lifeguard
Male
Name Location Occupation
James Barrow Burnley Farm Hand
Colm Curran Belfast Fitness Instructor
Alan Forshaw West Kirby, The Wirral Lake Warden
Cassius Frankson East London Fitness Instructor
David Hanna Lisburn, County Antrim Party Manager and Personal Trainer
Micah Hudson Birmingham Fitness Centre Manager
Gary Johnson Hertfordshire Personal Trainer
Rudi Kennard West London (originally South America) University Student and Part-Time Model
Ross Kirby Nantwich, Cheshire Barcoding Worker
John McAvoy Sheffield General Practitioner
Karl Mullins Bromborough, The Wirral Firefighter
Neil Parsley The Wirral Rugby League Player
Alex Reid Aldershot Martial Arts Instructor
Lavern Ritch Cardiff Swimming Instructor
Dave Walter Exeter Fast Food Worker
Mark Whitehouse Doncaster Streetlight Technician

Episode summary

Heat 1

Original airdate: September 5, 1998
Contenders: Louise Raines v Claire Short, Alan Forshaw v Cassius Frankson

Female
Event Louise Claire Gladiators
Powerball 9 6 Vogue & Falcon
The Wall 0 0 Vogue & Lightning
Vertigo 4 4 Lightning & Rio
Gauntlet 10 10 Rio, Rebel, Siren, Falcon & Fox
Hang Tough 0 0 Siren & Fox
TOTAL 23 20
Male
Event Alan Cassius Gladiators
Powerball 0 4 Rhino & Hunter
The Wall 5 0 Saracen & Hunter
Dogfight 0 5 Vulcan & Wolf
Gauntlet 10 01 Rhino, Hunter, Ace, Saracen & Vulcan
Hang Tough 0 10 Ace & Rhino
TOTAL 15 19

1 Disqualified for confronting Ace while in play.

Eliminator

Heat 2

Original airdate: September 12, 1998
Contenders: Pauline Shirt v Tara Leyden, David Hanna v Neil Parsley

Female
Event Pauline Tara Gladiators
Powerball 4 2 Siren & Rebel
Vertigo 10 10 Fox & Lightning
Whiplash 10 0 Siren & Fox
Hang Tough 5 0 Falcon & Vogue
Duel 0 10 Rio & Rebel
TOTAL 29 22
Male
Event David Neil Gladiators
Powerball 7 11 Hunter & Saracen
Vertigo 10 10 Wolf & Cobra
Dogfight 5 0 Cobra & Ace
Hang Tough 0 0 Hunter & Wolf
Duel 5 0 Rhino & Saracen
TOTAL 27 21

Eliminator

Heat 3

Original airdate: September 19, 1998
Contenders: Kate Rudd v Trudy Ballantine, Mark Whitehouse v Gary Johnson

Female
Event Kate Trudy Gladiators
The Wall 10 0 Siren & Rebel
Danger Zone 3 10 Lightning
Powerball 2 14 Vogue & Falcon
Pendulum 2 6 Fox & Lightning
Suspension Bridge 0 10 Rio & Rebel
TOTAL 17 40
Male
Event Mark Gary Gladiators
The Wall 10 5 Cobra & Ace
Danger Zone 1 10 Diesel
Powerball 5 4 Vulcan & Wolf
Pendulum 10 8 Rhino & Cobra
Hit & Run 4 6 Wolf, Vulcan, Saracen & Hunter
TOTAL 30 33

Eliminator

Heat 4

Original airdate: September 26, 1998
Contenders: Sharon Kewley v Helena Redwood, Karl Mullins v Dave Walter

Female
Event Sharon Helena Gladiators
Tightrope 0 0 Vogue & Rebel
The Wall 10 5 Fox & Falcon
Pendulum 8 4 Siren & Lightning
Catapult 8 0 Rio & Lightning
Duel 0 5 Falcon & Siren
TOTAL 26 14
Male
Event Karl Dave Gladiators
Tightrope 0 0 Hunter & Ace
The Wall 0 10 Ace & Wolf
Pendulum 4 4 Wolf & Saracen
Whiplash 0 0 Saracen & Rhino
Duel 0 0 Hunter & Vulcan
TOTAL 4 14

Eliminator

Heat 5

Original airdate: October 3, 1998
Contenders: Kate Evers v Maria Ward, Alex Reid v Rudi Kennard

Female
Event Kate Maria Gladiators
Vertigo 10 3 Falcon & Siren
The Wall 0 10 Vogue & Lightning
Pendulum 4 2 Fox & Rebel
Dogfight 10 102 Rio & Siren
Gauntlet 10 10 Rio, Rebel, Falcon, Fox & Vogue
TOTAL 34 35
Male
Event Alex Rudi Gladiators
Vertigo 10 10 Saracen & Wolf
The Wall 5 10 Saracen & Hunter
Pendulum 23 8 Hunter & Ace
Sumo Ball 10 0 Vulcan & Rhino
Gauntlet 10 4 Rhino, Hunter, Wolf, Saracen & Vulcan
TOTAL 37 32

2 Was originally awarded 5 points for one hit, but given 10 points after a video replay ruled that she had hit Siren twice.
3 Disqualified for physically fending off Hunter, but was allowed to keep his points for that event.

Eliminator

Heat 6

Original airdate: October 10, 1998
Contenders: Margo McMillan v Sarah Hasselby, James Barrow v Colm Curran

Female
Event Margo Sarah Gladiators
Whiplash 0 0 Vogue & Falcon
Powerball 3 0 Fox & Vogue
Skytrak 0 0 Lightning & Rebel
Duel 5 0 Rio & Fox
Hang Tough 0 0 Rebel & Siren
TOTAL 8 0
Male
Event James Colm Gladiators
Pendulum 6 6 Ace & Hunter
Powerball 2 0 Rhino & Diesel
Skytrak 0 0 Cobra & Hunter
Duel 0 10 Vulcan & Wolf
Hang Tough 0 5 Saracen & Wolf
TOTAL 8 21

Eliminator

Heat 7

Original airdate: October 17, 1998
Contenders: Judith Huntington v Sue England, John McAvoy v Lavern Ritch

Female
Event Judith Sue Gladiators
Atlaspheres 9 3 Rio & Falcon
Skytrak 0 0 Siren & Lightning
Vertigo 10 4 Vogue & Lightning
Sumo Ball 0 10 Fox & Rebel
Gauntlet 10 4 Siren, Rebel, Falcon, Vogue & Fox
TOTAL 29 21
Male
Event John Lavern Gladiators
Atlaspheres 0 6 Diesel & Vulcan
Skytrak 0 10 Wolf & Cobra
Vertigo 104 10 Ace & Hunter
Whiplash 0 0 Saracen & Rhino
Gauntlet 4 1 Saracen, Ace, Wolf, Diesel & Vulcan
TOTAL 14 27

4 Ace was disqualified for not conforming to the rules of the game.

Eliminator

Heat 8

Original airdate: October 24, 1998
Contenders: Fiona Blaiklock v Jane Smith, Micah Hudson v Ross Kirby

Female
Event Fiona Jane Gladiators
Pendulum 4 6 Lightning & Vogue
Powerball 3 2 Rio & Fox
Tightrope 0 10 Siren & Falcon
Whiplash 0 0 Rebel & Rio
Duel 10 5 Siren & Vogue
TOTAL 17 23
Male
Event Micah Ross Gladiators
Pendulum 6 4 Hunter & Diesel
Powerball 10 2 Rhino & Ace
Tightrope 10 10 Saracen & Cobra
Swingshot 3 3 Saracen & Wolf
Duel 0 0 Hunter & Vulcan
TOTAL 29 19

Eliminator

Quarter-Final 1

Original airdate: October 31, 1998
Contenders: Sharon Kewley v Louise Raines, Dave Walter v Cassius Frankson

Female
Event Sharon Louise Gladiators
Atlaspheres 3 6 Siren & Lightning
Dogfight 0 0 Siren & Fox
Powerball 0 7 Rebel & Vogue
Hang Tough 0 0 Rebel & Falcon
Gauntlet 10 4 Siren, Rebel, Falcon, Vogue & Fox
TOTAL 13 17
Male
Event Dave Cassius Gladiators
Atlaspheres 9 3 Vulcan & Rhino
Swingshot 8 6 Saracen & Hunter
Powerball 12 10 Wolf & Vulcan
Hang Tough 10 10 Cobra & Wolf
Gauntlet 10 3 Rhino, Hunter, Saracen, Diesel & Vulcan
TOTAL 49 32

Eliminator

Quarter-Final 2

Original airdate: November 7, 1998
Contenders: Pauline Shirt v Trudy Ballantine, Mark Whitehouse v Colm Curran

Female
Event Pauline/Tara Trudy Gladiators
Tightrope 10 0 Lightning & Fox
The Wall 0 10 Rebel & Siren
Vertigo 10 2 Rio & Rebel
Hang Tough 5 0 Vogue & Siren
Duel 0(*) 5 Rio & Rebel
TOTAL 25 17

(*) Tara Leyden replaced Pauline Shirt after Pauline sustained a neck injury in Hang Tough and was unable to continue.

Male
Event Mark Colm Gladiators
Tightrope 0 10 Ace & Cobra
The Wall 10 0 Saracen & Hunter
Catapult 8 6 Ace & Wolf
Hang Tough 0 5 Saracen & Hunter
Duel 0 10 Vulcan & Wolf
TOTAL 18 31

Eliminator

Quarter-Final 3

Original airdate: November 14, 1998
Contenders: Judith Huntington v Maria Ward, Lavern Ritch v Neil Parsley

Female
Event Judith Maria Gladiators
Vertigo 4 2 Fox & Siren
Powerball 2 3 Falcon & Rio
Danger Zone 5 1 Lightning
Catapult 4 0 Vogue & Lightning
Gauntlet 4 10 Rio, Vogue, Siren, Falcon & Fox
TOTAL 19 16
Male
Event Lavern Neil Gladiators
Vertigo 10 4 Cobra & Diesel
Powerball 0 2 Rhino & Hunter
Danger Zone 2 10 Ace
Sumo Ball 0 0 Wolf & Vulcan
Gauntlet 05 10 Rhino, Hunter, Ace, Diesel & Vulcan
TOTAL 12 26

5 Lavern forfeited his run due to a back injury sustained in Powerball.

Eliminator

Quarter-Final 4

Original airdate: November 21, 1998
Contenders: Margo McMillan v Jane Smith, Micah Hudson v Alex Reid

Female
Event Margo Jane Gladiators
Dogfight 10 5 Rio & Fox
The Wall 0 10 Falcon & Vogue
Pendulum 4 6 Rebel & Falcon
Swingshot 1 2 Vogue & Rebel
Duel 5 5 Siren & Fox
TOTAL 20 28
Male
Event Micah Alex Gladiators
Dogfight 5 0 Wolf & Rhino
The Wall 10 0 Wolf & Ace
Pendulum 6 4 Hunter & Saracen
Whiplash 0 0 Ace & Hunter
Duel 10 0 Diesel & Cobra
TOTAL 31 4

Eliminator

Semi-Final 1

Original airdate: November 28, 1998
Contenders: Louise Raines v Trudy Ballantine, Micah Hudson v Dave Walter

Female
Event Louise Trudy Gladiators
Vertigo 4 4 Fox & Falcon
Pole-Axe 0 10 Lightning & Siren
Powerball 7 2 Rio & Vogue
Swingshot 3 7 Rebel & Falcon
Gauntlet 4 4 Rio, Rebel, Siren, Vogue & Fox
TOTAL 18 27
Male
Event Micah Dave Gladiators
Atlaspheres 0 9 Rhino & Diesel
Pole-Axe 0 10 Hunter & Ace
Powerball 15 2 Wolf & Vulcan
Swingshot 2 4 Saracen & Cobra
Gauntlet 4 10 Rhino, Wolf, Cobra, Saracen & Vulcan
TOTAL 21 35

Eliminator

Semi-Final 2

Original airdate: December 5, 1998
Contenders: Maria Ward v Jane Smith, Neil Parsley v Colm Curran

Female
Event Maria Jane Gladiators
Powerball 6 2 Rebel & Siren
Dogfight 5 5 Vogue & Rio
The Wall 0 10 Lightning & Vogue
Hang Tough 0 0 Fox & Falcon
Gauntlet 10 2 Rio, Rebel, Siren, Vogue & Falcon
TOTAL 21 19
Male
Event Neil Colm Gladiators
Powerball 7 0 Vulcan & Hunter
Swingshot 7 3 Diesel & Wolf
The Wall 0 0 Ace & Hunter
Hang Tough 0 0 Saracen & Cobra
Gauntlet 10 3 Rhino, Ace, Wolf, Diesel & Vulcan
TOTAL 24 6

Eliminator

Grand Final

Original airdate: December 12, 1998
Contenders: Louise Raines v Jane Smith, Neil Parsley v Dave Walter

Female
Event Louise Jane Gladiators
Tightrope 0 10 Lightning & Rebel
Vertigo 4 2 Rio & Falcon
Powerball 2 2 Fox & Siren
Hang Tough 0 0 Falcon & Vogue
Duel 0 5 Rebel & Fox
TOTAL 6 19
Male
Event Neil Dave Gladiators
Tightrope 0 0 Diesel & Ace
Pendulum 2 10 Hunter & Ace
Powerball 4 2 Vulcan & Hunter
Hang Tough 0 5 Wolf & Saracen
Duel 0 0 Vulcan & Rhino
TOTAL 6 17

Eliminator

Ratings

All ratings taken from BARB.

Episode Original Airdate Total Viewers
(millions) 		ITV Weekly Rank
Heat 1 5 September 1998 Under 6.67 Outside Top 30
Heat 2 12 September 1998 Under 7.13 Outside Top 30
Heat 3 19 September 1998 Under 5.63 Outside Top 30
Heat 4 26 September 1998 Under 5.76 Outside Top 30
Heat 5 3 October 1998 Under 6.22 Outside Top 30
Heat 6 10 October 1998 Under 6.12 Outside Top 30
Heat 7 17 October 1998 Under 6.20 Outside Top 30
Heat 8 24 October 1998 Under 7.31 Outside Top 30
Quarter-Final 1 31 October 1998 Under 7.06 Outside Top 30
Quarter-Final 2 7 November 1998 Under 6.80 Outside Top 30
Quarter-Final 3 14 November 1998 Under 6.18 Outside Top 30
Quarter-Final 4 21 November 1998 7.08 27
Semi-Final 1 28 November 1998 6.76 29
Semi-Final 2 5 December 1998 7.34 28
Grand Final 12 December 1998 7.02 30
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