BBC One Confirms 2026 Celebrity Gladiators Series with Olympic, Reality Stars

The BBC is set to air a new series of Gladiators in 2026, along with a Celebrity Gladiators special featuring a lineup of super-fit celebrities including Vogue Williams, Joe Wicks, former Olympic boxer Nicola Adams, and I'm A Celebrity winner Sam Thompson. The show, filmed at Sheffield Arena and hosted by Bradley Walsh and his son Barney, promises high-octane physical battles with returning Gladiators such as Dynamite, Electro, and Fury. This year's celebrity contestants are expected to seriously challenge the Gladiators, marking a shift from the previous celebrity edition which focused on comedians for comedic effect. Gladiators has become a Saturday night sensation, averaging 5.3 million viewers and ranking as the most-watched entertainment series on BBC iPlayer, especially popular with younger audiences. The Celebrity Gladiators special will air just before the civilian series, adding to the excitement with fresh events and fierce competition. The BBC's Head of Entertainment highlights the show's appeal as a family-friendly event that brings together diverse audiences to cheer on their favorite Saturday night superheroes.