The third series of Gladiators began airing in the UK from 17 January 2026 on BBC One. It was recorded in the summer of 2025 at the Sheffield Arena.
The third series was announced by the BBC after the growing attention and the success of the second series in 2025. It is once again being hosted by Bradley and Barney Walsh, and being refereed by Mark Clattenburg with the assistance of Sonia Mkoloma and Lee Phillips.
Another celebrity special episode with four new celebrity contenders was also announced. Joe Wicks, Sam Thompson, Vogue Williams and Nicola Adams were announced as the new celebrity lineup. The special once again preceded the run of the main series, but was this time aired on Christmas Day.
In January 2026, following his divorce, male gladiator Giant reverted his last name to his birth name, Bigg. However, as the series was filmed in the summer of 2025, he is still listed here as Jamie Christian-Johal, using his previous double-barrel surname.
When airing of the episodes began, it was quickly announced that the programme had started casting contenders for a further, fourth series.
Gladiators
All of the 18 Gladiators from across the previous two series were set to return this series. Nitro returned from his hiatus on Series 2 after suffering an knee injury before the filming of the series, as did Giant, who was only seen briefly in the previous series due to a bicep injury.
Males Females Gladiator name Real name Stats Gladiator name Real name StatsApolloAlex Gray6 ft 6 in, 249 lb (1.98 m, 113 kg)AthenaKarenjeet Bains5 ft 4 in, 148 lb (1.63 m, 67 kg)BionicMatty Campbell6 ft 6 in, 260 lb (1.98 m, 120 kg)CometElla-Mae Rayner5 ft 8 in, 146 lb (1.73 m, 66 kg)GiantJamie Christian-Johal6 ft 5 in, 280 lb (1.96 m, 130 kg)CycloneLystus Ebosele5 ft 10 in, 209 lb (1.78 m, 95 kg)HammerTom Wilson6 ft 6 in, 257 lb (1.98 m, 117 kg)DiamondLiv Sheldon6 ft 0 in, 176 lb (1.83 m, 80 kg)LegendMatt Morsia6 ft 1 in, 212 lb (1.85 m, 96 kg)DynamiteEmily Steel5 ft 5 in, 141 lb (1.65 m, 64 kg)NitroHarry Aikines-Aryeetey5 ft 11 in, 187 lb (1.80 m, 85 kg)ElectroJade Packer5 ft 8 in, 154 lb (1.73 m, 70 kg)PhantomToby Olubi6 ft 5 in, 247 lb (1.96 m, 112 kg)FireMontell Douglas5 ft 10 in, 148 lb (1.78 m, 67 kg)SteelZack George6 ft 0 in, 222 lb (1.83 m, 101 kg)FuryJodie Ounsley5 ft 7 in, 163 lb (1.70 m, 74 kg)ViperQuang Luong6 ft 0 in, 200 lb (1.83 m, 90 kg)SabreSheli McCoy5 ft 7 in, 154 lb (1.70 m, 70 kg) Notes
Contenders The winning contenders are marked in bold. As the series contains only five heats, and three quarter finals, in addition to the winners of the previous episodes, winners of unaired head-to-head versions of Duel between the two fastest runners-up advance to the next stage in the heats and the fastest losers in the quarters. (Marked with WC)
Episodes Male Contenders Female Contenders Celebrity Special Joe WicksSam Thompson Nicola Adams Vogue WilliamsHeat 1Finn HuttonJosh McDonaldRachael Phillips Naomi ChurchHeat 2Mark BillingsJason MelroseGail WoodburnEmily BellHeat 3Elliot BartonTyler SpenceEllie LedererMillie Margetts (WC)Heat 4Shaun Stephen (WC)Hinley ChanElla DonnellyCiara ScullionHeat 5Mo RobertsonSid IslamHelena MossNikki HufanoQuarter Final 1Mark Billings/Josh McDonaldTyler SpenceEllie Lederer Naomi Church Quarter Final 2Mo Robertson (WC)Shaun Stephen Helena MossMillie Margetts Quarter Final 3Finn HuttonHinley ChanElla Donnelly Emily Bell (WC) Semi Final 1Mo Robertson/Tyler SpenceFinn Hutton Ella Donnelly Naomi Church Semi Final 2Shaun StephenJosh McDonaldMillie Margetts Emily Bell Grand FinalTyler SpenceJosh McDonaldNaomi Church Emily Bell WinnersJosh McDonald Emily Bell Notes
Events
In addition to the events from the previous series (Duel, Gauntlet, Hang Tough, Collision, Powerball, The Wall, The Edge, Unleash, Atlaspheres, Crash Course and The Eliminator), several brand new and returning classic events are introduced on the third series.
Destruction is one of the new games in this series. In this event, two contenders are facing one Gladiator, in a race to press the button at the center of the arena. To get to the button, they have to break through four 8 ft tall barriers, each one requiring a different technique. The first is a straight run through, the second requires use of a battering ram, the third has marked crosses that must be kicked or punched to create hand/foot holds to climb over, and the fourth must be got through via brute force with repeated barges and attacks. 10 points are awarded for a win, 5 for coming second. If the gladiator comes first, 5 points are given to the first contender to strike the button.
Everest is the second of the brand new games of the series. In a game of pushing power on an elevated platform 21 ft above the arena floor, the contender and the Gladiator must push a 220kg solid perspex wall the length of the platform so that the opponent will fall off the due to lack of space. At a certain point a siren will sound meaning the platform will tilt, firstly in the contender's favour and then in the Gladiator's. 10 points are gained for pushing the Gladiator off.
Suspension Bridge makes its return from the original series. A variant of Duel, contenders and gladiators fight on an unstable suspension bridge, and the contenders must reach the Gladiator's platform on the opposite side of the bridge to win. As in the original version, combatants fight using the hammerhead weapons. 10 points are awarded if the contenders reaches the Gladiator's platform, 5 points for a draw or if the Gladiator breaks the rules.
In a change to previous series, a head-to-head version of Duel between the two fastest runner-ups in the heats was used to determine which contenders would receive the final spot in the quarter-finals; however, there were no clear winners due to none of the contenders falling in either the male or female bouts so the head referee made the final decision based on performance; this was not mentioned or aired in the programme.
For this series, the balance beam obstacle of the Eliminator has been modified so instead of a level run it dips in the middle. Any red section on the beam must be touched or the contender will have to start again. For the grand final, the timings for Unleash and Gauntlet were reduced by one second and five seconds respectively.
Episodes
Contenders progress Colour key: Series champions Series runners-up The contender won the episode and advanced The contender won the episode as a substitute for an injured contender The contender was medically withdrawn from the competition The contender lost the episode but was later the winner of the head-to-head Duel-off in the heats or fastest loser in the quarter finals and therefore qualified The contender lost the episode and was eliminated
Contenders EpisodesHeatsQuarter FinalsSemi FinalsFinal 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11JoshOUTcolspan="4" WINcolspan="3" WIN CHAMPIONEmilycolspan="1" WINcolspan="5"FFcolspan="1" WIN CHAMPIONNaomiWINcolspan="4" WINcolspan="2" WINcolspan="1" RUNNER-UPTylercolspan="2" WINcolspan="2" OUTcolspan="2" WINcolspan="1" RUNNER-UPMilliecolspan="2" FFcolspan="3" WIN colspan="2" OUTShauncolspan="3" FFcolspan="2" WINcolspan="2" OUT FinnWINcolspan="6" WIN OUTcolspan="2" Ellacolspan="3" WINcolspan="3" WINOUTcolspan="2" Mocolspan="4" WINcolspan="1" FF colspan="1" WDRcolspan="2" Hinleycolspan="3" WINcolspan="3" OUT colspan="4" Helenacolspan="4" WINOUTcolspan="4" Elliecolspan="2" WINcolspan="2" OUT colspan="5" Markcolspan="1" WINcolspan="3" WDRcolspan="5" Sidcolspan="4" OUTcolspan="6" Nikkicolspan="4" OUTcolspan="6" Ciaracolspan="3" OUTcolspan="7" Elliotcolspan="2" OUTcolspan="8" Jasoncolspan="1" OUTcolspan="9" Gailcolspan="1" OUTcolspan="9"RachaelOUTcolspan="10"
Notes
Contender records Heat 1: Finn became the first contender to defeat Giant and gain 10 points against him on Duel. Heat 4: Ella scored a record 12 points on Collision. Quarter Final 3: Ella set an unspecified women's record for the fastest time to complete Unleash. Grand Final: The Final contained the show's oldest and youngest ever female finalists with Naomi, aged 40, and Emily, who was competing on her 23rd birthday. The fastest Eliminator times mentioned this season (with the new, more difficult balance beam introduced into the course) were Emily’s 81 seconds in her quarter-final and Tyler’s 69 seconds in his semi-final.
Gladiator injuries The third season has seen the most Gladiator injuries to date. Male Gladiator Legend (Matt Morsia) damaged his left bicep tendon during a failed tackle that resulted in him falling off The Edge on aired episode 1 (episodes are produced and aired in a different order). Diamond (Livi Sheldon) suffered a major ACL and MCL tear during the fourth aired episode in Powerball, sidelining her for the rest of the series as well.
Athena (Karenjeet Kaur Bains) was last seen competing in Gauntlet in Heat 5. After the filming, she was discovered she had a full ACL tear, in addition to LCL and MCL ruptures, forcing her to step off for a surgery. She wasn't seen on the Celebrity Special either due to this. Bionic (Matty Campbell) received a shoulder injury in Quarter Finals stage playing Hang Tough, forcing him to withdraw from the remainder of the season as well. Fury (Jodie Ounsley) also mildly hurt her shoulder during the early Quarter Finals recordings in a game of Destruction, which required her to step out for few episodes, and makes only sparse appearances during the rest of the series, wearing shoulder tapings.
References