GLADIATORS has been embroiled in a new ‘fix’ row as viewers slammed the ‘unfair’ advantages in the Celebrity special.
Comedian Rob Beckett went up against presenter Joel Dommett on the BBC physical challenge format.
On the game show, The Masked Singer frontman was assigned to the blue team.
He started the competition with a solid lead as he stormed his way through the Collision challenge.
He got more balls into the required nets than his rival, which earned him double the points of the opposing comedian.
Although Rob fared better in the duel challenge, both were knocked off the platform.
Both of the pair had great runs through the third Gauntlet task, although Rob managed to get through all five zones.
Joel said like he felt “knocked back the M1 all the way to London” as he only got to zone four.
After three events, both of the duo were on 14 points meaning it was a dead heat going into the fourth round.
In Powerball, Joel managed to get a ball into the centre bin, earning him an extra point.
Rob called the task ‘brutal’ as he remarked that he was “one tired beavor” after the fourth event.
In the final Eliminator assault course it was Joel who came out victorious as he zoomed up the travelator.
He was crowned as the Gladiators Celebrity Champion as he called his experience “a dream come true.”
After he lost Rob left praise for his rival as he remarked: “I’m so glad I did this with Joel, he is an absolute beast.”
However, viewers took to social media as they claimed Joel was always going to win the show.
Writing on X – formerly known as Twitter – one viewer exclaimed: “Not sure picking Joel against Rob was fair imo. Joel is ripped!!”
The Gladiators final takes place on Easter Saturday at 5.30pm on BBC One.
After ten gruelling weeks facing the superhuman Gladiators, four contenders have made it through to the grand final.
The Gladiators 2024 finalists are:
Finlay Anderson – Army officer Finlay, 34, from Edinburgh has made it to the final despite being injured in the quarter-final.
Wesley Male – Even though he joined in the quarter-final stage, part-time Leeds wrestler Wesley, 35, has proved a force to be reckoned with on the Gladiators gauntlet.
Bronte Jones – This 23-year-old firefighter from Sheffield is the youngest contender in the final.
Marie-Louise Nicholson – Hailing from Dublin, Marie-Louise, 28, is a fitness coach who has scored maximum points five times on Gladiators.
A second stated: “I didn’t think Rob Beckett would be any good at this, but fair play!”
“Gotta say expected Joel to win by a larger margin,” remarked a third.
While a fourth fan stated: “Giant Joel would win this.”
And a fifth user added: “Oooo #Gladiators fix“
Meanwhile, comedian Ellie Taylor beat Former BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin to become the women’s champion.
A new series of Gladiators returns to BBC One later in 2025.
