THE COUNTDOWN is on for Gladiators fans as the BBC has confirmed the hit Saturday night show will be back next week.
With a fiery lineup of challenges ahead, the second series promises to deliver even more action-packed entertainment.
The revival of the iconic 1990s show, which returned last year with Bradley Walsh and his son Barney at the helm, was a runaway ratings success.
The first series reintroduced audiences to the excitement of Gladiator battles, with standout stars like Montell Douglas (Fire), Emily Steel, Zack George, and Matty Campbell.
In the upcoming season, the BBC has teased that the challenges will be “tougher than ever”.
Once again the games will see hopeful contenders facing off against the returning Gladiators – and two new stars are set to join the lineup, bringing the total to 18.
Series two will officially start airing on Saturday, January 18 on BBC One.
One of the most thrilling elements of the upcoming season might be the return of Atlaspheres, a fan-favorite game from the original run.
In this high-stakes event, contenders and Gladiators battle it out in massive metal spheres, rolling their way to victory by landing on scoring pods across the arena floor.
When the show was filmed at the Sheffield Arena, the reintroduction of Atlaspheres was met with cheers from the live audience.
A source told the Sun: “Atlaspheres is one of Gladiators’ most iconic games and was a real fan favourite in the Nineties.
“So when the cages were rolled out into Sheffield Arena this summer to film the game for the first time, the crowd erupted.
“Bosses know it’ll be a real blast from the past for older viewers, plus creates great telly for the new fans.”
However, the game isn’t without its risks. In 1992, original Gladiator Warrior (Michael Ahearne) suffered a severe knee injury during an Atlaspheres match, which shows just how intense the competition can be.
Series two will see fan favourites like Sabre, Legend, Diamond, Phantom, Athena, Bionic, Giant, Dynamite, Comet, Viper, Electro, Apollo, and Steel return to the arena.
Montell Douglas, otherwise known as Fire, will also be back after her dazzling run on Strictly Come Dancing.
Nitro (Harry Aikines-Aryeetey) will not be competing this season due to an injury.
Instead, he’ll join Bradley and Barney as a co-presenter, providing a unique perspective on the action from the sidelines.
