The next season of BBC Gladiators has started filming, but it’s already shaping up to look quite different upon its return.
Over the past few months, we’ve seen fan-favourite star Giant bow out of the Bradley and Barney Walsh-hosted show, claiming he was ‘axed’ after he wanted to go public with his then-girlfriend, an OnlyFans creator.
Then reports emerged that fellow stars Bionic and Athena also won’t be filming new episodes after both suffering injuries during the last season – although their return for the tour hasn’t been ruled out.
There are also whispers on the grapevine that the BBC may even be lining up rugby and Traitors legend Joe Marler, notably six-foot, to join the cast in a guest star capacity.
Meanwhile, the new celebrity cast for the special later this year has also been announced, with AJ Odudu, Chris Ramsey, George Clarke, and Sara Pascoe stepping up to the task.
With chatter of sudden exits, fresh blood and famous faces – here’s the latest on who is part of the Gladiators cast in the new season.
Who is in the Gladiators cast?
Tom Stoltman (Gladiator name tbc)
Coming in first, we have a new face on the scene.
World’s Strongest Man victor Tom Stoltman has been announced as the newest addition to the athletic cohort, stepping into Giant’s shoes. Although he doesn’t have an alter-ego yet, many fans hope it will be Atlas.
Coming in at 6ft 8in and weighing 400 pounds, he’s set to provide some fierce competition.
In a statement, he called this a ‘dream opportunity’ and said he was ready to bring his ‘strength, determination and personality to the arena’ and inspire others to believe in themselves.
Legend – Matt Morsia
Behind the camera, Legend is a Huel athlete known as Matt who boasts over one million Instagram followers where he shares fitness content and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks into being a Gladiator.
‘I watched every single episode of the original Gladiators as a kid back in the ’90s (had a life-size poster of Wolf on my wall for like 5 years) so this is an absolute life goal for me,’ he shared as he celebrated joining the cast.
He talks a big game and, reflecting on the end of season two last year, quipped: ‘It’s time to reflect… reflect on the fact that I’m comfortably the best Gladiator the world has ever seen. Reflection over. See you next year.’
Alongside the jokes, however, he has a clear passion for the job and will be raring to get back into it.
Fire – Montell Douglas
Next up is Fire.
Montell has already proved her physical prowess on the global stage as a former Olympian who, at one point, held the British women’s record for the 100m sprint. She later returned to do bobsleigh at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
After a decorated athletic career, she joined the Gladiators cast in 2024 to entertain the masses once more.
‘Never would I have imagined I’d be one of them! Throughout my career as an Olympic Sprinter turned Bobsledder… I can now add GLADIATOR,’ she declared at the time.
Nitro – Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
After a turn on the Strictly ballroom last year where he fox-trotted his way through a fair few weeks, Harry is back where he belongs in the arena.
Time will tell whether his newly acquired dance skills might give him a leg up as they dive headfirst into filming a fresh batch of challenges.
Discussing what this role meant to him, he said: ‘Gladiators taught me invaluable lessons about pushing myself to the limit, celebrating victory like a champion, and graciously accepting defeat.’
Diamond – Livi Sheldon
At a towering 6ft, Livi is bringing it all to the Gladiators stage. Sharing her fitness journey on social media, with empowering women at its heart, she’s accumulated a tidy 160k followers and counting.
In another life, she was a footballer for the Worcester City Ladies team.
Speaking about joining the crew, the bodybuilder said this gig was a ‘dream come true’.
She added: ‘This truly is the biggest thing that has ever happened to me and I can’t wait to get in the arena! I’ve been training for duel since I was 9 years old!’
Fury – Jodie Ounsley
Jodie is a trailblazer through and through, making history as the show’s first deaf Gladiator. It’s a cause close to her heart, and she was previously the honorary president of UK Deaf Sport.
The cherry on top is her time as a rugby player, where she once more made history as the first deaf female rugby player for a senior England side.
She has a tie to Gladiators already after her late father Phil competed on the show in 2008, making her time a Fury all the more special.
‘This opportunity is truly surreal for me, as I grew up watching my dad as a contender on the previous series. I never imagined that one day I would have the chance to be a GLADIATOR,’ she said.
Steel – Zack George
Family man Zack George makes his ethos clear on his Instagram bio where he writes: ‘Inspiring our youth’.
The elite CrossFit athlete, who won the UK’s CrossFit Open Championship in 2020, is bringing all the skills he’s built to the show.
As he bid adieu to CrossFit to become Steel, he told his followers: ‘My aim on this next journey of my life is to hopefully motivate and inspire as many people as I can to chase any dreams that you have.’
Comet – Ella-Mae Rayner
Ella has shown she can truly do it all as a former elite gymnast turned semi-professional diver.
Now a qualified coach and fitness model who spends six days a week in the gym, she’s whipping up a storm on the Gladiators reboot.
‘I specifically remember Jet, she was an icon for me as a child and one of the reasons I became a gymnast. I can’t believe I will be following in her footsteps,’ she said.
Electro – Jade Packer
Self-described athlete, model and creative, she’s also a gold medal-winning bodybuilder after winning the English Grand Prix.
After starting her career as a sprinter, climbing the UK ranks, she pivoted to bodybuilding and CrossFit in her adulthood and is always trying to push herself.
‘I hope Electro can spark an unstoppable pursuit for a new generation of athletes. I’m ready to light up the arena with a different kind of energy,’ she teased about the energy she’s bringing.
Phantom – Toby Olubi
Adding to the Olympians, we have Toby, who competed as part of the Team GB Bobsleigh team in 2018, where they broke the record for the fastest ever bobsleigh.
When he’s not breaking bobsleigh records, he is also a domestic sprinter, collecting various accolades along the way.
Much like the others, he too looked up to the original Gladiators, adding: ‘Now I’ve got the chance to don the big “G” and be an inspirational figure myself.
‘Gladiators is all about stepping up against the odds and bringing the best version of yourself’.
Viper – Quang Luong
TV personality and fitness model Quang Luong is an absolute force to be reckoned with in the arena.
Outside of the BBC reality series, he’s also built a tidy screen career for himself as a gangster in the James Bond movie Die Another Day and Richard Armitage’s show Red Eye.
‘I was born to be a Gladiator. I am strong, powerful and just like a Viper I can attack with speed,’ he warned.
Cyclone – Lystus Ebosele
Lystus is making history all of her own as the first ever Irish Gladiator.
Not only that, but she’s a champion powerlifter and broke the junior world record at the Arnold Classic UK.
She’s also all about uplifting young girls to reach their true potential. ‘It’s OK to want to win, and it’s OK to take up space and be seen,’ she declared.
Hammer – Tom Wilson
Before he was a Gladiator, Tom was an accomplished rower, securing a gold medal at the 2024 British Rowing Indoor Championships.
Not only that, but like many of his co-stars, he’s a multitalented man who also has a past playing for Chesterfield FC as well as trying his feet at sprinting.
‘I’m a hard hitter who’s not only a massive unit but quick and explosive, too. I’m here to stop Contenders, and I mean business,’ he’s previously shared about what he brings to the table.
Apollo – Alex Gray
Nicknamed Alexander the Grayt on his Instagram, you’ll normally find this Gladiator on the field.
He started his athletic career playing rugby, going on to captain the English Rugby teams 16’s, 18’s and 20’s. His raw talent meant he became the first British rugby player to be transferred to the NFL and the first international player to captain a team.
After playing Rugby and in the NFL, the opportunity to inspire as Apollo is a dream come true. I plan on leading from the front and never giving up,’ he shared.
Dynamite – Emily Steel
Our penultimate Gladiator is the one and only Emily, the youngest one in the line-up at just 20 years old.
In her past, she’s done swimming at a national level, and is now a full-time CrossFit athlete as well as dominating in the weightlifting field.
But she’s not only a fitness guru, and her social media shows she also has a musical side as a passionate singer/songwriter.
‘Dynamite really does represent who I am and I’m excited to showcase what I can do in the games,’ she reflected.
Sabre – Sheli McCoy
Last but certainly not least, we have Sheli.
She’s a regular at the British Weightlifting Championships, an international CrossFit athlete and an all-rounder as a ‘business boss, speaker, athlete and creator’.
If that wasn’t enough, she also won the Bafta Scotland audience award for favourite Scot on screen – a high honour.
She said: ‘It’s very important to me to represent strong women. I want the younger generation to be inspired and grow up knowing that anything is possible.’
The new season of Gladiators will arrive on BBC later this year.