Four stars confirmed for BBC Gladiators celebrity special
AJ Odudu, Chris Ramsey, George Clarke and Sara Pascoe will face the Gladiators in a brand-new celebrity special on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year, the BBC has confirmed. The hour-long episode will see the four contenders tackle Duel, Unleash, Powerball and the Eliminator.
The announcement marks a first for the revived hit, with the celebrities stepping into Sheffield's arena to take on the show's prime-time powerhouses. For more celebrity TV news, visit our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
Key Takeaways
- AJ Odudu, Chris Ramsey, George Clarke and Sara Pascoe will compete in Gladiators: Celebrity Special.
- The 60-minute special airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year; an exact date is still to come.
- Contenders will face Duel, Unleash, Powerball and the iconic Eliminator.
- Hosts Bradley and Barney Walsh return for the special.
- Hungry Bear Media and MGM Alternative UK produce the episode for the BBC.
Who is taking on the Gladiators?
According to the BBC Media Centre, the line-up mixes TV presenting, comedy and lifestyle talent.
Big Brother host AJ Odudu said she is "stepping inside the TV to do the show I wanted to do as a kid." Comedians Chris Ramsey and Sara Pascoe, both known to Taskmaster fans, join architect and Strictly Come Dancing favourite George Clarke.
Ramsey called the chance "beyond incredible," while joking about wishing he were still in his twenties. Pascoe said the special lets her live out a childhood dream of "humiliating myself on national television." Clarke quipped that he missed the BBC packing him into a "small tight outfit," adding he may need to get training without a dance partner to carry him.
What will the celebrity special involve?
Gladiators: Celebrity Special is a single 60-minute episode. The four contenders will battle through fan-favourite events including Duel, Unleash and Powerball before the Eliminator decides who emerges victorious.
Father-and-son hosts Bradley and Barney Walsh will return as the Gladiators put the celebrity contenders through their paces on speed, strength and charisma.
The show is produced by Hungry Bear Media and MGM Alternative UK, a division of Amazon MGM Studios, for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. It was commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC.
When will Gladiators: Celebrity Special air?
The BBC says the special will arrive later this year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Further broadcast details, including an exact air date, will be announced in due course.
Season 3 of the main series concluded earlier this year, with Emily Bell and Josh McDonald crowned the 2026 champions, according to Radio Times reporting on the celebrity casting news.
Viewers can already add Gladiators to their BBC iPlayer watchlist while they wait for the celebrity showdown.