gladiators

GLADIATORS fans will soon get the chance to live out the show in real life thanks to a new experience.

Birmingham will be getting The Gladiators Experience at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), full of classic challenges seen on the popular TV show.

In total, the experience will sprawl across 10,000sqm and offer a gladiator ‘training facility’ as well as behind-the-scene insights.

Challenges include The Wall, Eliminator, Hang Tough, Duel and Travelator.

While little details have been revealed about what the different features look like, fans can expect the real-life challenges to be similar to the ones on the show.

For example, in Duel, contenders and gladiators face off on raised platforms, by trying to knock each other off.

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Then for The Wall, two contenders race to climb a large wall, whilst being chased by two gladiators.

For the Hang Tough challenge, contenders must swing on a trapeze as gladiators try to drag them down.

Visitors will then also be able to see behind the scenes of the TV show in the Vault.

And if they want to develop their skills further, they can head to the Gladiator Training Facility.

There will also be a shop where fans can purchase exclusive merchandise.

The experience will be open to all ages and expected to launch in May 2026.

Ticket prices and when they will go on sale are yet to be announced.

The show originally launched back in the 90s and is currently in its third revival.

On the show, contenders compete against gladiators in a series of challenges to earn points.

The show finishes after a final race called The Eliminator, where the contender with the most points gets a head start.

The winner is then the first person to complete the obstacle course.

Dom Bird, senior vice president at MGM Alternative Television said: “Now, fans young and old will get one step closer to walking in the footsteps of their heroes, as we announce our brand new Gladiators Experience.

“Based at the NEC Birmingham, everyone finally has the chance to test their skills on the iconic games – from Duel and Hang Tough, to The Wall, and of course the legendary Travelator.

“Come and see if you’ve got what it takes!”

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If you are looking for some other immersive experiences to head to, then there is a Titanic attraction with a major ‘wow’ moment.

Or you could head to the Paddington immersive experience in London with ‘train rides’ and street parties.

Former Olympian and star of Gladiators Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – better known as Nitro – is expected to appear as a contestant in the 2025 season of Strictly Come Dancing

Gladiators star Nitro has been signed up to star in the 2025 season of Strictly Come Dancing. The 36-year-old, whose real name is Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, has some prior experience on the hit BBC show.

He was a contestant in the 2024 Christmas special where he was paired with professional dancer Nancy Xu, 33. The pair impressed the judges are were one of the highest scoring couples, scooping an impressive 37 points for their Street/Commercial performance.

The former Olympic sprinter impressed bosses who are now hoping to secure him for a full season of the long-running dance contest – which will be in its 23rd season this year. There are hopes he will be able to work around his busy schedule that relates to Gladiators – which traditionally films across the summer.

While Strictly usually begins airing in August each year, the contestants are secured weeks in advance and immediately begin training in an effort to gain confidence on the dance floor ahead of the live shows beginning.

A source has told The Sun: “Bosses have been desperate to get Nitro on the series for a while. They were in talks last year but couldn’t get the timings to marry up with his work.”

The source continues: “He was a huge hit at Christmas prancing around in lycra and showing off his biceps. Producers were also impressed with his dancing.”

The source also explained that they hoped Nitro’s inclusion could attract a whole new range of fans to Strictly – as bosses are hoping to capitalize on the family friendly success of Gladiators. The Mirror has contacted the BBC and representatives of Harry for comment.

Strictly has continued to draw scorn and scandal in recent years after accusations of abuse by professional dancers and star signings disgracing themselves with ungentlemanly behaviour. Last year, Go Compare singer Wynne Evans raised eyebrows when he ran his hands over dancer Katy Jones.

He later caused scandal during the 2025 Strictly Live Tour when crude comments he made behind the scenes were made public. Fellow 2024 star Jamie Borthwick was engulfed in scandal this month as it was revealed he used a derogatory term to describe the people of Blackpool when the BBC show filmed there.

A dark cloud hovered over Striclty last year when actress Amanda Abbington made accusations she was abused by professional dancer Giovani Pernice. A BBC investigation was held while Giovanni walked away from the show while protesting his innocence.

Fellow professional dancer Graziano Di Prima admitted he kicked celebrity partner Zara McDermott during rehearsals and he left the BBC show.

Strictly is expected to continue this year, with judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood all set to return. It may be the final time that Craig takes up a seat at the table as he has long vowed to quit the series after he turned 60.

With that landmark passed this year, some fans fear he could retire at the conclusion of the upcoming season. However, the star appeared to backtrack on his promise last year.

He told The Mirror: “I have no intention of quitting because it’s a fantastic Saturday job that I intend to do into my 80s, as long as I’m still compos mentis, darling! and if I haven’t been cancelled before then!”

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The Qalandars chase a record target of 202 against the Gladiators as Raza returns from Test duty to hit the winning runs.

All-rounder Sikandar Raza has written his name in Pakistan cricket folklore after hitting the match-winning six as the Lahore Qalandars beat the Quetta Gladiators by six wickets to win the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Raza, who was part of Zimbabwe’s Test team until Saturday afternoon, joined the Qalandars’ playing XI 10 minutes prior to the toss for the final on Sunday evening in Pakistan’s eastern metropolis.

The Pakistan-born off-break bowler and lower-middle-order batter took one wicket and scored 22 runs off seven balls as Lahore chased a target of 202 with one ball to spare.

Lahore’s run chase was largely built around Kusal Perera’s 62 runs, with support from top-order batters Mohammad Naeem and Abdullah Shafique, but it was Raza’s whirlwind journey from the United Kingdom to Pakistan and his subsequent role in hitting the winning runs that stole the show and Lahori hearts.

The 39-year-old recounted his last 24 hours by saying he had “dinner in Birmingham, breakfast in Dubai, lunch in Abu Dhabi and flew straight to Lahore for the PSL final”.

Raza bowled 25 overs in the Test on Friday and batted for 20-plus overs on Saturday before leaving for Pakistan.

“To have a victory like this, I just have no words,” he said after the match.

The hosts finished on 204-4 from 19.5 overs to lift their third PSL trophy in four years, making Shaheen Shah Afridi the only captain to win three PSL titles.

Earlier, Quetta posted a formidable total of 201-9 in their 20 overs as young batter Hasan Nawaz scored 76 runs off 43 balls and Faheem Ashraf cracked three sixes and two fours in an innings of 28 off eight balls.

Afridi was the pick of the Lahore bowlers, taking 3-24 in his four overs.

Perera was named player of the match for his instrumental innings that kept Lahore in the match until the last over.

Meanwhile, Nawaz was named player of the tournament for amassing 399 runs in the competition.