Gladiators (TV show)

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.

AN England Women’s rugby star is inspiring the next generation in a unique way – by appearing on TV show Gladiators.

Jodie Ounsley, also known as Fury from BBC Gladiators, played for England‘s rugby sevens team as well as Sale Sharks and the Exeter Chiefs.

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She was forced into an early retirement aged just 23 because of a shoulder injury, but has put her rugby skills to good use in her new role.

The Gladiators star told SunSport: “I naturally miss playing and just to see how much the sport’s growing. But on the other hand, I feel very privileged in what I’m doing now.

“Obviously being in a different field of work, on TV in a show like Gladiators, I love that I’m able to still showcase women’s rugby in a show like that through my character, Fury.

“Kids might see me as Fury tackling contenders and think, oh, she must play rugby and then now follow rugby. And I think that’s really powerful. I take so much pride in that.

“I just think of the bigger picture and if I can try and inspire the next generation to get into rugby, then that’s enough for me.

“I’ve stepped away now but never say never, I could go back to rugby in the future, but I’m gonna do everything I can to push the game and bring a new audience, new people to the game as well.”

Ounsley was born deaf and wears a cochlear implant, and has followed in her father’s footsteps by appearing on the show.

She is also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu British champion and a five-time World Coal Carrying champion, but despite her individual accomplishments she still misses the team environment of rugby.

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The 24-year-old continued: “It’s really different from going from a full-time team environment to then being pretty much on your own.

“So still very much lots of training. I mix it around now and I’m obviously not around a team, which is a bit different, but that’s the beauty of rugby.

“I miss my team because that’s what rugby’s about. It’s about being surrounded by your team-mates and you go through so much together.

“Big tournaments like the World Cup, even training, injuries, there’s so much to the game that people don’t even sort of get to see.

“So that’s the part I miss but I’m very happy where I am at the moment.”

Ounsley is also a proud supporter of the See It. Believe It. campaign as part of her role as a brand ambassador for Vodafone.

The campaign aims to dismantle misconceptions surrounding women’s rugby, with research showing 70 per cent of Brits who hold a negative opinion of the sport have never watched a match.

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Ounsley said of the campaign: “It means a lot to me because obviously I’ve had my own journey in rugby.

“The whole meaning behind it is there is a whole misconception from people who have a negative view about women’s rugby. It’s people who haven’t even watched a game of women’s rugby.

“So I think it’s about trying to change that misconception but also getting a new audience and new people to watch the game.

“And then funnily enough, they come and watch the game and they realise they might actually like it. It’s like that throughout all women’s rugby, you always have those different opinions and how people sort of expect it to be.

“I think it’s just how we can change that and flip it to more of a positive light.

“The biggest thing is people try and think we’re trying to say, oh, it’s the same as the men’s game, but it’s really not, it’s just about showing that women love the game as much as anyone else.

“It is a really special game, regardless of what gender is playing it.

“It’s a game of rugby. It’s an exciting thing. It’s really just coming to watch a game of rugby. If you enjoy sport, then it shouldn’t really matter who was playing.”

Jodie Ounsley is proudly supporting Vodafone’s ‘See it. Believe it.’ campaign, which aims to challenge misconceptions about women’s rugby and connect the sport with new audiences.

As part of the campaign, Jodie is working with storytelling experts Goalclick to provide exclusive behind-the-scenes content from all levels of the game.