The BBC's Gladiators Celebrity Special has crowned its 2025 champions, with fitness guru Joe Wicks and media personality Vogue Williams claiming victory in a thrilling Christmas Day showdown.
A Festive Battle of Strength and Speed
Hosted once again by the father-and-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh, the star-studded special returned for a second year on December 25, 2025. Four celebrities faced the ultimate test against 18 professional Gladiators in a series of challenges designed to push them to their physical limits.
The men's division saw Joe Wicks, known as The Body Coach, go head-to-head with Made in Chelsea star and former I'm A Celebrity winner Sam Thompson. In the women's contest, Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams OBE competed against broadcaster and model Vogue Williams.
Nail-Biting Finishes and Childhood Dreams
After a series of intense battles, the final results came down to the wire. Joe Wicks emerged victorious over Sam Thompson, though not without a significant challenge. "I still found that travelator hard," Wicks admitted after his win. "It's much harder doing it in real life than watching it on TV. I'm really chuffed that I won but I have to say Sam has been an amazing partner."
The women's final was even closer, with Vogue Williams securing her win against Nicola Adams by a mere two-hundredths of a second in a breathtaking race. "I honestly cannot believe it, I've had the best day ever," a delighted Williams said, thanking the supportive crowd. Prior to competing, she had described taking part as "living out [her] childhood dream."
Nicola Adams showed true sporting spirit in defeat, revealing a minor injury hampered her final run and joking: "This is the first silver medal I've had!"
Behind the Scenes Drama and a Brutal Hit
The path to victory was not without its hazards. Joe Wicks revealed he suffered a brutal blow during the 'Duel' challenge when professional Gladiator Viper (Quang Luong) struck him "a full whack to the head" a second before the starting whistle.
"I got dizzy, everything flipped upside down," Wicks recalled. "He hit me again and I went over. To top it off, I landed on my head." Viper was subsequently disqualified for starting early, but the incident left Wicks seeing stars.
This year's winners follow in the footsteps of comedians Joel Dommett and Ellie Taylor, who triumphed in the inaugural celebrity special aired in January 2025.
Gladiators: Celebrity Special is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer. Fans of the show can look forward to the new main series of Gladiators, which is scheduled to air on BBC One and iPlayer in early 2026.
