The iconic arena competition Gladiators is back on BBC One for its third rebooted series, more than two decades after the original 90s phenomenon left our screens. The show, originally presented by Ulrika Jonsson, ran from 1992 until 2000 on ITV and is now fronted by father-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh. As new stars like Apollo and Dynamite battle it out, fans are reminiscing about the legendary original line-up. So what became of the superhuman stars who defined Saturday night television in the 90s?
From the Arena to New Adventures
Many Gladiators traded their spandex for completely different careers. Diane Youdale, known as Jet, left the show in 1996 after suffering spinal injuries at a live event. The now 53-year-old requalified as a psychotherapist and Pilates instructor after working as a teacher. Meanwhile, Kim Betts, aka Lightning, who was only ever beaten once, became a business mogul investing in beauty parlours, fisheries, and property development.
Michael Van Wijk, the menacing Wolf, recently sent fans wild with an appearance on Netflix's Squid Game as contestant 072. Now 71, he owns Wolf's Gym in Auckland, New Zealand, and has competed as a cage-fighter. One of the most dramatic transitions belongs to Eunice Huthart (Blaze). After winning as a contestant in 1994, she returned as a Gladiator and was scouted to be a stunt double for Pierce Brosnan in GoldenEye. She later became Angelina Jolie's regular stunt double and trained stars for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Personal Triumphs and Challenges
The lives of the former Gladiators have seen remarkable highs and profound lows. Warren Furman (Ace), who was engaged to Katie Price in the 90s, now lives in York with his family, runs a gospel choir, and describes himself as 'a Gladiator for the gospel'. In contrast, Jefferson King (Shadow) was thrown off the show in 1995 for taking steroids and was later jailed in 2021 for his part in a blackmail plot.
Tragedy struck the Gladiators family last year with the death of Bernadette Hunt (Falcon) at age 59 after a cancer battle. She had worked as a fitness instructor in Basingstoke after the show. Injuries also cut short many careers. Helen O'Reilly (Panther) sustained serious neck and back damage in a horror fall on The Tilt and now runs her own West London gym. Kate Staples (Zodiac), a former Commonwealth pole-vault record holder, broke bones in her neck but made a full recovery.
Life After the Limelight
Several Gladiators successfully transitioned into mainstream television and acting. Sharron Davies (Amazon), an Olympic silver-medal swimmer, became a BBC sports presenter and host of The Big Breakfast. Mark Griffin (Trojan) quit in 1996 to focus on acting, landing roles in Doctor Who, NCIS, and Hollywood films like Daddy Day Care.
James Crossley (Hunter), who dated host Ulrika Jonsson and won the 'Ultimate Gladiator' title, now runs a sound therapist school. Michael Lewis (Saracen), an icon who appeared in all eight original series, later worked as a fireman and told the Daily Star in 2022 he would have 'carried on forever'.
The new series of Gladiators continues on BBC One and iPlayer, but the legacy of the original 90s warriors, with their diverse paths from faith and fitness to Hollywood and hardship, remains unforgettable.
