The 2025 Christmas Day edition of Celebrity Gladiators delivered a festive shock as fitness icon Joe Wicks was left dazed and 'seeing stars' following a savage blow to the head from professional Gladiator Viper.
The Duel That Left The Body Coach Dizzy
During the festive special broadcast on the BBC, Joe Wicks joined celebrities including Nicola Adams, Sam Thompson, and Vogue Williams to face the formidable Gladiators. The trouble began during the 'Duel' challenge, where contestants face off using oversized pugil sticks.
In a moment that has since gone viral, the Gladiator known as Viper – real name Quang Luong – struck Wicks with a full-force hit to the head just before the official start whistle. The 40-year-old fitness guru was visibly shaken, struggling to regain his footing and composure.
Speaking to host Barney Walsh afterwards, a disoriented Wicks admitted he was 'seeing stars' and stumbled over his words. He later gave a more detailed account to The Sun, revealing the full extent of the incident.
Wicks Recalls the Brutal Impact
'Viper hit me a second before the whistle, I got a full whack to the head and I couldn't recover,' Joe Wicks explained. 'I got dizzy, everything flipped upside down. He hit me again and I went over. To top it off, I landed on my head.'
Despite the intense dizziness, Wicks said he felt pressure to get up quickly because his mother and children were watching from the audience. 'I didn't want to look bad, but I could have laid there for a couple of minutes! My mum and boys were right there so I quickly got up, but I was fuzzy,' he recalled.
His attempt to put on a brave face may have been a mistake, he later admitted. As a result of the premature hit, Viper was disqualified from the event, though he showed little remorse for the action.
A History of Gladiators Injuries and Revival
This is not the first significant injury in the recent revival of the iconic show. In 2024, Strictly Come Dancing star and Gladiator Nitro (Harry Aikines-Aryeetey) suffered a serious knee injury, forcing him to withdraw from the competition's second season.
The Gladiators franchise has a storied history on British television. It first aired on ITV from 1992 to 2000 before being cancelled. A reboot on Sky One in 2008, hosted by Ian Wright and Caroline Flack, lasted for two seasons and 27 episodes before ending in 2009.
The BBC successfully revived the show in 2024 with hosts Bradley Walsh and his son Barney, pulling in an average of 6.02 million viewers in its opening episodes. A third season has been commissioned and is scheduled to begin in January 2026.
The Christmas Day 2025 celebrity special followed the first celebrity edition, which featured Rob Beckett, Joel Dommett, Ellie Taylor, and Louise Minchin. Viewers can stream the festive special featuring Joe Wicks's dramatic moment on BBC iPlayer.
