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* EstablishingCharacterMusic: Each Gladiator has their own song, which is played for entrances and profile screens, but not for the challenges themselves.
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* HeartbeatSoundtrack: After the referee calls "En garde", the gap before the start of the Duel challenge is filled by a loud heartbeat and a focus on the combatants' faces.
to:
* HeartbeatSoundtrack: HeartbeatSoundtrack:
** After the referee calls "En garde", the gap before the start of theDuel "Duel" challenge is filled by a loud heartbeat and a focus on the combatants' faces.faces.
** If a contender or Gladiator falls from the raised beams of "The Edge", 30 feet above the net, it's presented as a SlowMotionFall accompanied by a slow heartbeat.
** After the referee calls "En garde", the gap before the start of the
** If a contender or Gladiator falls from the raised beams of "The Edge", 30 feet above the net, it's presented as a SlowMotionFall accompanied by a slow heartbeat.
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* CurbStompBattle: Some of the challenges can be ended abruptly by a RingOut or similar victory. In the first episode, [[spoiler:Giant wins his podium "Duel" just two seconds into the contest, sending contender Myles flying before he lands a blow of his own]].
to:
* CurbStompBattle: Some of the challenges can be ended abruptly by a RingOut or similar victory.
** In the first episode, [[spoiler:Giant wins his podium "Duel" just two seconds into the contest, sending contender Myles flying before he lands a blow of hisown]].own]].
** In the second episode, [[spoiler:during "The Edge", Apollo immediately intercepts contender John and simply throws him off the platform, five seconds into a minute-long challenge]].
** In the first episode, [[spoiler:Giant wins his podium "Duel" just two seconds into the contest, sending contender Myles flying before he lands a blow of his
** In the second episode, [[spoiler:during "The Edge", Apollo immediately intercepts contender John and simply throws him off the platform, five seconds into a minute-long challenge]].
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** The "Duel" challenge puts a contender on a small podium, raised several feet above the mat, armed with a pugil stick. A Gladiator with a pugil stick stands on an adjacent podium. They try to knock each other off the podiums before time runs out.
to:
** The "Duel" challenge puts a contender on a small podium, raised several feet above the mat, armed with a pugil stick. A Gladiator with a pugil stick stands on an adjacent podium. They try to knock each other off the podiums before time runs out. If someone falls, or steps on the other podium, they've lost.
** "The Edge" is a one-on-one challenge that pits a contestant against a Gladiator on a framework of narrow beams 30 feet above a net. Points are scored by repeatedly crossing from one side to the other and back before time runs out, but if a contender falls off, it's all over. If a Gladiator falls, the contender doesn't automatically win - they still need to cross to score their points.
** "The Edge" is a one-on-one challenge that pits a contestant against a Gladiator on a framework of narrow beams 30 feet above a net. Points are scored by repeatedly crossing from one side to the other and back before time runs out, but if a contender falls off, it's all over. If a Gladiator falls, the contender doesn't automatically win - they still need to cross to score their points.
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* InTheHood: Phantom normally wears a hood for his entrance into the arena.
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* InTheHood: Phantom Phantom, one of the titular Gladiators, normally wears a hood for his entrance into the arena.arena. It's purely for effect and is pulled back almost immediately, before he competes in any of the challenges.
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* ScreenShake: For Nitro's first episode debut he does a very brief dance move to his signature tune, then jumps in the air. A camera effect is added so that it looks as if the entire stage shakes when he lands.
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* ScreenShake: For Nitro's first episode debut he does a very brief dance move to his signature tune, then jumps in the air. A camera effect is added so that it looks as if the entire stage shakes when he lands.
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* WorthyOpponent: Most of the Gladiators will praise or congratulate a contestant who beats them, or at least puts up a good fight. Viper and Legend, as {{Heel}}s, are a deliberate exception to the rule.
to:
* WorthyOpponent: Most of the Gladiators will praise or congratulate a contestant who beats them, or at least puts up a good fight. Viper and Legend, as the show's {{Heel}}s, are a deliberate exception to the rule.rule.
-->'''Steel:''' Tell you what, absolute respect to those boys. They took some ''big'' hits and they got straight back up and they managed to get some points, so fair play to the boys.
-->'''Steel:''' Tell you what, absolute respect to those boys. They took some ''big'' hits and they got straight back up and they managed to get some points, so fair play to the boys.
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* InTheHood: Phantom normally wears a hood for his entrance into the arena.
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* SoreLoser: The show's resident {{Heel}}s take losing badly with Viper destroying Bradley's microphone whilst being interviewed and Legend refusing handshakes and blaming his loss on the Wall on the [[BlatantLies bad lighting of the arena]].
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* PinkGirlBlueBoy: The Gladiators' uniforms return to this colour scheme after the original show switched to red, white and blue and the 2008 series went for black and silver. The uniforms for each gender have highlights in the colour of the other gender's uniforms to keep the look cohesive.
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* TheQuietOne: Viper barely talks and when he does, it's mostly {{Hulkspeak}}.
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* TheQuietOne: Viper is one of the show's {{heel}}s, a brute with anger issues who barely talks and when talks. When he does, does get to speak, it's mostly {{Hulkspeak}}.
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Each episode sees four contenders - two men and two women - completing in five challenges against the Gladiators, then a final obstacle course race against each other. The strongest contestant from each episode proceeds to the next round.
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Each episode sees four contenders - two men and two women - completing in five challenges against the Gladiators, then a final obstacle assault course race against each other. The strongest contestant from each episode proceeds to the next round.
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* OnSetInjury: [[invoked]] It's a very arduous, physical show, with plenty of scope for injury. If a contender is injured during filming, it's likely to be worked into the show. [[spoiler:In the very first episode both male contestants end up injured. Finley hurts his knee in an early challenge, abruptly ending it, and the commentary repeatedly questions whether he'll he able to continue. His rival Myles then injures his calf during the final Eliminator obstacle course run]].
to:
* OnSetInjury: [[invoked]] It's a very arduous, physical show, with plenty of scope for injury. If a contender is injured during filming, it's likely to be worked into the show. [[spoiler:In the very first episode both male contestants end up injured. Finley hurts his knee in an early challenge, abruptly ending it, and the commentary repeatedly questions whether he'll he able to continue. His rival Myles then injures his calf during the final Eliminator obstacle assault course run]].
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* FreezeFrameIntroduction: Each Gladiator's first appearance in a particular episode has a freeze-frame highlighting them as they take the stage, then cutting to their profile screen for a couple of seconds while the commentator introduces them.
to:
* FreezeFrameIntroduction: Each Gladiator's first appearance in a particular episode has a freeze-frame highlighting them as they take the stage, stage, then cutting cuts to their profile screen for a couple of seconds while the commentator introduces them.
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* FreezeFrameIntroduction: Each Gladiator's first appearance in a particular episode has a freeze-frame highlighting them as they take the stage, then cutting to their profile screen for a couple of seconds while the commentator introduces them.
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The show is hosted by Bradley Walsh and Barney Walsh, a father and son team, who interview the contenders and Gladiators between the challenges.
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The show is hosted by Bradley Walsh Creator/BradleyWalsh and Barney Walsh, a father and son team, who interview the contenders and Gladiators between the challenges.
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* DontTryThisAtHome: When new challenge "Collision" debuts in the first season, Barney Walsh warns viewers not to try it at home. The warning's promptly lampshaded by his father, as viewers are very unlikely to have the equipment to attempt it.
-->'''Bradley Walsh:''' Next up is a brand new game that's all about trying to cross a giant suspension bridge.
-->'''Barney Walsh:''' And please don't try this at home.
-->'''Bradley Walsh:''' Yes, for all of you watching ''with a giant suspension bridge in your front room'', please don't try this at home.
-->'''Bradley Walsh:''' Next up is a brand new game that's all about trying to cross a giant suspension bridge.
-->'''Barney Walsh:''' And please don't try this at home.
-->'''Bradley Walsh:''' Yes, for all of you watching ''with a giant suspension bridge in your front room'', please don't try this at home.
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Crosswicking
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* PlayingWithFire: The opening credits and Gladiator profile clips present Fire as if she has superpowers, throwing a small fireball from her hands.
to:
* PlayingWithFire: The Played with in the opening credits and Gladiator profile clips screens, which present Fire as if she has superpowers, throwing a small fireball from her hands. Like the other titular Gladiators, she's a very competent athlete — but she does not, in fact, have superpowers.
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* CurbStompBattle: Some of the challenges can be ended abruptly by a RingOut or similar victory. In the first episode, [[spoiler:Giant wins his first podium "Duel" just two seconds into the contest, sending contender Myles flying before he even lands a blow]]
to:
* CurbStompBattle: Some of the challenges can be ended abruptly by a RingOut or similar victory. In the first episode, [[spoiler:Giant wins his first podium "Duel" just two seconds into the contest, sending contender Myles flying before he even lands a blow]]blow of his own]].
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* OnSetInjury: [[invoked]] It's a very arduous, physical show, with plenty of scope for injury. If a contender is injured during filming, it's likely to be worked into the show. [[spoiler:In the first episode both male contestants end up injured - Finley hurts his knee in an early challenge, and the commentary questions whether he'll he able to continue; Myles then injures his calf during the final Eliminator obstacle course run]].
to:
* OnSetInjury: [[invoked]] It's a very arduous, physical show, with plenty of scope for injury. If a contender is injured during filming, it's likely to be worked into the show. [[spoiler:In the very first episode both male contestants end up injured - injured. Finley hurts his knee in an early challenge, abruptly ending it, and the commentary repeatedly questions whether he'll he able to continue; continue. His rival Myles then injures his calf during the final Eliminator obstacle course run]].
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* OnTheNext: Each episode ends with clips of the next episode's challenges. Early in the season, it'll also highlight any new Gladiators introduced in the episode.
* NonGameplayElimination: [[invoked]] There's plenty of scope for competitors to withdraw due to OnSetInjury. This is swiftly established in the very first episode when a competitor injures his knee in an early challenge and there's doubt as to whether he can continue.
* NonGameplayElimination: [[invoked]] There's plenty of scope for competitors to withdraw due to OnSetInjury. This is swiftly established in the very first episode when a competitor injures his knee in an early challenge and there's doubt as to whether he can continue.
to:
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* OnTheNext: Each episode ends with clips of the next episode's challenges. Early in the season, it'll also highlight any new Gladiators introduced in the episode.
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* OnTheNext: Each episode ends with clips of the next episode's challenges. Early in the season, it'll also highlight any new Gladiators introduced making their debut in the next episode.
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* NextTimeOn: Each episode ends with clips of the next episode's challenges. Early in the season, it'll also highlight any new Gladiators introduced in the episode.
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* NextTimeOn: OnTheNext: Each episode ends with clips of the next episode's challenges. Early in the season, it'll also highlight any new Gladiators introduced in the episode.
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* OnTheNext: Each episode ends with clips of the next episode's challenges. Early in the season, it'll also highlight any new Gladiators introduced in the episode.
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* MurderousThighs: "Hang Tough" has the Gladiators hanging from rings and relying on their legs to grapple contenders. This sometimes happens in "Collision" as well, although that challenge tends to use more body slams from swings.
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* MurderousThighs: MurderousThighs:
** The "Hang Tough" challenge has the Gladiators hanging from rings andrelying on using their legs to grapple contenders. This sometimes happens in Much of the time this means wrapping thighs around them to break the contender's hold on their own rings.
** In "Collision"as well, although that challenge tends Gladiators hang from rings and swing back and forth, trying to knock the contenders below them off an unstable bridge. They mostly use more body slams from swings. the swings to accomplish this, but they'll also grapple with their legs if they get the chance.
** The "Hang Tough" challenge has the Gladiators hanging from rings and
** In "Collision"
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* {{Revival}}: The show is a revival of ''Series/{{Gladiators}}'', which was itself an adaptation of Series/AmericanGladiators. There's a strong element of RevisitingTheRoots and it owes more to the original Creator/ITV ''Gladiators'' series than to the Creator/SkyOne revival that followed it.
to:
* {{Revival}}: The show is a revival of ''Series/{{Gladiators}}'', which was itself an adaptation of Series/AmericanGladiators. There's a strong element of RevisitingTheRoots and it owes more to the original Creator/ITV Creator/{{ITV}} ''Gladiators'' series than to the Creator/SkyOne revival that followed it.
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Rephrase to accompany crosswicking
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* {{Heel}}: Viper and Legend are initially the heels for this iteration of the franchise. Viper's portrayed as a quiet psychopath willing to cheat and demolish contenders, whereas Legend is vain, dim and [[ItsAllAboutMe self-obsessed]].
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* {{Heel}}: The first season quickly establishes Viper and Legend are initially the as heels for this iteration version of the franchise. show. Viper's portrayed as a quiet psychopath mostly silent brute with anger issues, willing to cheat and demolish contenders, whereas Legend is vain, dim and [[ItsAllAboutMe self-obsessed]].
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Expanded example following crosswicking
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* HandicappedBadass: The first episode introduces Fury, the first deaf British Gladiator. As usual, the show's profile does its best to immediately establish her as a very competent badass.
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* HandicappedBadass: The first episode introduces Fury, the first deaf British Gladiator. As usual, the show's profile screen intro does its best to immediately establish her as a very competent badass.badass, even before she starts pummelling contenders. It helps that the performer behind the persona and {{kayfabe}} is Jodie Ounsley, a deaf athlete who competed internationally in jiu jitsu and rugby, and has repeatedly won the World Coal Carrying championship.
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* {{Revival}}: The show is a revival of Series/Gladiators, which was itself an adaptation of Series/AmericanGladiators. There's a strong element of RevisitingTheRoots and it owes more to the original Creator/ITV ''Gladiators'' series than to the Creator/SkyOne revival that followed it.
to:
* {{Revival}}: The show is a revival of Series/Gladiators, ''Series/{{Gladiators}}'', which was itself an adaptation of Series/AmericanGladiators. There's a strong element of RevisitingTheRoots and it owes more to the original Creator/ITV ''Gladiators'' series than to the Creator/SkyOne revival that followed it.
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* CurbStompBattle: Some of the challenges can be ended abruptly by a RingOut or similar victory. In the first episode, [[spoiler:Giant wins his first podium Duel two seconds into the contest, sending contender Myles flying before he even lands a blow]]
to:
* CurbStompBattle: Some of the challenges can be ended abruptly by a RingOut or similar victory. In the first episode, [[spoiler:Giant wins his first podium Duel "Duel" just two seconds into the contest, sending contender Myles flying before he even lands a blow]]
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* BringIt: The opening credits show Apollo making a 'bring it' beckoning gesture with his hand whilst nodding at the audience.
to:
* BringIt: The opening credits show Apollo making a 'bring it' beckoning gesture with his hand whilst nodding at giving the audience.audience a meaningful nod.
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* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Viper's very first challenge, "Collision" sees him cement his {{Heel}} role by abandoning the rings he's supposed to swing from, dropping onto the bridge snd directly wrestling the contender. He's disqualified for cheating and there's a glimpse of him getting very close and personal with the referee immediately afterwards. He doesn't say a word during any of this.
to:
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Viper's first challenge in the very first challenge, "Collision" episode is "Collision", which sees him cement his {{Heel}} role by abandoning the rings he's supposed to swing from, dropping onto the bridge snd directly wrestling the contender. He's disqualified for cheating and there's a glimpse of him getting very close and personal with the referee immediately afterwards. He doesn't say a word during any of this.remains silent for the duration.
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* ItsAllAboutMe: Legend is one of the show's {{Heel}}s and completely self-obsessed. After one challenge, when Barney Walsh wants to talk to him about how a competitor did, Legend's so annoyed that his own performance isn't being discussed that he ends the interview by wrestling the presenter to the ground.
to:
* ItsAllAboutMe: Legend is one of the show's {{Heel}}s and completely self-obsessed. After one challenge, when Barney Walsh wants to talk to him about how a competitor did, Legend's so annoyed that his own performance isn't being discussed that he ends the interview by wrestling the presenter to the ground.mat.
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Launching from sandbox
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%% NOTE - The Gladiators are characters with an element of Kayfabe. We can trope perfomers' Gladiator personas without running into Administrivia/RealLifeTroping and NRLEP rules.
%%
%% HOWEVER, the presenters, the contenders and the performers playing the Gladiators are all real people and must not be troped as fictional characters.
%%
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/f965ba97_a76c_4d41_ac39_896a86cda536.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Are... you... ready?!]]
->''"Do you feel the power of the Gladiators? \\
Do you have the will and the skill? \\
Do you have the speed, the strength, \\
the heart to be a winner? \\
It's not for beginners"''
-->-- '''Gladiators''' theme song (opening credits)
''Gladiators'' is a British GameShow produced by Hungry Bear Media and MGM Alternative UK for Creator/TheBBC.
It's a {{revival}} of ''Series/{{Gladiators}}'', which was itself an adaptation or ''Series/AmericanGladiators''.
The show, like its predecessors, sees contestants ("contenders") compete in a range of physical challenges. They're competing against each other, sometimes directly, but they're also opposed by the titular Gladiators - the show's squad of elite athletes, who adopt pseudonyms and stage personas for the show.
Much like ProfessionalWrestling, there's an element of {{kayfabe}} to the Gladiators themselves, with some adopting a {{Heel}} persona and actively playing the villain. The Gladiators' real identities aren't a secret, and some of their profiles acknowledge their previous achievements. However, within the show they're only ever mentioned by their persona's name.
The show is hosted by Bradley Walsh and Barney Walsh, a father and son team, who interview the contenders and Gladiators between the challenges.
Each episode sees four contenders - two men and two women - completing in five challenges against the Gladiators, then a final obstacle course race against each other. The strongest contestant from each episode proceeds to the next round.
The first episode was aired January 13, 2024.
----
!!''Gladiators'' contains examples of the following tropes:
* BringIt: The opening credits show Apollo making a 'bring it' beckoning gesture with his hand whilst nodding at the audience.
* CurbStompBattle: Some of the challenges can be ended abruptly by a RingOut or similar victory. In the first episode, [[spoiler:Giant wins his first podium Duel two seconds into the contest, sending contender Myles flying before he even lands a blow]]
* EliminatedFromTheRace: The episode's final challenge is the aptly named Eliminator, a head-to-head race between two competitors, with no Gladiators involved. Points from previous challenges convert into a time advantage. The first contestant across the line goes through to the next round. The fastest runner-up from the first round episodes also gets a place in the quarter finals. The other losers are eliminated.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Viper's very first challenge, "Collision" sees him cement his {{Heel}} role by abandoning the rings he's supposed to swing from, dropping onto the bridge snd directly wrestling the contender. He's disqualified for cheating and there's a glimpse of him getting very close and personal with the referee immediately afterwards. He doesn't say a word during any of this.
* GameShowPhysicalChallenge: ''Gladiators'' is a game show, but all of the challenges are physical contests. Either contestants are competing against each other, they're directly competing against a Gladiator, or they're trying to complete some sort of task while one or more Gladiators try to stop them.
* HandicappedBadass: The first episode introduces Fury, the first deaf British Gladiator. As usual, the show's profile does its best to immediately establish her as a very competent badass.
* HeartbeatSoundtrack: After the referee calls "En garde", the gap before the start of the Duel challenge is filled by a loud heartbeat and a focus on the combatants' faces.
* {{Heel}}: Viper and Legend are initially the heels for this iteration of the franchise. Viper's portrayed as a quiet psychopath willing to cheat and demolish contenders, whereas Legend is vain, dim and [[ItsAllAboutMe self-obsessed]].
* ItsAllAboutMe: Legend is one of the show's {{Heel}}s and completely self-obsessed. After one challenge, when Barney Walsh wants to talk to him about how a competitor did, Legend's so annoyed that his own performance isn't being discussed that he ends the interview by wrestling the presenter to the ground.
* MurderousThighs: "Hang Tough" has the Gladiators hanging from rings and relying on their legs to grapple contenders. This sometimes happens in "Collision" as well, although that challenge tends to use more body slams from swings.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: All of the Gladiators use imposing names, but Viper's an antisocial {{Heel}} who cheats when facing competitors. A snake-in-the-grass name suits him very well.
* NextTimeOn: Each episode ends with clips of the next episode's challenges. Early in the season, it'll also highlight any new Gladiators introduced in the episode.
* NonGameplayElimination: [[invoked]] There's plenty of scope for competitors to withdraw due to OnSetInjury. This is swiftly established in the very first episode when a competitor injures his knee in an early challenge and there's doubt as to whether he can continue.
* OnSetInjury: [[invoked]] It's a very arduous, physical show, with plenty of scope for injury. If a contender is injured during filming, it's likely to be worked into the show. [[spoiler:In the first episode both male contestants end up injured - Finley hurts his knee in an early challenge, and the commentary questions whether he'll he able to continue; Myles then injures his calf during the final Eliminator obstacle course run]].
* PlayingWithFire: The opening credits and Gladiator profile clips present Fire as if she has superpowers, throwing a small fireball from her hands.
* PromotedFanboy [[invoked]]:
** The show itself mentions that Steel was apparently a fan of the earlier ''{{Series/Gladiators}}'' shows. Now he's one of the Gladiators.
** The introduction for episode one contenders Myles and Kerry mention that they grew up watching ''Gladiators'' twenty years earlier, and never thought they'd compete in it. Kerry describes it as surreal.
* TheQuietOne: Viper barely talks and when he does, it's mostly {{Hulkspeak}}.
* RevisitingTheRoots: A lot of changes made for the 2008 version are reversed. The show moves back to an arena setting, removes the water, and uses a version of the 1993 theme tune. The Eliminator challenge is also heavily influenced by the original series rather than Sky's version.
* {{Revival}}: The show is a revival of Series/Gladiators, which was itself an adaptation of Series/AmericanGladiators. There's a strong element of RevisitingTheRoots and it owes more to the original Creator/ITV ''Gladiators'' series than to the Creator/SkyOne revival that followed it.
* RingOut:
** The "Duel" challenge puts a contender on a small podium, raised several feet above the mat, armed with a pugil stick. A Gladiator with a pugil stick stands on an adjacent podium. They try to knock each other off the podiums before time runs out.
** "Collision" has a variation - any contestant the Gladiators can knock off the bridge has lost. This time it doesn't work both ways, as the Gladiators themselves aren't on the bridge.
* ScreenShake: For Nitro's first episode debut he does a very brief dance move to his signature tune, then jumps in the air. A camera effect is added so that it looks as if the entire stage shakes when he lands.
* SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou: The opening credits [[IntroductoryOpeningCredits show the Gladiators]] in various action poses, some of which are directly aimed at the audience. Viper's about to elbow the viewer in the face, Fire [[PlayingWithFire throws a small fireball at the screen]] and Apollo offers viewers a 'BringIt' gesture.
* ShockAndAwe: The opening credits and Gladiator profile clips present Electro as if she has superpowers, with lightning crackling around her hands.
* ShoutOut: Bradley Walsh references a couple of British {{Reality Show}}s in the first season's first episode, comparing ''Gladiators'' to ''Series/ImACelebrityGetMeOutOfHere'' and ''Series/TheGreatBritishBakeOff''. Neither is mentioned by name, but it's clear which shows he's referring to.
-->'''Bradley Walsh:''' This comes from an era when you were judged not on [[Series/TheGreatBritishBakeOff how well you could bake]], or how you fared [[Series/ImACelebrityGetMeOutOfHere eating the private parts of a kangaroo]], but how long you could stand on a podium whilst being battered about the bonce by a bloke called Rhino wielding a fluffy lollipop. Better times, in many ways.
* SmugSnake: Legend, one of the show's {{Heel}}s, is a vain, seemingly dim egotist who describes himself as somewhere between Creator/DavidHasselhoff and UsefulNotes/MahatmaGandhi.
* SplitScreen: Contestants are introduced with a split screen montage showing their life and skills (sometimes including a TrainingMontage).
* StandardSnippet:
** A few seconds of Music/{{Queen|Band}}'s "Another One Bites the Dust" accompanies any Contender being knocked out of "Duel" or "Hang Tough" by a Gladiator before the time's up. Some Gladiators, such as Nitro or Fire, may even dance to it.
** For "Collision", Music/KoolAndTheGang's "Jungle Boogie", with its "Get down, get down" lyrics, gets played when a contestant falls from the bridge.
* WorthyOpponent: Most of the Gladiators will praise or congratulate a contestant who beats them, or at least puts up a good fight. Viper and Legend, as {{Heel}}s, are a deliberate exception to the rule.
----
->''"Contender, '''ready?''' Gladiator, '''ready?''' En garde."''
-->-- '''Mark Clattenburg'''
%%
%% HOWEVER, the presenters, the contenders and the performers playing the Gladiators are all real people and must not be troped as fictional characters.
%%
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/f965ba97_a76c_4d41_ac39_896a86cda536.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Are... you... ready?!]]
->''"Do you feel the power of the Gladiators? \\
Do you have the will and the skill? \\
Do you have the speed, the strength, \\
the heart to be a winner? \\
It's not for beginners"''
-->-- '''Gladiators''' theme song (opening credits)
''Gladiators'' is a British GameShow produced by Hungry Bear Media and MGM Alternative UK for Creator/TheBBC.
It's a {{revival}} of ''Series/{{Gladiators}}'', which was itself an adaptation or ''Series/AmericanGladiators''.
The show, like its predecessors, sees contestants ("contenders") compete in a range of physical challenges. They're competing against each other, sometimes directly, but they're also opposed by the titular Gladiators - the show's squad of elite athletes, who adopt pseudonyms and stage personas for the show.
Much like ProfessionalWrestling, there's an element of {{kayfabe}} to the Gladiators themselves, with some adopting a {{Heel}} persona and actively playing the villain. The Gladiators' real identities aren't a secret, and some of their profiles acknowledge their previous achievements. However, within the show they're only ever mentioned by their persona's name.
The show is hosted by Bradley Walsh and Barney Walsh, a father and son team, who interview the contenders and Gladiators between the challenges.
Each episode sees four contenders - two men and two women - completing in five challenges against the Gladiators, then a final obstacle course race against each other. The strongest contestant from each episode proceeds to the next round.
The first episode was aired January 13, 2024.
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!!''Gladiators'' contains examples of the following tropes:
* BringIt: The opening credits show Apollo making a 'bring it' beckoning gesture with his hand whilst nodding at the audience.
* CurbStompBattle: Some of the challenges can be ended abruptly by a RingOut or similar victory. In the first episode, [[spoiler:Giant wins his first podium Duel two seconds into the contest, sending contender Myles flying before he even lands a blow]]
* EliminatedFromTheRace: The episode's final challenge is the aptly named Eliminator, a head-to-head race between two competitors, with no Gladiators involved. Points from previous challenges convert into a time advantage. The first contestant across the line goes through to the next round. The fastest runner-up from the first round episodes also gets a place in the quarter finals. The other losers are eliminated.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Viper's very first challenge, "Collision" sees him cement his {{Heel}} role by abandoning the rings he's supposed to swing from, dropping onto the bridge snd directly wrestling the contender. He's disqualified for cheating and there's a glimpse of him getting very close and personal with the referee immediately afterwards. He doesn't say a word during any of this.
* GameShowPhysicalChallenge: ''Gladiators'' is a game show, but all of the challenges are physical contests. Either contestants are competing against each other, they're directly competing against a Gladiator, or they're trying to complete some sort of task while one or more Gladiators try to stop them.
* HandicappedBadass: The first episode introduces Fury, the first deaf British Gladiator. As usual, the show's profile does its best to immediately establish her as a very competent badass.
* HeartbeatSoundtrack: After the referee calls "En garde", the gap before the start of the Duel challenge is filled by a loud heartbeat and a focus on the combatants' faces.
* {{Heel}}: Viper and Legend are initially the heels for this iteration of the franchise. Viper's portrayed as a quiet psychopath willing to cheat and demolish contenders, whereas Legend is vain, dim and [[ItsAllAboutMe self-obsessed]].
* ItsAllAboutMe: Legend is one of the show's {{Heel}}s and completely self-obsessed. After one challenge, when Barney Walsh wants to talk to him about how a competitor did, Legend's so annoyed that his own performance isn't being discussed that he ends the interview by wrestling the presenter to the ground.
* MurderousThighs: "Hang Tough" has the Gladiators hanging from rings and relying on their legs to grapple contenders. This sometimes happens in "Collision" as well, although that challenge tends to use more body slams from swings.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: All of the Gladiators use imposing names, but Viper's an antisocial {{Heel}} who cheats when facing competitors. A snake-in-the-grass name suits him very well.
* NextTimeOn: Each episode ends with clips of the next episode's challenges. Early in the season, it'll also highlight any new Gladiators introduced in the episode.
* NonGameplayElimination: [[invoked]] There's plenty of scope for competitors to withdraw due to OnSetInjury. This is swiftly established in the very first episode when a competitor injures his knee in an early challenge and there's doubt as to whether he can continue.
* OnSetInjury: [[invoked]] It's a very arduous, physical show, with plenty of scope for injury. If a contender is injured during filming, it's likely to be worked into the show. [[spoiler:In the first episode both male contestants end up injured - Finley hurts his knee in an early challenge, and the commentary questions whether he'll he able to continue; Myles then injures his calf during the final Eliminator obstacle course run]].
* PlayingWithFire: The opening credits and Gladiator profile clips present Fire as if she has superpowers, throwing a small fireball from her hands.
* PromotedFanboy [[invoked]]:
** The show itself mentions that Steel was apparently a fan of the earlier ''{{Series/Gladiators}}'' shows. Now he's one of the Gladiators.
** The introduction for episode one contenders Myles and Kerry mention that they grew up watching ''Gladiators'' twenty years earlier, and never thought they'd compete in it. Kerry describes it as surreal.
* TheQuietOne: Viper barely talks and when he does, it's mostly {{Hulkspeak}}.
* RevisitingTheRoots: A lot of changes made for the 2008 version are reversed. The show moves back to an arena setting, removes the water, and uses a version of the 1993 theme tune. The Eliminator challenge is also heavily influenced by the original series rather than Sky's version.
* {{Revival}}: The show is a revival of Series/Gladiators, which was itself an adaptation of Series/AmericanGladiators. There's a strong element of RevisitingTheRoots and it owes more to the original Creator/ITV ''Gladiators'' series than to the Creator/SkyOne revival that followed it.
* RingOut:
** The "Duel" challenge puts a contender on a small podium, raised several feet above the mat, armed with a pugil stick. A Gladiator with a pugil stick stands on an adjacent podium. They try to knock each other off the podiums before time runs out.
** "Collision" has a variation - any contestant the Gladiators can knock off the bridge has lost. This time it doesn't work both ways, as the Gladiators themselves aren't on the bridge.
* ScreenShake: For Nitro's first episode debut he does a very brief dance move to his signature tune, then jumps in the air. A camera effect is added so that it looks as if the entire stage shakes when he lands.
* SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou: The opening credits [[IntroductoryOpeningCredits show the Gladiators]] in various action poses, some of which are directly aimed at the audience. Viper's about to elbow the viewer in the face, Fire [[PlayingWithFire throws a small fireball at the screen]] and Apollo offers viewers a 'BringIt' gesture.
* ShockAndAwe: The opening credits and Gladiator profile clips present Electro as if she has superpowers, with lightning crackling around her hands.
* ShoutOut: Bradley Walsh references a couple of British {{Reality Show}}s in the first season's first episode, comparing ''Gladiators'' to ''Series/ImACelebrityGetMeOutOfHere'' and ''Series/TheGreatBritishBakeOff''. Neither is mentioned by name, but it's clear which shows he's referring to.
-->'''Bradley Walsh:''' This comes from an era when you were judged not on [[Series/TheGreatBritishBakeOff how well you could bake]], or how you fared [[Series/ImACelebrityGetMeOutOfHere eating the private parts of a kangaroo]], but how long you could stand on a podium whilst being battered about the bonce by a bloke called Rhino wielding a fluffy lollipop. Better times, in many ways.
* SmugSnake: Legend, one of the show's {{Heel}}s, is a vain, seemingly dim egotist who describes himself as somewhere between Creator/DavidHasselhoff and UsefulNotes/MahatmaGandhi.
* SplitScreen: Contestants are introduced with a split screen montage showing their life and skills (sometimes including a TrainingMontage).
* StandardSnippet:
** A few seconds of Music/{{Queen|Band}}'s "Another One Bites the Dust" accompanies any Contender being knocked out of "Duel" or "Hang Tough" by a Gladiator before the time's up. Some Gladiators, such as Nitro or Fire, may even dance to it.
** For "Collision", Music/KoolAndTheGang's "Jungle Boogie", with its "Get down, get down" lyrics, gets played when a contestant falls from the bridge.
* WorthyOpponent: Most of the Gladiators will praise or congratulate a contestant who beats them, or at least puts up a good fight. Viper and Legend, as {{Heel}}s, are a deliberate exception to the rule.
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->''"Contender, '''ready?''' Gladiator, '''ready?''' En garde."''
-->-- '''Mark Clattenburg'''
