The GladPod

For the last episode in this series of The GladPod, we are joined by two of the brand-new stars of Gladiators Australia 2024: Comet (Tatyanna Pogonza-Dumas) and Dragon (Tyson Pedro). Di, Dave and Producer Paul talk to this epic pair about how they've been feeling transforming into their Gladiatorial alter-egos, which Events they've thrived on in the arena and what message they have for their UK counterparts! Comet, is a model, qualified stunt performer and pro basketballer, she has also appeared in two seasons of Ninja Warrior Australia. Dragon is a UFC light heavyweight. He has 3 black belts in Japanese jiu-jitsu, Kempo karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Watch Gladiators at 7.30 pm on Channel 10 and catch up on 10 Play. Do you have what it takes to face the Gladiators? Apply for Series 2 at 10play.com.au --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gladpod/message

The Gladiators are back! Join 3 legendary OG Gladiators Jet (Diane Youdale), Saracen (Mike Lewis) and Rebel (Jennifer Stoute) as they get together with David Blackmore and Producer Paul to sit down and reveal what they really thought of the brand-new series of Gladiators on BBC One and iPlayer. Who are their favourite Gladiators? What did they think of the new Events? Listen in to find out... --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gladpod/message

Dive into Gladiators history with Ace (Warren Furman) on this week's GladPod episode. From failed Contender to Series 5 Gladiator legend, he spills exclusive stories about his Gladiatorial journey, including how a chocolate biscuit led to the birth of his iconic Gladiator name Ace. Join David and Producer Paul for an episode filled with surprises, laughter and shocks, including talking about an incident that almost had him sacked from the show! This is an episode not to be missed. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gladpod/message

Embark on Rio's journey of becoming the undefeated Queen of Duel from Series 5 (1996). Rio, aka Jane Omorogbe, shares her extraordinary story – from serving in the ambulance service to conquering the heights of Gladiator fame (whilst also discovering her fear of heights!). Tune in for a riveting conversation with this fan favourite, as she reveals her Gladiator story! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gladpod/message

Dive into 90s nostalgia with Muff Murfin, the maestro behind Gladiators' iconic theme tune! Join Di, Dave, and Producer Paul as they uncover the story behind this unforgettable musical masterpiece. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gladpod/message

In Series 2, the arena witnessed the meteoric rise of Zodiac, the first new female Gladiator, who left Contenders seeing stars! Join our hosts Dave, Di, and Producer Paul as they sit down with the phenomenal Gladiator herself, Kate Staples. Get ready for the untold tales, the epic highs, and the heart-wrenching lows that marked her incredible Gladiators career. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gladpod/message

Khan (Radosav Nekic) was determined to get a part on Gladiators, finally securing his place on the team in Series 6, 1997. He chats to Di, David and Producer Paul on The GladPod about how he eventually got on the show, his famous training partner, a brutal battle with Gladiator Shark and his love of chickens!? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gladpod/message

Once again, The GladPod goes international! This week's guest is American Gladiators legend, Ice aka Lori Fetrick. Ice joins Di, David and Producer Paul to talk about how she joined "the stupidest show she'd ever seen", toured across America, competed in the UK as part of the International Gladiators team and the sad demise of the American Gladiators. It's an episode not to be missed! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gladpod/message

Shadow (Jefferson King) was the original Gladiators team leader and undisputed King of Duel! On this week's GladPod he chats to Di, David and Producer Paul about his memories of being a Gladiator and his controversial and explosive exit from the show... --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gladpod/message

Hawk (Aleks Georgijev) was the first and only Welsh Gladiator on the original series, joining Gladiators in Series 1 back in 1992. He chats to Di, David and Producer Paul on The GladPod to discuss his Gladiatorial career and why now is the right time for him to take a trip down memory lane... --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gladpod/message

She was the very first Gladiator to be hired in the UK and Nikki Diamond aka Scorpio will be fondly remembered by many GladFans as the undisputed Queen of the Wall. She joins Jet (aka Diane Youdale), Producer Paul, and David to lift the lid on her time on the show. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gladpod/message

She's one of the original Gladiators and one of only four OGs to remain until the final series, Kim Betts aka Lightning joins Dave, Di and Producer Paul to lift the lid on her time on Gladiators --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gladpod/message

Jet (aka Diane Youdale), Producer Paul, and David are joined by special guests and GladFans as they mark 30 years to the day since Gladiators first appeared on UK TV screens way back on October 10 1992. We hear from Lightning (Kim Betts), Zodiac (Kate Staples), Scorpio (Nikki Diamond), Diesel (Daz Crawford), Vogue (Suzie Cox), Siren (Ali Paton), Rebel (Jenny Stoute), Bullit (Mike Harvey MBE), Khan (Radosav Nekic), Laser (Tina Andrew), Wolf (Mike van Wijk), Hunter (James Crossley), Ace (Warren Furman) We also have special messages from Saracen (Michael Lewis), Rhino (Mark Smith), Cobra (Michael Willson), Blaze (Eunice Huthart), and Wesley '2 Scoops' Berry --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gladpod/message

With the BBC reportedly in talks to revive Gladiators almost three decades after it first aired, we hear exclusively from everyone's favourite OG Jet - aka Diane Youdale - about whether or not she would be tempted to don the lycra and Hang Tough once more, or if there would be another role that she would be interested in.Producer Paul gives us the lowdown on what has and hasn't been confirmed so far, who is in the running to present the show and why the fans really want Jet to return to our screens for the reboot.Could we see Hunter on our screens once more? James Crossley - aka Hunter - talks about his own hopes and ambitions for the new show, and we're also joined by OG Nikki Diamond - aka Scorpio - who is hoping her daughter Emily could become one of the new Gladiators.We're also joined by GladFans Damo Cosgrove, Scott Poultney, Tomi Jones, Craig Bethel and Tony Foxton to discuss what they would like from a new Gladiators series on the BBC.

Probably the best-known original Gladiator of them all - Wolf - chats to Di, Dave and Producer Paul about creating a persona that the fans just loved to hate.He never missed a show, including internationals, across eight series and was one of the most famous faces from TV, but Wolf, Michael Van Wijk, was always asked about Jet when he was out and about!  A jump from the pyramid left him lasting back damage to this day, and the on-screen battles with John Anderson were a long way from the truth - the two were great friends away from the cameras.So, would he be part of the show if it was to return to our screens? You bet.Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV.com. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

The first series of Gladiators was like the painting the Sistine Chapel - expensive and time-consuming but such a smash hit that there was no looking back for executive producer Nigel Lythgoe.He loved the show before it even started and knew it was a smash, but couldn't say so before it was broadcast, but he was so right.They had to be tough, strong and beautiful but connecting with the audience was vital for the Gladiators - and Wolf was just the perfect baddie but Shadow broke Nigel's heart.And his show was far better than the USA counterpart which is why the states came calling for him to take over. But a celebrity version could so easily have ended badly after Vinnie Jones arrived. Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV.com. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

Di, Dave and Producer Paul are joined by Gladiator Siren, AKA Ali Paton. Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV.com. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

Di, Dave, and Producer Paul are joined by fan favourite contender Kerryn Chamberlin (née Sampey). Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV.com. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

Di, Dave and Producer Paul are joined by Doom and Enigma, AKA Wayne Gordon and Jenny Pacey from the Sky revival series.Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV.com. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

The GladPod heads Down Under as Di, Dave, and Producer Paul are joined by Aussie Gladiator favourite Delta, aka Karyn Lenehan (née Alley)Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV.com. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

Di, Dave and Producer Paul are joined by Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies MBE, AKA Amazon.Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV.com. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

Di, Dave and Producer Paul are joined this week by Stephen Adnitt who sketched each of the iconic Gladiators' costumes and insignia.Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV.com. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

In Part 2 of Jet Revisited, Di discusses her love of music and how her debut album 'No Covers' came about - plus what she really thinks of it! We also chat about some of her most iconic moments as 'Jet' in the Gladiators Arena, answer some of your fan questions and discuss why she decided not to return to Gladiators for the final series and if she would ever be tempted to slip back on the Jet lycra...Di also takes part in our brand new feature, will she be able to take on the Danger Zone?!Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe GladPod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV.com. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

The GladPod is back for Series Two! We're kicking off the series by getting to know one of our hosts even better, the Gladiators legend... Jet (Diane Youdale). In this episode of Jet Revisited, Producer Paul and Dave take Di all the way back to discuss her childhood experiences as a professional gymnast and dancer, including what triggered her bulimia and body issues and how she overcame them. Di also discusses how she was encouraged to enter her first bodybuilding competition, which ended up with her being featured in Bodybuilding Monthly magazine and subsequently spotted by the Gladiators producers. Going on to become a true 90s icon, we chat about the effect her fame had on Di's family, how she coped with having a high-profile romance with fellow Gladiator Hunter (James Crossley), as well as how it felt seeing herself on so many pieces of Jet merchandise! Taking a trip back to 1991, Di speaks about her break into showbiz on the television series She-Wolf of London, in which she had auditioned against Gladiator Scorpio (Nikki Diamond) for the role of the She-Wolf. We talk about how long it took to transform into a wolf and how the series helped her put a deposit down on her first home. Covering her post-Gladiators career as a television presenter on the likes of You Bet, Finders Keepers, we obviously also had to talk about her time as the iconic and seductive GamesMistress! Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe GladPod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV.com. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

At school in the North East of the UK, Helen hated sports - especially hockey - and wrote her own ‘notes' to be excused. It wasn't until her late 20s that she started hitting the gym and had phenomenal success as a body-builder.Winning championships at both national and international level, she knew nothing about Gladiators when she got the GladCall asking if she would be interested. The producers had to send a video of the American version so she knew roughly what it was!Panther's fear of heights stopped her enjoying the Duel - and was something she shared with one of the biggest gladiators, Warrior - but this didn't hold her back from becoming a much-loved regular on the show. That was until her fall during Tilt, which saw her hit the mat with her legs going over her head, severely damaging her neck and spine causing injuries which still affect her today. It took her five months to do anything, but she finally made it back to the arena.Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

Fresh from a stint on Capital Radio and working on BBC Radio 2, John was busy with two new ventures and then came a boozy lunch with Nigel Lythgoe which led to his long stay with Gladiators.John and co-writer Colin Edmonds quickly realised a live commentary wouldn't work - with 15 cameras it was impossible to follow so in the end they used recorded footage to write from and headed to the LWT dubbing suites to finish the job.They kept a statistic ‘Bible' packed with facts and shots of him in the arena were staged after he visited Birmingham with his young children who loved meeting the Gladiators and having their photos taken with them.Wolf used to visit LWT's dubbing suite to create ‘a bit of nonsense' for the recordings, but John insists Michael was the ‘sweetest guy' and one of his favourites from the many Gladiators he saw come and go.The show racked up £600,000 in hotel bills and sets cost £2m - the pricetag of revisiting Gladiators would be frightening. John was never asked to take part in the Sky revival and was glad not to be involved in the production.And should it return to our screens? Well, apart from the financial side of things, John's instinct is a no.Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

Metin Hussein tells Di and Dave about sailing through the Glad tryouts, explains why he had monthly hair check-ins  and describes his excitement after more than a year he got the call to tell him he was in, he would be called Shark and everything was shaping-up nicely. But it was on a pre-series trip to Mauritius with the Gladiators squad that things started to go pear-shaped and his dreams of TV celebrity fame drifted away.Metin tells Di and Dave how he got over the huge disappointment of missing out on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of appearing on Gladiators - it involves helicopters and becoming a professional psychic medium!Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

Weininger tells Dave and Di  about how using a treadmill for the first time during the trials nearly ruined his TV chances. But he reflects on making the most of his break, and says the feeling of becoming a champion never left him from that winning moment onwards.But it wasn't just the treadmill incident that left Weininger red-faced, he shares with Di and Dave how excited he was to be taking part that he arrived at the venue four hours early - and the events that followed that day will have you glued!Since those heady days, Weininger has kept involved and is now a sports club manager, runs football teams and holds classes for the community around Redbridge. The first male contender champion thinks the show should return for a 30th anniversary season - and says he would do it all again if he could.Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

From a desire to ‘tone-up' after having her son, Phoenix started seriously training and took the Miss UK title before she was spotted and asked to audition for Gladiators.Sandy Young speaks candidly to Di and Dave about how her name was based on a true story from her childhood and talks about her weight loss on the show. She also describes the emotion of being contacted by the parent of a child whose dying wish was to see Phoenix - and then attending his funeral.Di and Dave also discover what made Sandy cry alone almost every night and how she discovered that her days in Gladiators were over - a rejection that prompted her to reject a call to the Legends show.  Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

Known for his high-kicks and splits when entering the Gladiators' arena, Cobra was also the joker in the pack. Despite his physique, he was one of the smallest Gladiators but was never beaten by a contender in Duel and was master of Hang Tough. He tells us how he had always wanted to be on TV but his nerves almost stopped him before he got started. He talks about drinking wine and Guinness with Shadow, his recent health scares, John Anderson having a diva strop and how he opened Euro Disney's Space Mountain with Hunter and Buzz Aldrin.Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

The rock-star adulation of the Gladiators came as a shock to Rebel when she joined the show and was introduced to blacked-out windows and fans of all ages at every turn.Jennifer Stoute shares her journey through the early stages of adjusting to the "brutal" games to being one of the most physical Gladiators. And she also talks about her part in the blockbusting Gladiator film when none other than Russell Crow challenged her to a race in the Colosseum - but did she win?With two very athletic daughters, Rebel is a mother and also a model where she wears her grey hair with pride and has enjoyed a very different life.Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

There are fans and then there are superfans and there is a whole world of difference as Paul tells us in his love story with Gladiators. He shares how he became friends with the stars of the show and even looked after Jet's fan club.A surprise birthday gift from his parents saw a very young Paul travel from Darlington to London to see his first show at the Wembley Arena and he tells GladPod how he never looked back. Now he runs the incredibly popular Gladiators TV website which was launched in 1998 and is a partner with us for our podcast series - there's not much about the original shows he doesn't know - or have some merchandise from.Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

On this week's GladPod, we hear from Vogue, aka Suzie Cox, who admits she wasn't originally too keen on the American Gladiators and wasn't sure the UK would embrace it. Little did she know how big it would get and that not only would she be part of it all, it led her to meeting her husband Mark, a quarter-finalist contender!She reveals to Di and Dave what her original name was meant to be, why she really wanted to be a ‘baddie' Gladiator, how the women of the show ensured no wardrobe malfunctions and how cool it was to have the ‘best job in the world'.Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

The youngest Gladiator was just a teenager when he nervously entered the arena as Hunter, but immediately attracted a legion of fans.For our third episode, Hunter tells how he trained twice a day for a year to change his impressive body-builder's physique to become a mighty Gladiator and eventually the Ultimate Gladiator.He ate, drank and slept The Wall, his favourite piece of kit, to ensure he would always come out on top. But his Gladiators career wasn't without pain as he dislocated his shoulder six times! James also reveals how he was reduced to tears before he even started life as a fearsome Gladiator. Have you got a Gladiators tale to tell? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

In this second episode, Jet talks about a possible revival for the 30th anniversary and who she'd love to present the revival show with. Jet discusses harbouring hopes of returning to our screens on a prime time show - maybe even Strictly!Jet also talks about her journey to becoming a Gladiator and her favourite events during her four years - unsurprisingly Hang Tough gets a mention! Jet also opens up about finding it hard being famous but how she's met some amazing people thanks to Gladiators.But she also reflects on her injury fears before taking part in any event, and looks back on the injury in 1996 at the Wembley Arena that ended her Gladiators career.Have you got a Gladiators tale to tale? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV

In this very first episode, David and Jet discuss how they met, how this podcast came about, and their hopes for what they want to get from this first series - and any future series. Jet speaks about her admiration for the four original Gladiators who took part in every series - especially Wolf - and how she always wanted to try the Eliminator, but was never allowed. David and Jet also talk all things Alan Partridge as she issues a come and get me plea to Norwich's most famous resident even though it would appear Alan might now prefer Shakira to Jet judging by his Twitter profile.Have you got a Gladiators tale to tale? Get in touch with Di and Dave by emailing gladpod@gladiatorstv.com or by sending a message on Twitter. Facebook or Instagram - just search for @TheGladPodThe Glad Pod is brought to you in association with GladiatorsTV. Discover more content on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @GladiatorsTV