Gladiators viewers deem new Everest challenge ‘disaster’

Gladiators returned to TV screens across the UK for the first time in nearly 24 years in 2024.

The BBC reboot, which is filmed in Utilita Arena (Sheffield), followed the original Gladiators, which aired on ITV between 1992 and 2000.

Series one of the BBC reboot (2024) saw Finlay Anderson (male) and Marie-Louise Nicholson (female) crowned champions.

Joe Fishburn (male) and Amanda Wah (female) then claimed the respective titles in series two, which aired in 2025.

Now, Gladiators is airing its third series with father-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh back hosting.

The series started last week (Saturday, 17) and saw the new Destruction challenge, and tonight saw the debut of the new Everest challenge.

Gladiators viewers call new Everest challenge a ‘disaster’

Everest sees contestants stand on a platform lifted high above the ground, with a wall in between the Gladiator and the player.

To win the challenge, the contestant must push the wall hard enough so that it moves towards the Gladiator and eventually forces them off the platform.

At the same time, the platform will tilt towards the Gladiator after a certain amount of time.

The challenge seemed tough for both Gladiators and contestants as they battled each other.

Fans watching the BBC show at home took to X to react to the newest challenge, with some calling it a ‘disaster ’.

One viewer wrote: “Everest seems to be ridiculously over-engineered”.

As another said, “This Everest event looks like a Health and Safety Disaster waiting to happen!”

A third Gladiators fan wrote: “Everest is stupid – if the Gladiator doesn’t win before the tilt, then they lose …”

Despite some negative comments towards the new game, some viewers were enjoying the new game.

One Gladiator viewer said: “I’m loving the Everest game so far!”

Which Gladiators were injured during Series 3?

Four Gladiators were injured during the filming of series 3, which took place in the summer of 2025:

• Legend (Matt Morsia) – Torn tendon in his arm
• Bionic (Matty Campbell) – Shoulder injury
• Diamond (Livi Sheldon) – Knee and leg injury (including ACL)
• Athena (Karenjeet Kaur Bains) – Severe knee injury

You can watch the Gladiators on Saturday evenings at 5.45pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.