The hugely popular reboot of Gladiators will come to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday evening when the final airs on BBC One at 5.50pm.
The show, hosted by father and son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh, will see Finlay Anderson, Wesley Male, Bronte Jones and Marie-Louise Micholson battle it out for the final time to see who will be the 2024 Gladiators Champion.
They will attempt to recreate the performances of the original contenders, who appeared in the original series that ran on ITV from 1992 to 2000.
The original Gladiators are still beloved by fans and featured a colorful cast of characters that entertained the nation.
Despite the fame and success that came with the show, some stars faced hardships when the cameras went off.
From serious injuries to shocking deaths and even prison sentences, you’ll find everything you need herenow about the original cast of Gladiators.
Warrior – Michael Ahearne
From serious injuries to shocking deaths and even prison sentences, here’s everything you need to know about the original cast of Gladiator
Michael Ahearne, who took on the role of Warrior in the original ITV show, was a pure powerhouse who rose to stardom and was paid as much as £100,000 a year.
However, his career would take a dramatic turn in 1998 when he was sent to prison for fifteen months for evading justice in an incident involving drug lords.
He was involved in a plot to stop the prosecution of an ex-international cocaine drug lord, Curtis ‘Cocky’ Warren.
Six months later, things seemed to be looking up for Michael when he was released early for good behavior.
However, this did not last long, because in 2018 he got into legal trouble again after being in possession of CS spray.
After appearing again in court on three charges of possessing a weapon ‘designed or adapted for discharging a noxious liquid’, he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at Liverpool Crown Court in October 2018, which was later reduced to 12 months suspended.
Jet – Diane Youdale
Jet made quite an impression on the show thanks to her flawless figure and was a cult character on the show
Jet made quite an impression on the show thanks to her flawless figure and was a cult character on the show.
After dating co-star James Crossley – better known as Hunter – Jet was an extremely popular character on the original series Gladiators.
Consequently, many fans were upset when Jet’s time on the show had to be cut short prematurely after she suffered a neck injury during one of the challenges.
Reflecting on her decision to leave the show after four seasons, Diane said it was the right thing to do: “I started seeing more spinal injuries.
‘You can damage your ankle or your knee and it will recover, but breaking your neck, that’s a different story.
“After my accident, I decided to quit as long as I could,” she added.
“I decided it wasn’t worth it anymore; I wanted to leave while I could still walk out of the studio.’
Cobra – Michael Wilson
While appearances in film and television can be a career boost for many, this was not the case for Michael Wilson, who played Cobra.
While appearances in film and television can be a career boost for many, this was not the case for Michael Wilson, who played Cobra.
Sadly, many people will remember his time on the show for his battle with alcoholism.
Although he was in impressive physical condition throughout his time on the show – which spanned eight series – it was a different story behind the scenes as Michael enjoyed a hedonistic lifestyle and developed a dependency on alcohol.
Reflecting on how excessive drinking affected his time on the show, Michael admitted there were times when he struggled to chase contestants up the imposing 30-foot wall.
In 2019, he told The Mirror: ‘I was grumbling about making jokes, I was having so much fun; it was great, i was with a lot of friends with the same interests, we were all the same age, it was fun.
“There were parties at the end of the show, and when international Gladiators came by, we would drink all night.”
However, in 2019 he became seriously ill with pneumonia and had to be taken to hospital for treatment, something he would attribute to his performance in Gladiators.
Speaking to The Sun at the time, he said: ‘I’m only half a gladiator now. It was a matter of touch and go.”
Fortunately for viewers who remember him fondly, he would later make a full recovery.
Falcon – Bernadette Hunt
During her time on the show, Bernadette gained a reputation as a go-getter and achieved cult status
During her time on the show, Bernadette earned a reputation as a go-getter, achieving cult status after competing on the American version of the show until 1999.
She would even continue to work in the fitness industry after the show ended, running her own personal training business in Basingstoke, Hampshire, where she was often inundated with requests from eager clients looking for fitness advice.
However, disaster struck in 2023 when Bernadette died at the age of 59 after a battle with cancer.
Bernadette’s death was announced by her sister Carol’s partner Rick Jango in a statement on social media, paying tribute to one of “the sweetest people” he knew.
The Gladiators Instagram page honored the star with a sweet tribute, writing: ‘It is with great sadness that we report that our beloved Falcon (Bernadette Hunt) passed away on March 14 at the age of 59 after battling cancer for several years .
‘Bernadette entered the arena as ‘Falcon’ during the second series in 1993 and immediately became a firm fan favourite. She remained with the show until the final series in 1999, becoming the second longest-serving female gladiator.
‘Falcon was also a champion bodybuilder and won the first competition she entered in Miss Natural Health in 1992. She went on to win other titles including Miss Novice Britain, Miss London and Home Counties 1992 and Miss South Britain.
‘Many fans will remember Falcon as the most sweet, warm, generous person with a radiant smile! Our Gladiator family is truly heartbroken by the loss of Bernie.”
