Sky One today (Friday 11 April, 2008) announced 12 all new GLADIATORS, modern day heroes who will rule the arena and the fate of the ‘Contenders’ in a big, bold reinvention of the 90s TV sensation. The scale of the show is personified in the 12 people who form an elite group of athletes – our GLADIATORS. Bigger, badder and better than ever before they are:

* ATLAS (Sam Bond, 24, Bournemouth). As strong as He-Man, fights hard and with dignity.
* BATTLEAXE (Shirley Webb, 26, Edinburgh). A weapon of war, domineering, aggressive and indomitable. Battleaxe is a warrior queen.
* DESTROYER (Damar Martin, 38, Croydon). Determined and strong, angry and unstoppable – nothing gets in his way.
* ENIGMA (Jenny Pacey, 25, Borehamwood). Mysterious and beautiful, contradictory and unpredictable, impossible to capture.
* ICE (Caroline Pearce, 27, Cambridge). Cold, steely, frosty and beautiful.
* INFERNO (Jemma Palmer, 24, Tamworth). Hot, fiery, dangerous and destructive.
* OBLIVION (Nicholas Aldis, 21, Norwich). Leaves nothing in his path – extinguishes his opposition.
* PANTHER (Kara Nwidobie, 26, Morecambe). Beautiful, sleek, aggressive and powerful. Panther is the strongest and fiercest of the wild cats.
* PREDATOR (Du’aine Ledejo, 36, Newark). Volatile, quick and poisonous, hunts down prey and takes no prisoners.
* SPARTAN (Roderick Bradley, 24, Grantham). Handsome, disciplined and brave. Will take on any army – the perfect warrior.
* TEMPEST (Lucy Boggis, 19, Quintin, Wiltshire). Naturally beautiful, a force of nature bringing furious agitation and commotion.
* TORNADO (David McIntosh, 22, Altrincham). Violently destructive windstorm full of unstoppable energy – leaves you in a spin.

In the eight years since GLADIATORS was last on UK screens, the series has gained a place in the nation’s hearts. Now it’s back with a 21st Century makeover, but retaining all of the classic elements that made the original such a massive hit.

Richard Woolfe, Director of Programming, Sky One, Two and Three commented: “The games are bigger, the contenders are stronger and the Gladiators are even more unbelievable…we’ve found extraordinary characters. It’s a colossus of a programme and it’s going to blow people’s socks off.”

Ian Wright and Kirsty Gallacher preside over the contest as 32 contenders take on TVs toughest challenges in the hope of becoming crowned series champion and winning the £50,000 prize. They are joined by original referee John Anderson on the new series to be filmed on two giant sound stages at Shepperton Studios, the biggest studio sets in the UK.

32 of the UK’s finest athletes have been whittled down from 20,000 applicants and they will face the awesome power of the 12 all new GLADIATORS in iconic events such as Duel, Powerball, Hang Tough and, of course, The Eliminator. Do they have the speed, the strength and the heart to beat them?