Gladiators fans beg for 'cringe' moment to be axed

It's been a new characteristic of the reboot since last year.

The show's locker room camera giving viewers a backstage view of the Gladiators (BBC screenshot)
The show's locker room camera giving viewers a backstage view of the Gladiators (BBC screenshot)

Gladiators viewers are ready for the staged locker room footage to be binned.

During Saturday, 18 January's episode of the rebooted gameshow, which airs on BBC One and partners dad Bradley Walsh and son Barney as its presenters, on several occasions we were given a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the fired-up male and female athletes that make up this year's cast.

Apollo in particular was raging after royally messing up his match against Nathan and proceeded to go mad infront of his fellow Gladiators, but social media users found the whole thing quite "cringe".

Gladiators Season 2,18-01-2025,Generics,Generics,Bradley Walsh, Barney Walsh,Hungry Bear Media Ltd,Nick Eagle
Gladiators presenters Bradley and Barney Walsh (Hungry Bear Media Ltd)

Apollo, who'd just been bested by the 22-year-old contender, was recorded marching into the locker room and throwing his water bottle across the floor.

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He apologised and told Nitro that Nathan was "getting it" next time they faced each other.

Later on, the likes of Fire (last year's Strictly Come Dancing sensation Montell Douglas) and Fury enlivened the rest of the Gladiators by offering them praise and performance advice.

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"Wish they'd ditch that locker room s**** #Gladiators," declared one fan on X, before another wrote: "Still doing this s*** 'locker room cam', are we?"

"I was hoping they'd get rid of the cringey backstage stuff this series," read a third reaction to these scenes.

Nathan and Giant going hell for leather on the Duel platform (BBC screenshot)
Nathan and Giant going hell for leather on the Duel platform (BBC screenshot)

Giant's reign as the Master of Duel came to an end on the latest episode too, as Nathan became the first-ever contender to survive his onslaught.

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Speaking to Walsh Jr in the aftermath, Nathan could "understand why" nobody had previously managed to stay balanced on the raised platform for the full 30 seconds.

"He hits like an absolute tank!" he said, as the Gladiator congratulated him and shuck his hand; "D'ya know what, he did well there didn't he. Hit me with some good shots, fair play!"

Gladiators airs Saturdays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.