My thoughts on the photos released:
1. I love the new silver/black costumes, with their futuristic-Roman aesthetic. Sexy, stylish and modern.
2. The male Gladiators all look imposing, strong and fit, but aren't as "beefcake" as before. This is actually a good thing, as it was often silly watching body-builders knock the stuffing out of fitness fanatics in the 90s series. Best name: Tornado. Worst name: Spartan. Who's been watching 300?
3. The female Gladiators all look very sexy -- with the exception of unfortunately-named Battleaxe (sorry). It's obvious the new producers remembered how popular the lovely Jet was in the 90s show, so every girl has a similar body-type. Fitness seems to be the keyword here (in both senses of the word). I can already imagine teenage boys putting posters of Ice (Caroline Pearce, 27) and Inferno (Jemma Palmer, 24) up on their walls. Best name: Inferno. Hot stuff. Worst name: Battleaxe. Of course!
4. The presenters are ideal choices. I'm not a massive fan of Ian Wright, but Gladiators suits his impassioned presenting style, and he has a football background (like predecessor John Fashanu). Kirsty Gallacher is so perfect for this show, it's like it was her destiny. An inspired choice and a much better fit than Ulrika Jonsson ever was on the show. And, of course, there's the return of Scottish referee John Anderson (centre-stage in the presenters' photo -- see below!), whose much-imitated voice ("Three! Two! One!") echoed around 90s school playgrounds. Great to see him back. What a cult character!
The vibe surrounding Gladiators' return to our screens is certainly very strong, and these publicity snaps have pushed it to another level. I just hope the show itself isn't a pale imitation of the 90s one, and has the same level of cultural impact. It's a shame it's not on ITV again, where it will get far more viewers, but its return on Sky One is almost tempting me to get a subscription!
