On New Year’s Day, comedians Joel Dommett and Ellie Taylor triumphed over their rivals to win the Gladiators: Celebrity Special, reigniting excitement for the beloved BBC competition series. The duo claimed victory by outpacing fellow contestants, Rob Beckett and Louise Minchin, through physically demanding challenges and the iconic obstacle course, the Eliminator.
Dommett and Taylor secured their titles after showing exceptional skill and determination, bringing home the win amid fierce competition. Taylor expressed her disbelief upon winning, telling co-host Bradley Walsh, "I can’t believe I’ve just done this." The 41-year-old comedian, who recently welcomed her second child, shared her aspirations for the show, stating her desire to motivate mothers to embrace challenges - declaring, "we can do hard things" - as she looked to inspire others with her performance.
The challenges themselves were no walk in the park. Taylor and Dommett faced off against seasoned athletic Gladiators. Joel, who is 39 years old, shared insights about the difficulties they confronted, saying, "It was so tough, I knew Rob was there the entire time. We’ve been so scared all day of the cargo net;"> both Taylor and he are terrified of heights. The fact I did this— I just feel like we’ve overcome something really amazing."
The competitive spirit was palpable, with Dommett reflecting on his childhood dreams of conquering the travelator. "I’ve dreamed of going up this travelator since I was about nine years old, and hearing the crowd roar and going up it, it’s genuinely a dream come true. Thank you so much for having me," he remarked with evident joy.
The Eliminator challenge showcased various demanding obstacles, including the notorious cargo net, balance beam, zip wire, and the final travelator, which has become synonymous with the show. Prior to this, contestants tackled numerous other trial events, beginning with Collision, where they had to navigate across a bridge as Gladiators swung from trapeze bars.
Next came the Duel, which required contenders to knock opponents off their podiums using a long stick. The Gauntlet was another ferocious test, featuring five zones protected by Gladiators, where precision was key. Powerball, the penultimate challenge, limited players to one minute to place as many balls as possible within designated areas, dodging relentless efforts from Gladiators to thwart their attempts.
Dommett entered the Eliminator with just half-a-second to spare over Beckett, who had put up strong competition all night. Meanwhile, Taylor, who faced off against Minchin, had to overcome her rival's two-second head start. Minchin faltered at the initial hurdle, allowing Taylor to charge through and eventually win the title of Gladiators Celebrity Champion.
Following their spectacular performance, viewers praised the stars’ efforts on social media, with fans expressing their enthusiasm and surprise at how close the competition had been. One user commented on X (formerly Twitter), "Gotta say, expected Joel to win by larger margin. Shocked Rob was so close to be honest." Another chimed, "This celebrity Gladiators is ace! We definitely need more of these!"
The Gladiators: Celebrity Special, hosted by father-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh, aired to great fanfare, stirring nostalgic feelings among long-time fans of the franchise, which originally graced screens from 1992 until 2000. The show's revival proved to be one of the most successful family entertainment launches for the BBC, pulling over six million viewers for its premiere episode.
With the show’s mix of high-energy competition and light-hearted charm, it’s no surprise audiences have welcomed back the iconic series with open arms. The Gladiators: Celebrity Special is currently available for viewing on BBC iPlayer, allowing fans to relive the excitement of the event at their leisure.