Gladiators (Australian series 1)

The first series of Gladiators began airing on Seven Network on 29 April 1995 following successful versions of the Gladiators format in United States, United Kingdom and Finland. The series closely resembled the UK series albeit with just four events and the Eliminator.

Gladiators
Season 1
StarringKimberley Joseph
Aaron Pedersen
Country of originAustralia
No. of episodes15
Release
Original networkSeven Network
Original release29 April (1995-04-29) –
5 August 1995 (1995-08-05)
Series chronology

Fifteen episodes were filmed in a progressive competition at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre between 24 March and 2 April. Kimberley Joseph and Aaron Pedersen presented the show whilst play by play commentary was by Tony Schibeci. John Alexander acted as referee and John Forsyth as assistant referee. The Kix cheerleaders performed in the background of the events.

Winners of the heats received a Sony music system and a selection of CD's valued to $2,000. The runners up received a set of gym apparatus. The winners of the final won a car.

Gladiators

Male
  • Condor - Alistair Gibb
  • Cougar - Ashley Buck
  • Force - John Gergelifi
  • Hammer - Mark McGaw
  • Taipan - Michael Melksham
  • Tower - Ron Reeve
  • Vulcan - John Seru

Force suffered an injury in Atlasphere in the third quarter final and had to retire from the show.

Female
  • Blade - Bev Carter
  • Cheeta - Nicky Davico
  • Delta - Karen Alley
  • Flame - Lynda Byrnes
  • Fury - Julie Saunders
  • Rebel - Barbara Kendell
  • Storm - Charlene Machin

Events

Atlasphere, Duel, Gauntlet, Hang Tough, Hit & Run, Powerball, Pyramid, Suspension Bridge, Tilt and Wall were played over Series 1.

The Eliminator featured as the final event in every show.

Shows

Fifteen shows along with an unaired pilot[1] were filmed with the televised shows taking the form of a progressive competition. Each show featured four events along with the Eliminator. The winner of the Eliminator would progress to the next round.

Winning challengers are in bold.[2]

Episode Contest Original airdate Challengers (Female) Challengers (Male) Events
N/A Unaired Pilot1 N/A Lisa Vs Jane Brian Vs James Powerball, Wall, Hang Tough, Duel
01 Heat 1 29 April 1995 Heather Maychurch Vs Gina Good Clinton Barter Vs Howard Arbuthnot Gauntlet, Pyramid, Powerball, Hit & Run
02 Heat 2 6 May 1995 Bernie Withers Vs Tracey Nicholson Andrew Halliday Vs Adam Cooney Suspension Bridge, Hang Tough, Atlasphere, Tilt
03 Heat 3 13 May 1995 Sabrina Hooyman Vs Carol-Anne Horvath David Wallis Vs Paul Vella Hit & Run, Wall, Duel, Powerball
04 Heat 4 20 May 1995 Karen Swansborough Vs Hillary Ord Tony Langdon Vs Corey Parker Pyramid, Tilt, Gauntlet, Suspension Bridge
05 Heat 5 27 May 1995 Teresa Brett Vs Alison Jackson Rod McQueen Vs John Powell Gauntlet, Atlasphere, Hang Tough, Suspension Bridge
06 Heat 6 3 June 1995 Nellie Baker Vs Fernanda Lacey Ashley Martin Vs Alex Sanz Atlasphere, Wall, Hang Tough, Duel
07 Heat 7 10 June 1995 Annie Alderson Vs Kerry Warman Mark Brine and Ian Jacobs Powerball, Hang Tough, Wall, Duel
08 Heat 8 17 June 1995 Tania Logan Vs Donna Sutor/ Kathy Katzourakis2 Rhett Foreman Vs Andrew Strickland Pyramid, Gauntlet, Duel, Powerball
09 Quarter Final 1 24 June 1995 Sabrina Hooyman Vs Nellie Baker Ashley Martin Vs David Wallis Pyramid, Tilt, Wall, Suspension Bridge
10 Quarter Final 2 1 July 1995 Kerry Warman Vs Bernie Withers Andrew Halliday Vs Ian Jacobs Powerball, Duel, Hit & Run, Pyramid
11 Quarter Final 3 8 July 1995 Teresa Brett Vs Karen Swansborough Rod McQueen Vs Tony Langdon Wall, Atlasphere3, Hang Tough, Gauntlet
12 Quarter Final 4 15 July 1995 Fernanda Lacey4 Vs Tania Logan Howard Arbuthnot Vs Rhett Foreman Duel, Pyramid, Hit & Run, Powerball
13 Semi Final 1 22 July 1995 Teresa Brett Vs Nellie Baker Dave Wallis Vs Rod McQueen Suspension Bridge, Pyramid, Powerball, Hang Tough
14 Semi Final 2 29 July 1995 Fernanda Lacey Vs Bernie Withers Andrew Halliday Vs Rhett Foreman Duel, Wall, Tilt, Gauntlet
15 Final 5 August 1995 Teresa Brett Vs Bernie Withers Dave Wallis Vs Andrew Halliday Gauntlet, Duel, Pyramid, Hang Tough

1 The challengers in this episode were actually members of the production crew and changed throughout the episode. The names given were just for filming purposes. The headstarts given in the Eliminator were not based on points scored in the events.
2Replaced Donna after she fell on her pugil stick and injured her leg.
3This would be the last ever appearance by Force after falling over in his Atlasphere and injuring his leg.
4Replaced Gina Goode who having won her heat was unable to continue in the Quarter finals due to an ankle injury sustained in Powerball in her heat.

Episode summary

Heat 1

Original airdate: 29 April 1995
Challengers: Heather Maychurch v Gina Good, Clinton Barter v Howard Arbuthnot

Female
Event Heather Gina Gladiators
Gauntlet 0 5 Rebel, Cheeta, Blade, Fury & Delta
Pyramid 0 0 Flame & Cheeta
Powerball 2 2 Delta, Flame & Storm
Hit and Run 2 8 Delta, Rebel, Fury & Cheeta
TOTAL 4 15
Male
Event Clinton Howard Gladiators
Gauntlet 0 0 Vulcan, Condor, Cougar, Force & Tower
Pyramid 10 0 Taipan & Hammer
Powerball 0 0 Cougar, Hammer & Vulcan
Hit and Run 0 0 Taipan, Tower, Condor & Force
TOTAL 10 0

Eliminator

  • Female: 5.5 second head start for Gina
  • Male: 5 second head start for Clinton
  • Winners: Gina Good & Howard Arbuthnot

Heat 2

Original airdate: 6 May 1995
Challengers: Bernadette Withers v Tracey Nicholson, Andrew Halliday v Adam Cooney

Female
Event Bernadette Tracey Gladiators
Suspension Bridge 0 0 Flame & Storm
Hang Tough 0 0 Blade & Fury
Atlaspheres 2 4 Delta & Rebel
Tilt 10 5 Cheeta & Flame
TOTAL 12 9
Male
Event Andrew Adam Gladiators
Suspension Bridge 0 0 Tower & Condor
Hang Tough 10 5 Taipan & Cougar
Atlaspheres 6 0 Hammer & Condor
Tilt 10 5 Taipan & Tower
TOTAL 26 12

Eliminator

  • Female: 1.5 second head start for Bernadette
  • Male: 7 second head start for Andrew
  • Winners: Bernadette Withers & Andrew Halliday

Heat 3

Original airdate: 13 May 1995
Challengers: Sabrina Hooyman v Carol-Anne Horvath, David Wallis v Paul Vella

Female
Event Sabrina Carol-Anne Gladiators
Hit and Run 6 6 Blade, Delta, Cheeta & Rebel
Wall 10 5 Blade & Storm
Duel 5 0 Storm & Flame
Powerball 0 4 Delta, Flame & Rebel
TOTAL 21 15
Male
Event David Paul Gladiators
Hit and Run 4 0 Hammer, Force, Cougar & Taipan
Wall 0 0 Cougar & Condor
Duel 5 0 Vulcan & Tower
Powerball 7 3 Cougar, Hammer & Taipan
TOTAL 16 3

Eliminator

  • Female: 3 second head start for Sabrina
  • Male: 6.5 second head start for David
  • Winners: Sabrina Hooyman & David Wallis

Heat 4

Original airdate: 20 May 1995
Challengers: Karen Swansborough v Hillary Ord, Corey Parker v Tony Langdon

Female
Event Karen Hillary Gladiators
Pyramid 0 0 Fury & Cheeta
Tilt 10 0 Storm & Flame
Gauntlet 10 5 Fury, Delta, Rebel, Blade & Flame
Suspension Bridge 10 0 Rebel & Storm
TOTAL 30 5
Male
Event Corey Tony Gladiators
Pyramid 0 0 Condor & Cougar
Tilt 5 5 Vulcan & Tower
Gauntlet 10 5 Condor, Vulcan, Hammer, Force & Tower
Suspension Bridge 0 10 Taipan & Force
TOTAL 10 20

Eliminator

  • Female: 12.5 second head start for Karen
  • Male: 5 second head start for Tony
  • Winners: Karen Swansborough & Tony Langdon

Heat 5

Original airdate: 27 May 1995
Challengers: Teresa Brett v Alison Jackson, Rod McQueen v John Powell

Female
Event Teresa Alison Gladiators
Gauntlet 5 10 Storm, Rebel, Delta, Cheeta & Blade
Atlasphere 2 2 Flame & Storm
Hang Tough 0 0 Blade & Cheeta
Suspension Bridge 0 10 Flame & Rebel
TOTAL 7 22
Male
Event Rod John Gladiators
Gauntlet 0 0 Tower, Cougar, Vulcan, Condor & Hammer
Atlaspheres 8 2 Force & Condor
Hang Tough 5 5 Taipan & Hammer
Suspension Bridge 0 10 Tower & Hammer
TOTAL 13 17

Eliminator

  • Female: 7.5 second head start for Alison
  • Male: 2 second head start for John
  • Winners: Teresa Brett & Rod McQueen

Heat 6

Original airdate: 3 June 1995
Challengers: Nellie Baker v Fernanda Lacey, Ashley Martin v Alex Sanz

Female
Event Nellie Fernanda Gladiators
Atlasphere 2 2 Cheeta & Rebel
Wall 5 10 Fury & Delta
Hang Tough 10 10 Cheeta & Blade
Duel 5 5 Storm & Flame
TOTAL 22 27
Male
Event Ashley Alex Gladiators
Atlasphere 6 4 Tower & Hammer
Wall 10 5 Taipan & Hammer
Hang Tough 10 5 Condor & Cougar
Duel 5 0 Tower & Vulcan
TOTAL 31 14

Eliminator

  • Female: 2.5 second head start for Fernanda
  • Male: 8.5 second head start for Ashley
  • Winners: Nellie Baker & Ashley Martin

Heat 7

Original airdate: 10 June 1995
Challengers: Annie Alderson v Kerry Warman, Mark Brine v Ian Jacobs

Female
Event Annie Kerry Gladiators
Powerball 6 6 Cheeta, Delta & Rebel
Hang Tough 5 5 Blade & Fury
Wall 5 10 Storm & Blade
Duel 5 5 Storm & Flame
TOTAL 21 26
Male
Event Mark Ian Gladiators
Powerball 4 3 Hammer, Taipan & Vulcan
Hang Tough 0 5 Cougar & Taipan
Wall 10 5 Condor & Cougar
Duel 5 10 Tower & Force
TOTAL 19 23

Eliminator

  • Female: 2.5 second head start for Kerry
  • Male: 2 second head start for Ian
  • Winners: Kerry Warman & Ian Jacobs

Heat 8

Original airdate: 17 June 1995
Challengers: Tania Logan v Donna Sutor/Kathy Katzourakis, Rhett Foreman v Andrew Strickland

Female
Event Tania Donna/Kathy Gladiators
Pyramid 0 0 Delta & Blade
Gauntlet 0 0 Flame, Rebel, Cheeta, Blade & Delta
Duel 5 0 Flame & Storm
Powerball 2 4 Cheeta, Rebel & Storm
TOTAL 7 4
Male
Event Rhett Andrew Gladiators
Pyramid 0 10 Condor & Vulcan
Gauntlet 5 5 Force, Cougar, Hammer, Condor & Tower
Duel 0 0 Cougar & Taipan
Powerball 0 0 Hammer, Tower & Vulcan
TOTAL 5 15

Eliminator

  • Female: 1.5 second head start for Tania
  • Male: 5 second head start for Andrew
  • Winners: Tania Logan & Rhett Foreman

1 Donna injured herself after landing on her pugil stick in Duel, therefore Kathy replaced her in Powerball.

Quarter-Final 1

Original airdate: 24 June 1995
Challengers: Nellie Baker v Sabrina Hooyman, Ashley Martin v David Wallis

Female
Event Nellie Sabrina Gladiators
Pyramid 10 0 Cheeta & Delta
Tilt 0 2 Flame & Cheeta
Wall 10 5 Storm & Blade
Suspension Bridge 0 0 Flame & Storm
TOTAL 20 7
Male
Event Ashley David Gladiators
Pyramid 0 0 Tower & Condor
Tilt 2 7 Tower & Vulcan
Wall 10 0 Cougar & Taipan
Suspension Bridge 0 0 Tower & Vulcan
TOTAL 12 7

Eliminator

  • Female: 6.5 second head start for Nellie
  • Male: 2.5 second head start for Ashley
  • Winners: Nellie Baker & David Wallis

Quarter-Final 2

Original airdate: 1 July 1995
Challengers: Kerry Warman v Bernadette Withers, Ian Jacobs v Andrew Halliday

Female
Event Kerry Bernadette Gladiators
Powerball 4 0 Blade, Delta & Flame
Duel 0 0 Flame & Storm
Hit and Run 12 10 Fury, Cheeta, Delta & Rebel
Pyramid 0 0 Cheeta & Storm
TOTAL 16 10
Male
Event Ian Andrew Gladiators
Powerball 0 8 Hammer, Taipan & Tower
Duel 5 5 Vulcan & Tower
Hit and Run 2 4 Taipan, Force, Hammer & Vulcan
Pyramid 0 10 Cougar & Condor
TOTAL 7 27

Eliminator

  • Female: 3 second head start for Kerry
  • Male: 10 second head start for Andrew
  • Winners: Bernadette Withers & Andrew Halliday

Quarter-Final 3

Original airdate: 8 July 1995
Challengers: Karen Swansborough v Teresa Brett, Tony Langdon v Rod McQueen

Female
Event Karen Teresa Gladiators
Wall 10 0 Storm & Delta
Atlaspheres 2 6 Rebel & Flame
Hang Tough 5 5 Delta & Cheeta
Gauntlet 10 10 Flame, Delta, Blade, Rebel & Fury
TOTAL 27 21
Male
Event Tony Rod Gladiators
Wall 0 10 Condor & Cougar
Atlaspheres 10 4 Force & Hammer
Hang Tough 0 0 Taipan & Cougar
Gauntlet 0 0 Vulcan, Taipan, Tower, Condor & Hammer
TOTAL 10 14

Eliminator

  • Female: 3 second head start for Karen
  • Male: 2 second head start for Rod
  • Winners: Teresa Brett & Rod McQueen

Quarter-Final 4

Original airdate: 15 July 1995
Challengers: Tania Logan v Fernanda Lacey, Howard Arbuthnot v Rhett Foreman

Female
Event Tania Fernanda Gladiators
Duel 5 5 Flame & Storm
Pyramid 0 0 Delta & Cheeta
Hit and Run 2 8 Flame, Fury, Blade & Rebel
Powerball 2 2 Cheeta, Delta & Rebel
TOTAL 9 15
Male
Event Howard Rhett Gladiators
Duel 5 0 Tower & Vulcan
Pyramid 0 0 Hammer & Condor
Hit and Run 8 8 Taipan, Tower, Cougar & Vulcan
Powerball 0 2 Cougar, Hammer & Taipan
TOTAL 13 10

Eliminator

  • Female: 3 second head start for Fernanda
  • Male: 1.5 second head start for Howard
  • Winners: Fernanda Lacey & Rhett Foreman

Semi-Final 1

Original airdate: 22 July 1995
Challengers: Teresa Brett v Nellie Baker, David Wallis v Rod McQueen

Female
Event Teresa Nellie Gladiators
Suspension Bridge 5 0 Storm & Flame
Pyramid 0 0 Delta & Cheeta
Powerball 3 6 Cheeta, Delta & Rebel
Hang Tough 0 0 Fury & Blade
TOTAL 8 6
Male
Event David Rod Gladiators
Suspension Bridge 0 0 Tower & Vulcan
Pyramid 0 0 Condor & Hammer
Powerball 2 0 Condor, Hammer & Taipan
Hang Tough 0 0 Taipan & Cougar
TOTAL 2 0

Eliminator

  • Female: Teresa walkover in to Grand Final due to Nellie's injury.
  • Male: 1 second head start for David
  • Winners: Teresa Brett & David Wallis

Semi-Final 2

Original airdate: 29 July 1995
Challengers: Bernadette Withers v Fernanda Lacey, Andrew Halliday v Rhett Foreman

Female
Event Bernadette Fernanda Gladiators
Duel 5 5 Storm & Flame
Wall 10 5 Blade & Storm
Tilt 0 2 Flame & Cheeta
Gauntlet 0 5 Rebel, Fury, Blade, Delta & Storm
TOTAL 15 17
Male
Event Andrew Rhett Gladiators
Duel 5 0 Tower & Vulcan
Wall 10 0 Condor & Cougar
Tilt 5 0 Tower & Taipan
Gauntlet 10 10 Vulcan, Taipan, Cougar, Condor & Hammer
TOTAL 30 10

Eliminator

  • Female: 1 second head start for Fernanda
  • Male: 10 second head start for Andrew
  • Winners: Bernadette Withers & Andrew Halliday

Grand Final

Original airdate: 5 August 1995
Challengers: Teresa Brett v Bernadette Withers, David Wallis v Andrew Halliday

Female
Event Teresa Bernadette Gladiators
Gauntlet 10 10 Rebel, Fury, Blade, Delta & Storm
Duel 5 5 Storm & Flame
Pyramid 0 0 Delta & Cheeta
Hang Tough 0 5 Blade & Fury
TOTAL 15 20
Male
Event David Andrew Gladiators
Gauntlet 0 10 Tower, Vulcan, Cougar, Condor & Taipan
Duel 5 0 Vulcan & Tower
Pyramid 0 0 Hammer & Condor
Hang Tough 0 10 Cougar & Taipan
TOTAL 5 20

Eliminator

  • Female: 2.5 second start for Bernadette
  • Male: 7.5 second start for Andrew
  • Winners: Bernadette Withers & Andrew Halliday

Production

Production began in January 1995 when the producers began their search for Gladiators and challengers. The long list was cut to 100 people who attended tryouts in Brisbane (where it was decided the show would be filmed), Melbourne and Sydney. Fourteen Gladiators and a number of challengers were selected.[3]

The apparatus was delivered to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in March requiring 35 trucks and 100 riggers whilst the Gladiators filmed the opening credits at Dee Why. Challengers arrived at the BEC on 16 March to begin training.

An unaired pilot episode was filmed using the Gladiators and production crew as challengers. There was no audience and Force, Rebel and Cheeta did not compete in any events.

Filming commenced on 24 March and wrapped on 2 April. Initially audiences numbered 2,000 but grew to 5,000 as filming progressed. St John's Ambulance personnel were on site during filming.

The first episode aired on Seven Network on 29 April and immediately entered the top 10 most watch shows in Australia. A second series entered production in May.

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References
  1. Original Australian Series Episode Write Ups http://forum.gladiatorszone.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1973 Archived 16 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Original Australian Series Episode Guide http://archive.gladiatorszone.co.uk/YaBB.pl?num=1087254252;start=all Archived 11 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "A year in the life of Gladiators" Official Gladiators Magazine issue 3 Nov-Dec 1995
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