Gladiators stars talk backstage secrets - 'rivalries', outfit swaps and banned events

Gladiators legend Wolf has said the new cast will "never be as good" as the originals.The much-loved show is being brought back for an 11-episode run next year, after a lot of gossip and rumours about a revamp being in the pipeline.Wolf, real name Michael Van Wijk, was quizzed about its comeback on GB News and teased that the newcomers would be like photocopies of the original Gladiators.READ MORE: Gladiators stars talk backstage secrets - 'rivalries', outfit swaps and banned eventsDiscussing his own stint on the programme, which originally aired from 1992 to 2000, he said: "It was absolutely a wonderful time in our lives, I can say this for me and all the guys."But with all due respect, they'll never be as good as us.

Michael Van Wijk is best known for his stint as bad guy Wolf on the iconic show Gladiators, but the star is sporting a very different look compared to his time on the show.

Gladiators famously aired in the 1990s in the UK and quickly became one of the most popular shows on TV.With the likes of Lightning, Jet, Wolf and Saracen appearing on the show among many other famous gym-goers, it's no surprise the series stayed on air for a whopping eight-year run.READ MORE: Gladiators' Saracen reveals what producers 'forced' him to do during every showHowever, when it ended in 2000, the stars went their separate ways and focused on their dreams away from the competitive TV show - and some closed the door on TV forever.Michael Van Wijk had a handful of acting credits while he was on the TV show, but after his stint on BBC he moved overseas and opened a chain of gyms - and had quite the transformation.Despite finishing his time on Gladiators, Michael has regularly shared his joy at appearing in the once incredibly popular TV show, with the star even telling Loaded magazine in 2008 he wanted to "come back and be a Gladiator again".He later appeared in a one-off show called Gladiators: The Legends Return in 2008, but he returned to New Zealand and continued with his own work.Nowadays, some fans might not recognise the Wolf star, particularly with his major transformation in the decades that followed his TV stint.While some fans will remember Wolf for his striking curls, Michael now sports a completely shaven head and is regularly seen in casual attire - a far cry from his famous Gladiators' uniform from the '90s.One thing that hasn't changed though is his love and passion for the gym and working out.As fans will remember, the Gladiators stars were incredibly fit during the heyday, and that's one thing that Michael hasn't let falter.When he left the UK the star decided to open up a chain of gyms in New

GLADIATORS' Wolf was the long-haired baddie of the hit show, which the BBC recently revealed is about to return. Famous for his ruthless nature and bone-chilling stare, the character made a star of Michael Van Wijk. The bodybuilder - who, unlike Wolf, was famously nice in real life - was one of the most recognisable members of the cast.

Gladiators star Saracen has revealed one thing producers forced him to do during every show.Saracen, whose real name is Michael Lewis, shot to fame after being picked as a Gladiator back in 1992 and was one of few who starred in every series until it came to an end on January 1 2000.The 58-year-old previously admitted that he would've continued being a Gladiator "forever" had the show not been axed.READ MORE: Gladiators stars talk backstage secrets - 'rivalries', outfit swaps and banned events In an exclusive chat with Daily Star, the TV icon reflected on his lengthy stint on the show and revealed what the Gladiators had to do during every episode.He said: "One thing producers did force us to do was address each other in character, and we weren't allowed to come out of that character."The former bodybuilder added: "There were cameras absolutely everywhere in that arena, but when we walked out that was it, I was Saracen."Michael went on to say that starring on Gladiators completely changed his life and he has no problem with being known to the world as Saracen.The former Gladiator explained: "It was a very surreal experience. I couldn't go anywhere without people wanting a picture or running up to me and being like 'Oh my god you're Saracen,' but it never bothered me.

Gladiators star Wolf admitted that he once made host Ulrika Jonsson "storm off" the ITV show.Michael Van Wijk, 69, became known to the world as The Wolf Man after starring in all eight series of Gladiators from 1992 to 2000.Never missing an episode, the bodybuilder became known for his cheeky on set antics towards the contenders and is now recognised as one of the most iconic parts of the show. READ MORE: Gladiators' Wolf nearly missed out on show but raunchy Page 3 snap landed him spotAlso featuring in every episode was presenter Ulrika who fronted the show throughout its original run, leading to the duo developing a brilliant on screen relationship across the eight years.The presenter, 55, was the first to point out when Wolf didn't perform at his best and recalling one of these moments, the TV icon revealed in an exclusive chat with Daily Star that a brutal comment once caused her to abruptly leave.Wolf recalled: "I'd just make stuff up on the spot.

Gladiators star Michael Van Wijk has revealed that producers rejected his idea for Wolf to be bad. The 69-year-old appeared on all eight series of the hit ITV show and quickly became a fan-favourite due to his villainous antics.During the shows run from 1992 to 2000, there was no Gladiator quite like Wolf who managed to get the crowd going the minute he set foot into the arena.READ MORE: Gladiators' Wolf nearly missed out on show but raunchy Page 3 snap landed him spotIn an exclusive chat with Daily Star, the gym owner revealed that he pitched the 'Big Bad Wolf' idea to producers and explained that it stemmed from him wanting to stand out from other Gladiators.He said: "When we got to the shows I looked around I thought 'Wow, look all these fit strong, fantastic looking people, how can I stand out to this crowd?' Especially because I was also the oldest and everyone else looked so good."So I said to the producers when we were doing the first series, 'Can I be bad?' And they said, 'No' because everyone has to have this squeaky clean image and this is Gladiators," he continued."I said, 'But the name is Wolf.

HOLLY Willoughby has been tipped to present the reboot of Gladiators when it returns next year. It's been confirmed that the sports game show will launch on the BBC in 2023 and is being produced by Holly's husband Dan Baldwin and his Hungry Bear production company.

Gladiators’ original stars, and iconic referee John Anderson, have been spotted living decidedly regular lives after the hit programme’s return was confirmed by the BBC.The sports-based game show first aired from 1992 to 2000, before being briefly revived in 2008. On Wednesday, the BBC delighted fans by at last confirming that rumours of another comeback are true and now, the terrifyingly fit warriors who went up against the public 20 years ago have proven that nowadays, they’re more like the rest of us. While the stars are undoubtedly still fit and enjoy hitting the gym, their low-key lives are a far cry from the drama of the arena.

TV classic Gladiators has been revived by the BBC for a new generation of superhumans to battle it out in tests of strength and speed. This 90s show featured members of the public competing with elite athletes.

Gladiators star Lightning has opened up about keeping her G-string in place in a racy BBC Breakfast chat.The superhuman, whose real name is Kim Betts, appeared on Friday's episode (August 26) of the BBC programme alongside her former co-star Sharron 'Amazon' Davies.While discussing the forthcoming Gladiators revival with hosts Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt, the pair also revealed old tricks from their time on the show.READ MORE: Original Gladiators unrecognisable as they're seen out and about as new show announcedIn one discussion, both Gladiators confessed their "favourite piece of equipment" was referred to on the show as a "bum stick".Sharron explained that the stick was used to glue their outfits in place, with Lightning star Kim, 49, later adding that the valued prop prevented her costume from leaving her with "a G-string" in a raunchy confession.Sharron said: "My favourite piece of equipment was the bum stick."This actually stuck your outfit to your backside because otherwise, it was going anywhere."It was basically glue so that your outfit - which was very tiny at the best of times - stayed where you left it."Lightning star Kim added: "It's a little tub that looks like roll-on deodorant, so you'd literally stick your costume wherever you wanted because obviously, you're moving around and throwing yourself [around]."You would have ended up in a G-string and things hanging out everywhere."So, it was vital that we did keep ourselves covered."For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here. Gladiators will return to screens in 2023 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.Presented by Ulrika Jonsson and John Fashanu, the iconic series originally aired on ITV in 1992 and

Gladiators star Lightning has floored BBC Breakfast viewers with her 'ageless' appearance.The TV legend, 49 – whose real name is Kim Betts – appeared on the programme on Friday (August 26).While speaking to hosts Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt about the forthcoming Gladiators revival series alongside her former co-star Sharron 'Amazon' Davies, fans of the show quickly flocked to Twitter to share their admiration for the "hot" star.READ MORE:Original Gladiators unrecognisable as they're seen out and about as new show announcedOne fan wrote: "Wow! After all this time Lightning from Gladiators still looks great."Another said: "Gladiators is on its way back. Cannot believe I still think Lightning is hot."Meanwhile, a third fan commented: "Lightning from Gladiators is on @BBCBreakfast.

The stars of the popular Saturday night show Gladiators have been spotted around the UK as the programme prepares to return to screens in 2023.The much-loved series will be back with an 11-episodes and will welcome a brand new generation of superhumans who will compete against ordinary contestants in the ultimate test of speed, strength and agility.The format for the news series will include brand new games alongside classic challenges and will be finished off by fan favourite The Eliminator.But as the new series, Daily Star has taken a look at some of the original stars of the show as they've been spotted living relatively normal lives.Referee John Anderson appeared to have swapped Wolf for a friendlier furry pal as he enjoyed a stroll in Leicestershire with his dog.Anderson, who is now 90-years-old, was renowned for keeping the Gladiators in check in a no-nonsense fashion and uttered the words Contender Ready...

She wrote: "Nice one @hinge."No reason."Maybe you should spend a bit more time banning the countless catfish I've had to endure)."The TV star has been open about finding love again and revealed she had previously joined dating app Tinder.However, the star found that her profile had been removed from that platform too."I just woke up and was told I'd been banned."I suspect it's that someone reported me for impersonating Ulrika Jonsson," she told The Sun.Since her three marriages, Ulrika has been vocal about her decision to date younger.Earlier this year, the Swedish TV personality recalled an encounter with a man almost three decades her junior.Ulrika has insisted her recent encounter with a 26-year-old was "wholly accidental" after forgetting to set an age limit on a dating app.She admitted her love interest was the same age as her son, something she had previously sworn against.Writing in her column, she explained: "I couldn’t understand why all these young men seemed to be coming my way."I suppose 95 per cent of the men I have dated in the past year have been in their mid-twenties."For some bizarre reason — perhaps some pretension of still clinging on to a morsel of morality — I made the arbitrary decision to not date anyone who was younger than my oldest son, who has since turned 27."She added to The Sun: "To that end, the youngest encounter I had last year was 26.

The Sun, Ulrika said: "The Brits have always had a somewhat constipated attitude towards nudity and nakedness. But Moss has stuck two fingers up at that old stifled British perception of nudity. This girl is running her own race and doing her own thing.

Ulrika Jonsson took to Instagram to share her distraught after she was banned from popular dating site Hinge.The 55-year-old posted the notification that she'd been banned to her Instagram stories, letting her followers know that she was fuming at the dating app's decision to remove her.Over the screenshot of the notification, Ulrika wrote: "Nice one @hinge.

Gladiators has been officially confirmed to air in 2023.The sports entertainment game show will return on the BBC next year for an 11-episode series made by Hungry Bear Media and MGM Television UK.As announced by the BBC, the rebooted show will feature brand new games alongside classic challenges, with each episode culminating with fan favourite The Eliminator.Kate Phillips, director of unscripted at the BBC, said: “Gladiators is back and a whole new generation of viewers can now look forward to watching a Saturday night spectacle like no other. Will the contenders have the will and the skill to succeed against our mighty new Gladiators? You’ll have to tune in to find out!”Dan Baldwin, managing director of Hungry Bear, said: “It’s the perfect time for Gladiators to return.

GLADIATORS, ready! Lycra, perms and pugil sticks could once again become a mainstay of Saturday night television as Gladiators is set to return to screens. The much-loved Saturday night staple will be back with an eleven-episode series - 30 years on from when it first aired.

It's been confirmed that Gladiators will make its long-awaited return to the BBC next year. The popular show is set to return with an 11-episode series and will be welcoming a new generation of "superhumans" who will compete against contestants in the "ultimate test of speed and strength", the BBC said.