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.
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. 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 (Hyundai Sonata).
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.
Gauntlet, Atlasphere, Hang Tough, Suspension Bridge
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 Marychurch 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
2
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: 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 6
Original airdate: 3 June 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 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
Cheerleaders
Choreographer: Davidia Lind
Cheerleaders: Cintra Bedford, Jane Crichton, Jessica Emblen, Sarah Harlow, Tamra Lind, Tamara Raup, Emma Sieber, Leigh-Anne Vizer, Francene Vedelago, Kyle Watson[3]
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.[4]
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.
