Gladiators (TV show)

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    I won Gladiators and faced Gareth Southgate as a player – now I’m looking to cause FA Cup upset with minnows

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    HARBOROUGH TOWN’S contender is ready . . . Dave Staff, assistant boss of the seventh-tier club, is a former winner of the TV show Gladiators.Dave Staff pulled off a red win on Gladiators, now he’s hoping to sink ReadingHarborough assistant boss Staff is ‘proud’ of his 2009 Gladiators titlesStaff was in action when Nuneaton Borough famously took then-Prem side Middlesbrough to an FA Cup replay replay 18 years agoCredit: Getty Images – GettyStaff will now be looking to cause an upset in BerkshireCredit: HarboroughBut being part of his home-town club’s journey to a second-round tie at League One Reading feels bigger even than reaching the top of the Travelator first.Staff was a non-league player when he became the 2009 male champion — and then champion of champions — in the Sky One reboot of Gladiators.Staff, 45, said: “About 10,000 people applied for the series. I’m really proud of it.“My best event was probably Powerball. I could carry my own bodyweight well and move pretty quick. I also remember coming up against a Gladiator called Doom in a thing called Earthquake.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“You’re on a Perspex plate 50ft in the air or something. You have a wrestle and try to push each other off — and he broke my nose. But the video referee said I won.“I got £25,000 for winning the main series.“The missus spent most of it on a kitchen in a house that we ended up moving out of about six months later.”Gladiators is not Staff’s only brush with fame.Most read in FA CupEx-Gladiators winner Staff has an unusual claim to fameFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHe was in the Nuneaton Borough side that faced Premier League Middlesbrough and their team of stars in the FA Cup third round in 2006.Gaizka Mendieta put Boro ahead with a wonderful free-kick. But Gareth Southgate’s handball led to a penalty — that Gez Murphy scored to earn a replay.Top 10 highest paid footballersStaff said: “There’s a picture of Mendieta curling the free-kick over my head and in.“Unfortunately, I came off injured after 18 minutes so I missed the replay.“After the 90 minutes in the game at Nuneaton, Mark Viduka said to one of our lads, ‘What happens now?’.“‘We’re going back to your place!’“‘OK, cheers, fella’. He didn’t even know!“We went out in Nuneaton that night. I hobbled around the pubs and watched Match of the Day — Lee Dixon called me ‘Davy’ Staff for some reason! “We got the papers in the morning after staying in a hotel and the lad I shared a room with, Matty Collins, was on the back pages. It was a great experience.”As a coach, Staff was part of Brackley Town’s FA Trophy triumph at Wembley in 2018.But nothing matches the feeling of success with the club from the Leicestershire town where he was born and bred.I’m walking around town with my dog and there is such a buzz. It’s the biggest game in the club’s history by far.Dave StaffStaff joined Harborough 18 months ago as assistant to boss Mitch Austin and last season they won promotion to the Southern League Premier Division Central — the highest level in the club’s history.In this campaign, Harborough beat Tonbridge Angels in their first-ever FA Cup first-round tie to earn the clash with Reading.Staff said: “I’ve always lived in the town.“I knew so many people behind the goal when we scored those goals at Tonbridge, I kinda wished I was there instead of the dugout.“I’m walking around town with my dog and there is such a buzz. It’s the biggest game in the club’s history by far.READ MORE SUN STORIES“As a local boy, it’s a bit of a dream and we’re all hoping it can go on as long as possible.”And if you have already defeated Doom, why not Reading?Gareth Southgate conceded a penalty when Staff played for NuneatonCredit: Getty More

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      He’s putting on a Scottish accent, fans cry as ex-Prem referee Mark Clattenburg stars in Gladiators reboot

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      FANS have accused former Prem League referee Mark Clattenburg of putting on a Scottish accent as he took to the Gladiators ring. The popular BBC show returned to TV screens for the first time in more than two decades with a brand new squad.
      Fans were left stunned to see the new line-up of refereesCredit: BBC
      Former referee Mark Clattenburg took on the stage for the first episodeCredit: BBC
      The classic show was back on BBC One on January 13 with a stellar line-up of athletes and sports stars.
      Bradley Walsh and his son Barney are the new hosts.
      The series originally aired on ITV from 1992 to 2000, and was presented by Ulrika Johnsson.
      But this new reboot left fans stunned after former referee Mark Clattenburg took on the stage for the first episode.

      The former Premier League, 48, refereed the Champion’s League cup final and Euro 2016 final.
      But on tonight’s episode Clattenburg shocked the nation after stepping in to take over from the famous Scottish voice of John Anderson.
      During the one-hour episode, Clattenburg said the show’s famous line: “Contestants, ready? Gladiators, ready?”
      After the show, fans rushed to social media to comment on the former football referee seen blowing the iconic whistle.
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      One user said: “Mark Clattenburg is definitely putting on a Scottish accent.”
      Some questioned if the former professional referee – who comes from the North East – was in fact Scottish.
      Another added: “I see former football ref Mark Clattenburg is attempting a Scottish accent to sound like John Anderson.”
      Others were so shocked to see the former referee they slammed he was after “some cash”.
      One wrote: “Mark Clattenburg must be desperate for some cash to go on Gladiators.”
      Another said: “Mark Clattenburg refereeing on Gladiators I don’t know why I’m shocked he always loved the camera.”
      A third said: “I hope there is no VAR too! I never imagined I’d be seeing Mark Clattenburg refereeing.”
      However, some fans were less impressed, with one writing: “Mark Clattenburg is the ‘Gladiator’s ready’ referee on the new series of Gladiators. Another reason not to watch it.”
      Before the long-waited episode, Clattenburg said that landing the Gladiators gig was “one of the most amazing things I will do in my life”.
      He also praised the show’s original referee John Anderson as “legendary” and said taking over the whistle “is such an honour”.
      It comes as a Gladiators contestant was rushed to medics after suffering an horror knee injury as he’s left fighting back tears.
      Contestant Finley took on his next challenge called the Gauntlet.
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      It required the contenders to get to the end of the Gauntlet in just 30 seconds – while there were four zones each protected by a Gladiator.
      But things took a nasty turn when Finley injured his knee during the intense game.
      Gladiators has returned after decades off airCredit: BBC
      Mark Clattenburg refereed the Champion’s League cup final and Euro 2016 finalCredit: Getty More

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      I was in EastEnders and a gladiator.. now I’m fighting GB News star on KSI’s Misfits Boxing card but I wanted John Fury

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      MARK SMITH has enjoyed quite a remarkable career change.From starring as Rhino on hit UK TV show Gladiator and featuring in EastEnders, he is now entering the boxing ring.
      Mark Smith is starring in Misfits boxing tonightCredit: Rex
      Smith, second left, starred as Rhino on UK TV show GladiatorsCredit: Getty
      Smith has weighed in at his lowest body weight in 37 yearsCredit: Getty
      Smith, 54, is facing off with GB News panellist Adam Brooks on KSI’s Misfits Boxing 011.
      However, he ahead of the fight he has admitted Smith was not his first choice bout.
      Instead, he was targeting a fight with John Fury, the father of heavyweight champion Tyson and ex-Love Island star Tommy.
      But this fight was a non-starter after he was told he was too heavy for him by Misfits’ co-president Mams Taylor.
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      Though that has not dulled his excitement for his influencer boxing debut.
      Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “I’m extremely excited, this is for Misfits Boxing, KSI is obviously huge here.
      “The youngsters are into this, it’s crazy the following they have. Myself and Mams were speaking, I said, ‘I would love to fight John Fury.’
      “But he said, ‘what? He’s 100 pounds heavier than you!’ He said, ‘how much do you weigh?’
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      “And when I told him how much I weighed, he said, ‘there’s no way we can match you up, he’s 100 pounds heavier than you.’
      “And I said, ‘well is there anyone else?’ So he said, ‘leave it with me and I’ll get back to you’, and long story short, about four weeks ago, he said, ‘can you get down to 173lbs?’
      “That’s 12st 5lbs, and I haven’t been that light since I was 17-years-old, I’m 54 now.
      “But consistency is key, I cleaned up my diet a little bit, dropped a few pounds, increased the sparring and the running and we’re all on schedule.”
      Smith spent four years on Gladiators between 1995 and 1999.
      He has turned in his lowest body weight in 37 years for tonight’s fight.
      Regardless he has a plan to bear Brooks, who stopped Bachir Fakhouri in a charity fight in September.
      He said: “If he comes for a war and comes out swinging straight away, we’re prepared for that.
      “If he comes out to box and is more stand-offish and wants to box throughout the rounds, we’re prepared for that.
      “Have I seen any footage? Not really. He’s undefeated, he had a 30-second knockout in September, there’s not much really to go on.”
      The main card for tonight’s event will get going from 7pm. More

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      I played for Worcester City Ladies and was bodybuilding superstar… now I’m appearing in hit BBC show reboot

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      FORMER Worcester City Ladies player Livi Sheldon once swapped football for bodybuilding.And she is now set to feature in the comeback of hit show Gladiators.
      Livi Sheldon is set to star in he reboot of GladiatorsCredit: Instagram @livisheldon
      Sheldon used to play for Worcester City LadiesCredit: Instagram @livisheldon
      She has been a finalist in a bodybuilding competitionCredit: Instagram @livisheldon
      Sheldon has 12,100 followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram @livisheldon
      Sheldon had a passion for sport from the age of six when she begun playing in a boys football team.
      Standing at 6ft tall, she beat the bullies that picked on her due to her height and she was eventually signed by Worcester City Ladies.
      Sheldon was soon made captain of the team that now play in the fifth tier of women’s football.
      The 29-year-old balanced the beautiful game with hitting the gym as she launched a career in bodybuilding.
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      Her hard work led to her being a finalist in the ‘England Toned Figure’ competition.
      And the influencer, with 12,100 followers on Instagram, has now been confirmed as one of the Gladiators ahead of the popular programme’s reboot.
      The BBC series hosted by Bradley Walsh is set to hit screens this autumn.
      Filming has taken place over the summer and it is a remake of the show which first aired in the 1990s and early 2000s.
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      Livi Sheldon will be nicknamed Diamond in the BBC seriesCredit: Instagram @livisheldon
      She has described the Gladiators chance as a dream opportunityCredit: Instagram @livisheldon
      Sheldon will star as a Gladiator nicknamed “Diamond” due to her “unbreakable strength and spirit.”
      On the struggles she has faced and the chance to show off her super strength on tele, she said: “When I was growing up I used to get picked on for being taller than everyone else.
      “Now I get to show everyone that being unique is your superpower.
      “I can’t wait to get into the arena and take on the contenders as Diamond.
      “If there was an opportunity I could wish for this would be it.
      “This truly is the biggest thing that has ever happened to me.”
      The blonde bombshell also posts workout videos onlineCredit: Instagram @livisheldon More

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      Ex-Premier League referee lands huge role on revamped Gladiators replacing ‘legendary’ figure from iconic 90s TV show

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      FORMER Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg is about to embark on a very different career path.And it will be bulked-up bodybuilding stars that he will have to be wary of upsetting rather than footy players and fans.
      Ex-Prem ref Mark Clattenburg is embarking on a very different careerCredit: Getty
      It’s now these bulked-up Gladiators that the whistler will have to be wary ofCredit: BBC
      The brand new launch of hit 90s show Gladiators will begin filming this week in Sheffield.
      There will be 16 phenomenal Gladiators competing in the show in a series of new and classic challenges against a brave set of contenders in the ultimate test of strength and speed.
      However, someone will be needing to ensure that everyone will be kept in line on the BBC show.
      And that is now the task of the 48-year-old Clattenburg, one of England’s most-decorated referees.
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      We revealed in March how Clattenburg is taking some time away from football after leaving Egypt where he was in charge of officials.
      The ex-Premier League whistler suffered some outrageous abuse from Mortada Mansour, the president of Zamalek Sporting Club.
      That led to him leaving due to safety fears after threats from fans.
      Mansour has been critical of Clattenburg’s role in Egyptian football and incorrectly claimed that the ex-ref had left his wife to start a gay relationship.
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      Clattenburg has decided to leave Egypt as he feared for his safety following threats from the supporters of Zamalek.
      Clattenburg left the English top flight in February 2017 to take over as the head of refereeing in Saudi Arabia and he also had stints working in China and Greece.
      Now the ex Fifa-listed official, who has overseen the 2016 FA Cup, Champions League and European Championships Finals, cannot wait to call out the legendary “Contenders ready, Gladiators ready” catchphrase in his new role.
      Clattenburg said: “It’s amazing. When you look back to when it first started in the 90s, Gladiators was so iconic and wherever you go in the world, people have heard of Gladiators.”
      He added: “Growing up, I used to sit and watch every show. John Anderson, the original referee, was so legendary.
      “For me, it’s such an honour and such a privilege to now in 2023 to now be part of Gladiators.
      “To be named referee after John Anderson is such an honour. Even though I’ve refereed some of the biggest games in the world – this is one the most amazing things I will do in my life.” More