Gladiators (Australian series 1)
Introduction 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).
Gladiators ===Male===* Condor - Alistair Gibb* Cougar - Ashley Buck* Force - John Gergelifi* Hammer - Mark McGaw* Taipan - Michael Melksham* Tower - Ron Reeve* Vulcan - John SeruForce 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 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. Episode Contest Original airdate Challengers (Female) Challengers (Male) EventsN/AUnaired Pilot1N/ALisa Vs JaneBrian Vs JamesPowerball, Wall, Hang Tough, Duel01Heat 129 April 1995Heather Marychurch Vs '''Gina Good'''Clinton Barter Vs '''Howard Arbuthnot'''Gauntlet, Pyramid, Powerball, Hit & Run02Heat 26 May 1995'''Bernie Withers''' Vs Tracey Nicholson'''Andrew Halliday''' Vs Adam CooneySuspension Bridge, Hang Tough, Atlasphere, Tilt03Heat 313 May 1995'''Sabrina Hooyman''' Vs Carol-Anne Horvath'''David Wallis''' Vs Paul VellaHit & Run, Wall, Duel, Powerball04Heat 420 May 1995'''Karen Swansborough''' Vs Hillary Ord'''Tony Langdon''' Vs Corey ParkerPyramid, Tilt, Gauntlet, Suspension Bridge05Heat 527 May 1995'''Nellie Baker''' Vs Fernanda Lacey'''Ashley Martin''' Vs Alex SanzAtlasphere, Wall, Hang Tough, Duel06Heat 63 June 1995'''Teresa Brett''' Vs Alison Jackson'''Rod McQueen''' Vs John PowellGauntlet, Atlasphere, Hang Tough, Suspension Bridge07Heat 710 June 1995Annie Alderson Vs '''Kerry Warman'''Mark Brine and '''Ian Jacobs'''Powerball, Hang Tough, Wall, Duel08Heat 817 June 1995'''Tania Logan''' Vs Donna Sutor/ Kathy Katzourakis2'''Rhett Foreman''' Vs Andrew StricklandPyramid, Gauntlet, Duel, Powerball09Quarter Final 124 June 1995Sabrina Hooyman Vs '''Nellie Baker'''Ashley Martin Vs '''David Wallis'''Pyramid, Tilt, Wall, Suspension Bridge10Quarter Final 21 July 1995Kerry Warman Vs '''Bernie Withers''''''Andrew Halliday''' Vs Ian JacobsPowerball, Duel, Hit & Run, Pyramid11Quarter Final 38 July 1995'''Teresa Brett''' Vs Karen Swansborough'''Rod McQueen''' Vs Tony LangdonWall, Atlasphere3, Hang Tough, Gauntlet12Quarter Final 415 July 1995'''Fernanda Lacey'''4 Vs Tania LoganHoward Arbuthnot Vs '''Rhett Foreman'''Duel, Pyramid, Hit & Run, Powerball13Semi Final 122 July 1995'''Teresa Brett''' Vs Nellie Baker'''Dave Wallis''' Vs Rod McQueenSuspension Bridge, Pyramid, Powerball, Hang Tough14Semi Final 229 July 1995Fernanda Lacey Vs '''Bernie Withers''''''Andrew Halliday''' Vs Rhett ForemanDuel, Wall, Tilt, Gauntlet15Final5 August 1995Teresa Brett Vs '''Bernie Withers'''Dave Wallis Vs '''Andrew Halliday'''Gauntlet, Duel, Pyramid, Hang Tough1 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 Foreman1 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
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.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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