[7][8] Mark Clattenburg returns as the lead referee alongside assistants Lee Phillips and Sonia Mkoloma.
[9][8] The first heat episode is dedicated to original Gladiators referee John Anderson, who passed away in July 2024.
As the series consists only from five heats, and three quarter finals, in addition to the winners of the previous episodes, the fastest runner-ups advance to the next stage.
Competing in the New Year’s Celebrity Special are: Rob Beckett, Louise Minchin, Joel Dommett and Ellie Taylor.
[21][22][23] The celebrities face the Gladiators in events like the classical Duel and the updated version of Gauntlet, before taking on each other in the legendary Eliminator.
For this series, Gladiator Nitro shifts to support his fellow colleagues due to an injury he picked up during training sessions.
She was subsequently dispatched from the competition by the medical team, and was not able to do the Eliminator - therefore putting Keeva straight through to the Quarter Finals.
[25] vs. Bionic vs. Steel vs. Cyclone vs. Cyclone vs. Steel, Bionic, Apollo, Phantom and Giant vs. Steel, Bionic, Apollo, Phantom and Giant vs. Fire, Sabre, Athena, Dynamite, and Cyclone vs. Fire, Sabre, Athena, Dynamite, and Cyclone vs. Legend vs. Apollo vs. Comet vs. Diamond vs. Viper, Giant, Legend, and Phantom vs. Viper, Giant, Legend, and Phantom vs. Comet, Diamond, Fire, and Electro vs. Comet, Diamond, Fire, and Electro vs. Steel vs. Legend vs. Dynamite vs. Fury Third of the heats.
Giant vs. Dynamite vs. Diamond vs. Steel vs. Apollo vs. Athena vs. Fury Color key: Weekly ratings for each show on BBC One.