MTN Gladiators

For other uses, see Gladiator (disambiguation) and Gladiators (franchise).

MTN Gladiators was a game show produced by MTN for SABC3 in South Africa from 1999 to 2001. Following South Africa's initial participation in the second International Gladiators and the first Springbok Challenge^[1] tournaments in Birmingham, England, the format developed a cult following in South Africa. In 1998 production finally began for a domestic series, eventually airing in 1999.

MTN Gladiators
Genre	Sports entertainment game show
Starring	Glenn Hicks Ursula Staplefeldt James Lennox Cyril Mitchley Wayne "The Boss" Price Ingrid Chantler Marion Hind
Country of origin	South Africa
No. of series	5 x Domestic series 1 x International Gladiators 2 x Springbok Challenge
Production
Producers	Keith Shaw (1999–2000) Donovan Marsh (2001)
Production locations	Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg (1999–2000) Big Top Arena, Carnival City (2001)
Running time	60 minutes
Original release
Network	SABC3
Release	1999 (1999) – 2001 (2001)

A special second Springbok Challenge series, known simply as Gladiators: Springbok Challenge 2, against a team of British Gladiators and contenders was filmed in South Africa in 2000.^[2]

Format

The show pitted contestants in a variety of physical events against the 'Gladiators', who would attempt to prevent them from achieving maximum points on a variety of games. After this, the two contenders would race each other on the Eliminator, an assault course containing climbing, balancing, and cargo nets. The contender with the most points received a half second head start for every 1 point they were in front by.

Production

All the MTN Gladiators tapings took place at the Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg (1999–2000) and Big Top Arena, Carnival City (2001) in South Africa.

Presenters and crew

The show was originally presented by Glenn Hicks, executive producer of the first four series, and Ursula Chikane. Following Glenn's departure from the show in 2000, he was replaced by James Lennox when it was resurrected for its penultimate fifth series in 2001.

The referees were legendary South African cricketer Cyril Mitchley (1999–2000) and international strongman Wayne "The Boss" Price (2001). The timekeepers over the show's run were Ingrid Chantler (1999–2000), and female Gladiator ICE in 2001, who was unable to compete due to pregnancy. The Gladiators and crowds alike were cheered on by a group of cheerleaders, known as G-Force.

Gladiators

Alias	Gladiators career	Real name
Aqua/Ivory	Springbok Challenge (Ivory) Series 4	Marieka Theunissen
Blade	Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2	Clint Walters
Diamond	Springbok Challenge Series 5	Bernadette Beyer
Fire[3]	Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2 Series 5	Magdalena Wysoczanska
Force[4]	Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2	Joanne Rossi
Fox	Springbok Challenge 2 (UK) Series 5 (SA)	Tammy Baker
Gazelle	Springbok Challenge	Lara De Klerk
Giant	Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2 Series 5	Matthew Haldenby
Gold	Series 1 Series 2	Sherry Rissik
Granite	Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2 Series 5	Garth Collins
Ice	Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2 Series 5	Marion Hind
Impi	International Gladiators 2	Bible Mhizha
Jackal	Springbok Challenge 1 Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4	Dave Ridley
Jazz	Series 5	Bontle Litheko
Lightning	Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2	Rene Roberts Patel
Lynx	Series 5	Mariska Nel
Nightshade	Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2	Nelly Mokohoana
Quartz[5]	Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4	Michelle Sievwright
Rhino	Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4	Themba John
Sahara[6]	International Gladiators 2 Springbok Challenge Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2	Christy Skoglund
Samson	International Gladiators 2	Bob Dahmen
Shadow	Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2 Series 5	Desiré Thomas
Shaka	Springbok Challenge Series 4	Warren Simango
Sheena	Springbok Challenge (SA)	Tina Andrew
Spider[7]	Springbok Challenge Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2 Series 5	Sergio Capellino
Thunder	Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2 Series 5	Jade Russell
Tusk	Springbok Challenge Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2	Shannon Gaskin
Venus	Series 5	Alex Dorrestein
Warrior[8]	Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2 Series 5	Franco Kawaza
Wildebeest	Springbok Challenge Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Springbok Challenge 2 Series 5	Andries Coetzee