MTN Gladiators
GenreSports entertainment game show
StarringGlenn Hicks
Ursula Staplefeldt
James Lennox
Cyril Mitchley
Wayne "The Boss" Price
Ingrid Chantler
Marion Hind
Country of originSouth Africa
No. of series5 x Domestic series
1 x International Gladiators
2 x Springbok Challenge
Production
ProducersKeith Shaw (1999–2000)
Donovan Marsh (2001)
Production locationsStandard Bank Arena, Johannesburg (1999–2000)
Big Top Arena, Carnival City (2001)
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkSABC3
Release1999 (1999) 
2001 (2001)

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.

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 Staplefeldt. 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

References

  1. The Springkbok Challenge - Opening Credits. CassiusChrome. 19 March 2007. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2021 via YouTube.
  2. "- YouTube". YouTube.
  3. SERIES 2 - Fire Stats. g3sixty. 14 September 2006. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2021 via YouTube.
  4. SERIES 2 - Force Stats. g3sixty. 28 September 2006. Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2021 via YouTube.
  5. SERIES 2 - Quartz Stats. g3sixty. 14 September 2006. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2021 via YouTube.
  6. "- YouTube". YouTube.
  7. "- YouTube". YouTube.
  8. "- YouTube". YouTube.
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