| Genre: | Sports entertainment game show |
| Runtime: | 60 minutes |
| Starring: | Glenn Hicks Ursula Staplefeldt James Lennox Cyril Mitchley Wayne "The Boss" Price Ingrid Chantler Marion Hind |
| Channel: | SABC3 |
| Num Series: | 5 x Domestic series 1 x International Gladiators 2 x Springbok Challenge |
| Producer: | Keith Shaw (1999–2000) Donovan Marsh (2001) |
| Country: | South Africa |
| Location: | Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg (1999–2000) Big Top Arena, Carnival City (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 , against a team of British Gladiators and contenders was filmed in South Africa in 2000.[2]
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.
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.
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.
| 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 |