The first series of Gladiators was like the painting the Sistine Chapel - expensive and time-consuming but such a smash hit that there was no looking back for executive producer Nigel Lythgoe.

He loved the show before it even started and knew it was a smash, but couldn’t say so before it was broadcast, but he was so right.

They had to be tough, strong and beautiful but connecting with the audience was vital for the Gladiators - and Wolf was just the perfect baddie but Shadow broke Nigel’s heart.

And his show was far better than the USA counterpart which is why the states came calling for him to take over. But a celebrity version could so easily have ended badly after Vinnie Jones arrived. 

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