Gladiators was the explosive show that brought families together around the TV – but off-screen there were many sordid secrets.
Back in the nineties, a host of muscle-bound stars burst onto our screens to take part in a series of brutal challenges.
There was no shortage of excitement to keep viewers hooked, from the eye-popping muscles to skin-tight lycra and dramatic battles – attracting 14m viewers at its peak.
However, behind-the-scenes there was scandal that viewers were not made aware of until many years later.
Life off-camera has proved to be just as action-packed for some of the muscle-bound stars of the ITV show.
From drug scandals, orgies and prison sentences to drink problems, cover-ups and bed-hopping antics, here is a look back at the most sensational secrets of the show.
Orgies
There was a lot going on off-camera on Gladiators (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
They used to battle on-screen but away from the camera, the Gladiators were lovers, not fighters
Backstage was very sexually-charged and there were threesomes, foursomes and even more going on.
Years after the show ended, Hunter, real name James Crossley, opened up about the saucy goings on.
“Not everyone was involved but we were young, virile guys – I will leave it to you to work out what happened,” he previously told the Daily Star.
“There was a lot of sexual tension… We were a bunch of young girls and guys at the peak of physical fitness. Not everyone was involved but we were young, virile guys – I will leave it to you to work out what happened.
The original Gladiators line-up (Image: Rex)
He added: “There was a lot of testosterone flying about. Sometimes people would go off in threesomes or foursomes – sometimes even groups of boys or girls together.
“Of course there were affairs – some of which have never come out. I reckon those involved will be taking that stuff to the grave.”
The cast would all stay in the same hotel while filming together, which meant their noisy bedroom antics kept some of the star awake all night.
While filming the shows, the cast would be put up in a hotel together and Michael also confessed that his co-stars would often keep him awake with their noisy bedroom antics.
He said: “There were loads of [offscreen romances], not so much for me, but… the room next to me was noisy. Every now and again there was a bit of banging on the walls.
“A lot of them were in relationships, but there were a couple of young single fellas there [who did alright for themselves].”
Shadow’s drugs shame
Shadow was sacked from the show (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Jefferson King became one of the most formidable Gladiators on the show as the ever dominant Shadow.
The bodybuilder and wrestler was the fans’ favourite and rarely got beaten by challengers.
However, his TV career was cut shot in 1995 when he found himself at the centre of a headline-grabbing drug scandal.
A drug test found steroids in his system and he was booted off the hit show.
He said at the time: “There is no excuse for cheating. I was mixing with drugs before Gladiators and when I was tested during the show there were no traces of cocaine but they found steroids”.
Jefferson’s marriage collapsed amid a cheating storm and he went on to spend the best part of 20 years battling a crippling drug addiction and legal problems.
He eventually managed to get clean and turn his life around, and now works in a drug rehabilitation centre.
Jefferson is also believed to have restored contact with his ex-wife and their children after years of estrangement.
Jefferson King finally managed to turn his life around after 20 years (Image: Steve Bainbridge)
There were claims that producers knew about Jefferson’s problems for six months.
Michael Wilson, aka Corbra, claimed bosses “turned a blind eye” because he was their star Gladiator.
“They knew he was doing cocaine and steroids for six months and they turned a blind eye to it,” he told Mirror Online.
“He was a big star, it was a TV show not the Olympics, although we were being drug tested by the same people who did Olympians.
“They [the producers] said to the drug testers that they were going to get him help.
“They built him up to be such a big star, there was so much pressure on him.”
Michael went on to admit he tried to help his friend, but he had no idea just how bad his drug problems were.
He said: “He phoned me a few times and wanted to borrow more money. He already owed me some money as I paid his hotel bill and stuff, but I feel guilty for not helping him more.
“I did have a few phone calls with him later on. I didn’t know how bad his drug problem was and I was like I didn’t want to give him [any money] it was going to go on that rubbish [drugs].”
Ulrika’s bed hopping
Shadow with Ulrika Jonsson and Warrior (Image: Rex)
Ukrika Jonsson was host of the show throughout it’s original run, mostly presenting alongside footballer John Fashanu.
The Swedish-born presenter was romantically linked with Hunter, real name James Crossley, and they dated from 1996 to 1997.
Hunter had a bit of an awkward dating history on the show, as he was living with Jet (Diane Youdale) before he got with the Ulrika.
The hunk later cheated on her with Australian Gladiator Cheeta.
There were also allegations that Ulrika had an affair with Gladiator’s cameraman Phil Piotrowski.
Mark Smith, better known as Rhino, also later claimed that he too had bedded Ulrika.
Cobra drunk during filming
Cobra was drunk while battling contestants (Image: ITV)
Many of the Gladiators fell into the party lifestyle, but for Cobra it became part of his filming days as well.
Michael Wilson, who was part of the original Gladiators line-up when it started in 1992, confessed he was often “bleeding drunk” while he battled contestants on the show.
“I didn’t take it too seriously,” admitted Michael to Mirror Online in August last year.
“I was mucking about pranking, I had so much fun. It was brilliant I was with a lot of mates with similar interests, we were all similar age, it was fun…
“There were end of show parties, when we had international Gladiators come over, we would be up all night boozing.”
Cobra fell into the party lifestyle (Image: Daily Record)
It got so bad that Cobra got a warning from producers to cut back on the booze or there would be consequences.
Bosses reportedly wanted to fire him but the production crew stood up for him and he kept his job until 2000.
“I used to drink too much during the first three years, we didn’t know whether we would be asked back, so we would party,” he explained.
“Ironically I never used to drink a drop before I was on Gladiators.
“We never had to drive any where, we had hospitality twice a day… so there would be wine and booze and stuff flowing.
“We used to have a school report and go in and see producers and they would say you’ve been drinking too much, partying too much.”
He battled pneumonia and had a hip operation last year (Image: Daily Mirror)
During his eight series on the show, Michael had rippling muscles and was in the peak of physical condition.
But he would often struggle to chase contestants up the infamous 32ft-high wall because he was so drunk.
He told The Guardian : “I remember looking at The Wall and thinking, ‘I’ve got to chase this guy up it and I’m bleeding drunk’.”
Last year, Cobra was seriously ill and battling pneumonia in hospital and blamed his illness on his punishing workouts for the ITV show.
“I’m only half a Gladiator now. It’s been touch and go,” he told The Sun.
“I don’t feel like I’m kicking the bucket at the minute, but it will only take another cold or cough and I’m in trouble.”
He added: “I’m isolated in my own ward. It goes to show – you never know what’s around the corner.”
Warrior locked up
Warrior was one of the original Gladiators (Image: LWT)
Michael Ahearne was cheered by millions during his time on the show but his life came crashing down.
He played rugby union for England at youth level before becoming a prize winning bodybuilder – representing Great Britain at Mr Universe.
The 6ft 4in athlete became a household name as one of the stars of Gladiators during the first six series and was earning up to £100,000 a year.
However, his world came crashing down in 1997 after becoming embroiled in a plot to foil the prosecution of Philip Glennon Jnr, a then associate of former international cocaine baron Curtis ‘Cocky’ Warren.
Glennon Jnr had been accused of firing a handgun at a police officer outside a nightclub in 1996 and was charged with attempted murder.
In 1997, he was sent to prison for corruption and perverting the course of justice in a firearms case and served part of a 15-month jail sentence.
Mr Ahearne was released from prison after just six months, having impressed bosses at Wealstun jail in West Yorkshire.
He returned to his home on Oxton, Wirral, where he was the subject of an electronic tag.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
