Gladiators fans have shared their fury as a contestant who was brought in as an injury replacement will face a rival he has already beaten in the final.
The 11-episode series has seen a new generation of Gladiators pit themselves against the public – from an elite CrossFit athlete from Manchester to a James Bond actor and two Olympians.
The show has been marred by some controversies, including a recent major rule break overlooked by referee Mark Clattenberg that enraged viewers as well as numerous contestants being forced to pull out due to injury.
But the competition will soon culminate in a grand final between Wesley Male and Finlay Anderson on the men’s side and Marie-Louise Nicholson and Bronte Jones on the women’s side taking place on Saturday 30 March.
While fans will still be keen to tune in, not all are happy with the format which has led to the final and who will be taking part.
Frustrated viewers pointed out how Wesley, who replaced the injured Finley Burkitt and wasn’t even in the contest when the show began, is facing Finlay who he previously beat in the quarter-finals.
Fans are furious that Wesley Male is in the show’s final after coming in as an injury replacement
Wesley pictured after he defeated Finlay Anderson in the quarter-finals of the competition
People were quick to take to social media to share their view on Saturday’s upcoming final
Finlay also has a controversial path through the competition, only making it to the semi-final eliminators as the fastest loser.
One person wrote on social media: ‘Neither of the best two contenders actually managed to make the final. Gutted for Chung, he could have won the whole thing.’
Another added: ‘Are we all agreed that Wesley shouldn’t get to the final? Someone from the heats should have been put through instead of his mysterious selection.’
A third wrote: ‘Oh dear, having to bring in a replacement mid show to take on another replacement for a shot in the final. It’s a dangerous game is #Gladiators.’
A fourth also said: ‘#Gladiators is still great, but it’s not the best look when 2 of the guys in the semi-final eliminator shouldn’t be there at all and only back in through injuries.’
Many fans were furious that Wesley replaced Finley Burkitt, who suffered a knee injury in the Eliminator heat of the quarter-finals in February, and argued the second-fastest runner up should have been called in next.
One person wrote on X: ‘It doesn’t sit right that someone who wasn’t in the heats gets to compete in the quarter finals.’
Another added: ‘Where the heck did Wesley rock up from? Bet the eliminated contestants are fuming!’
The 11-episode series has seen a new generation of Gladiators pit themselves against the public
Despite the furore over who has made it through the competition, the BBC confirmed on Tuesday that Gladiators will return for a second series.
The rebooted show returned in January with father and son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh hosting from Sheffield.
The revival has been a ratings success story, with its debut episode attracting a whopping 6.4million viewers.
Its future has now been cemented, after BBC chief Tim Davie included the series in his list of ‘big priorities’ for the year in an address to the Royal Television Society on Monday.
