Who are the famous faces joining Gladiators Celebrity Christmas Special 2025?

If you've been missing Gladiators since it's been off our screens, then here is some good news for you.

There's going to be another celebrity special - with famous faces taking on iconic challenges such as Duel, The Wall and the legendary Eliminator - and it’ll be shown on Christmas Day.

So who is brave enough to take on the challenge this time?

It's fitness guru Joe Wicks, reality star Sam Thompson, former Olympic boxer Nicola Adams and presenter Vogue Williams.

With all of them having some kind of sporting background already, we reckon they could give the Gladiators a run for their money.

Fitness coach Joe Wicks has built his career around exercise and healthy eating, even being called the nation's PE teacher after running workout sessions during lockdown.

He's said he's "absolutely buzzing to be taking part" and added: "I grew up watching it, so to now step into the arena myself is going to be an incredible experience. I know it's going to be tough, but I'm ready to give it everything I've got."

What about Nicola? She's used to breaking records and has won many gold medals throughout her career, with two in the Olympics as well as World, European and Commonwealth gold medals.

As a former boxer, she'll also be very experienced in using her strength and movement to win, which are skills she can also make use of against the Gladiators, although it sounds like she's not taking anything for granted.

When the news was announced that she would be joining this show, she said: "Getting the chance to step into that arena myself, it's a whole new kind of challenge. I may be a champion in the boxing ring, but this is different."

Sam, meanwhile, has recently completed a 260-mile endurance challenge called Match Ball Mission - running and cycling for five days in a row to raise funds for charity UNICEF.

He said: "Just when I've finished one challenge I'm onto the next, and this time I'm up against real life Gladiators! Bring it on and get me up that travelator!"

Vogue is also someone known for her love of exercise, and she often shares about her health and fitness regime online. She's also not afraid of a challenge, having taken on and won the first series of Bear Grylls: Mission Survive. She also appeared in the most recent series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.

She said appearing in Gladiators will be like "living out my childhood dream" and added: "I can't quite process how I'll actually face these amazing Gladiators. I'm just delighted to be a contender!"

As with the normal show, Bradley and Barney Walsh host this special edition of Glads, with the episode available to watch from 3:35pm on BBC One and iPlayer on Christmas Day.

And of course, Apollo, Athena, Bionic, Comet, Cyclone, Diamond, Dynamite, Electro, Fire, Fury, Giant, Hammer, Legend, Nitro, Phantom, Sabre, Steel, and Viper will all be returning to showcase their skills Too.

Let us know in the comments below who you are most looking forward to seeing in action.