UK TV Ratings: ‘Gladiators’ Back With A Bang For BBC As Reboot Makes Light Work Of ITV’s ‘The Masked Singer’

Max Goldbart

15 January 2024 at 4:35 am·2-min read

Gladiators came back with a bang to British TV screens on Saturday, making light work of ITV’s The Masked Singer.

In the latest line of UK TV reboots, the series in which members of the public take on the gladiators in challenges was watched by more than 6M viewers with a 38% share, comfortably becoming the BBC’s most-watched new show of the year and topping the weekend ratings chart.

More from Deadline

Helmed by Bradley Walsh and son Barney, the hour-long show that aired from 5.50 p.m. GMT (9.50 a.m. PT) peaked with 6.3M and comfortably beat ITV’s The Masked Singer, which is now into its fifth season and was watched by 3.7M from 7 p.m. GMT.

The rating would have been particularly frustrating for ITV as Gladiators aired on that channel for eight years and 13 seasons in the 1990s, making icons of its gladiators. It was briefly restarted by Sky One in the late-noughties but only ran for a further two seasons, but the BBC announced it was bringing it back with fanfare last year. The show sees contestants battle against one of the resident gladiators in physically challenging events, with the objective being for the contestant to secure points for the final event, The Eliminator.

Gladiators is the most successful of the recent UK TV reboots, comfortably besting Survivor and Big Brother from late last year on the BBC and ITV respectively. Gladiators was produced by Hungry Bear and MGM Alternative UK, a division of Amazon MGM Studios.

The rating would have made for happy reading for BBC bosses as ITV has been winning all the plaudits over the past week or so due to the success of Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which ITV said over the weekend is now its biggest new drama launch in over a decade, beating Downton Abbey. The series, which has brought the post office scandal to the forefront of the British news agenda, is the top-rated new drama across all channels since the BBC’s Bodyguard in 2018, ITV said.

Holly Willoughby returns

On Sunday, Holly Willoughby made her return to TV on Dancing on Ice to 3.6M viewers.

Willoughby was appearing on TV for the first time since quitting ITV’s This Morning following a nightmare year in which a plot to kidnap her was foiled and Phillip Schofield, her former co-host, resigned after admitting to a relationship with a much younger colleague.

Schofield also used to present Dancing on Ice and he was replaced by Stephen Mulhern on the skating dance format, which is effectively ITV’s version of Strictly Come Dancing.

Best of Deadline

Evening Standard
'Misstiano Penaldo': John Terry brands BBC 'a disgrace' for dig at crying Cristiano Ronaldo over penalty miss
BBC coverage of the Euro 2024 did not go down well with the former Chelsea captain
Bloomberg
China’s AI startups head to Singapore in a bid for global growth
When Wu Cunsong and Chen Binghui founded their artificial intelligence startup two years ago in Hangzhou, China, they quickly ran into obstacles, including dearth of venture capital.
Hello!
Victoria Beckham just wore the slinkiest see-through dress - we're totally speechless
Victoria Beckham looked incredible on Instagram wearing a gold, see-through dress to advertise her perfume, Portofino 97 - from her Victoria Beckham Beauty brand.
The Independent
Seven people - including four kids - shot by neighbor who once told them to ‘go back to where they came from’
Motive still being investigated, but shooting ‘could’ have racial element, police say
INSIDER
After my husband and I stopped wearing our wedding rings, we tried polyamory. 3 years later, we're happily nonmonogamous.
My husband and I were monogamous before we got married. When we stopped wearing our wedding rings, we decided to try polyamory.
INSIDER
Malaysia's $100 billion ghost town is good for at least one thing: filming documentaries and shows like Netflix's 'The Mole'
Embattled Forest City is a backdrop for a handful of reality shows and documentaries.
The Independent
Bodycam footage released after 13-year-old boy shot and killed by police in New York
Body camera footage released by the department shows officers tackling the boy to the ground before firing a gun
INSIDER
A millennial couple moved to Bali 2 years ago. Making friends was one of the hardest parts.
There's a common refrain that things in Bali are cheap — and that's not necessarily true, they said.
Bloomberg
Russian goods find their way to Singapore as war fatigue sets in
Heavily discounted Russian-made goods, from hair products to chocolate, are finding their way onto Singapore’s virtual supermarket shelves.
Evening Standard
England have already been dealt huge selection blow for Switzerland quarter-final clash at Euro 2024
Gareth Southgate will be forced into Three Lions reshuffle for last-eight showdown in Dusseldorf
The Hill
70 percent of voters have decided who they will back in November: Poll
More than 7 in 10 voters have already decided whom they will vote for in the November presidential election, according to a new poll. The Harvard CAPS/Harris poll released Monday showed 72 percent of respondents said they have already made up their minds, while 28 percent said they are still weighing their choices. That’s a…
People
'Very Sweet Young Lady' Is Killed on Her 21st Birthday, Suspect in Custody
Joselyn Toaquiza was reported missing on Wednesday, June 19, the day after she turned 21, before police learned she'd been killed the day before
The Independent
Prostitute is fatally strangled then sexually assaulted inside Las Vegas casino by man who said he ‘snapped’
Jason Kendall, 35, is being held without bond in connection to the murder of Larissa Garcia at a Las Vegas casino
The Independent
‘A terrible disservice’: Biden slams Supreme Court immunity ruling, says it lets presidents ignore the law
President Joe Biden did not take questions after speaking on the Supreme Court ruling, despite questions swirling after his debate performance
DollarsAndSense.sg
22 Useful Items You Can Buy From The SAF eMart – That You Can Use In Your Civilian Life
Lifelong buddies, service to Singapore, personal development – the best things in NS life are priceless. For everything else, there’s the eMart. The post 22 Useful Items You Can Buy From The SAF eMart – That You Can Use In Your Civilian Life appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
The Telegraph
Russia ‘studying captured ATACMS’
Russian forces have captured and are studying an intact guidance system from a long-range US-made ATACMS missile, according to reports.
People
Megan Thee Stallion Shocks in Latex Thong Bodysuit and Boots on Stage at 2024 BET Awards: See Her Daring Look!
The rapper commanded the stage with her voice and sexy style
The Telegraph
How Cristiano Ronaldo’s night went from tantrums and tears to redemption and relief
Cristiano Ronaldo was left in floods of tears after missing a penalty in Portugal’s European Championship round of 16 match with Slovakia in Frankfurt on Monday night. Telegraph Sport outlines how Ronaldo’s evening went from one of frustration to despair before finally ending in sheer relief.
SETHLUI.COM
Mr Egg Fried Rice: Tasty fried rice with massive portions, hidden among HDBs in Bishan
The post Mr Egg Fried Rice: Tasty fried rice with massive portions, hidden among HDBs in Bishan appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
INSIDER
Estonia says it could hold out against a Russian attack 'for a couple of weeks' before NATO arrives
Estonia has ramped up its defense spending and believes it could hold out for a couple of weeks before reinforcements came, if Russia attacked.

Holly Willoughby returns

Latest stories