Principle of the game
In each episode, four candidates – two women and two men – called the “challengers”, compete in sporting events against high-level athletes, called the “gladiators”. The latter are sixteen in total and are called Goliath, Apollo, Flamme or even Viper. At the end of the grand final, a male challenger and a female challenger will win “ the golden helmet », as well as the sum of 50,000 euros to be shared.
An international success
Gladiators is adapted from a cult show in the United States, launched at the end of the 80s. Many countries adapted the program before France, such as the United Kingdom, where it gathered, last January, 9.8 million of viewers on the BBC One channel.
Device
Six days of filming were necessary to put together this first season. As the installation of the games required floor space that no conventional television set could offer, the production chose to place its cameras at theAren’Ice from Cergy-Pontoise, in the Paris suburbs.
A trio of animators
During the presentation, TF1 relies on Denis Brogniart for comments, as well as a unique pair formed by Hélène Mannarino et Jean-Pierre Foucault. « It’s Intervilles without the cows, comments the latter. I have known Denis for a long time. As for Hélène, it was a match straight away. Our complicity can be seen in the image. Its only fault? She comes from Valenciennes, and I from Marseille! » Hélène Mannarino is delighted: “ I learn lots of things alongside Jean-Pierre! We may be forty-three years apart – he doesn’t like me saying it! –, we have common values, such as empathy. »
Gladiators, Friday December 27 at 9:10 p.m. on TF1
