Contender Ready is the brand-new unofficial Gladiators podcast based on the iconic TV show launching this week.
The seies is hosted by Comedy Award winning comedian Jessica Fostekew and British Olympic medalist and weightlifting champion Emily Campbell.
Jessica will bring the jokes, the life-long love of the Gladiators TV series and a passion for all things PE, while Emily will bring the wit, the cool-calm-collection, the understanding of the athlete’s psychology and the actual know-how when it comes to what is physically going on.
Each week the pair will look at a new episode of Gladiators to pick out their favourite and the most dramatic moments of comedy, competition and athleticism.
They will be joined by guests from the world of comedy and sport to get their insight on the latest episodes as well as hear about their history and relationship with the show and with PE generally.
Guests for the series include the likes of Josh Widdicombe and Gladiators Celebrity Special contenders Rob Beckett and Ellie Taylor.
Emily Campbell is the most successful British weightlifter of modern times and greatest British female of all time. She is a Commonwealth and four-time European champion, and a double World and Olympic medallist. She also has inside knowledge from competing at events throughout her career with half of the Gladiators team.
Jessica Fostekew is one of the UK’s most celebrated and in demand comedians – she has starred on QI, Live at the Apollo, Travel Man and she adapted her Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated show Hench into her BBC R4 comedy series Sturdy Girl Club – all about women in “unladylike sports”.
Jessica Fostekew said: “OH MY GADDDDD, this podcast is my dream come true. I loved Gladiators so much as a child, and the new series is incredible all over again.
“For the love of jokes and PE and drama and danger – it’s the perfect combination of things!! I have so much to say about every single aspect of the show. It brings joy to so many different demographics on so many different levels.
“There NEEDS to be a place where the show gets shaken out by some of the people who love it most and this is going to be it! This contender is SO READY”
Emily Campbell added: “I am so excited to be joining Jess Fostekew and co-hosting the Contender Ready podcast!
“It’s been a dream of mine to co-host a pod, and I absolutely love Jess and can’t wait for all the laughs we’ll have together whilst dissecting the iconic TV program that is Gladiators!
“I know a fair few of the current Gladiators from their sporting days so it’s great to be able to see how they get on against all the brave contenders!”
Contender Ready launches with two special episodes on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 January to recap Gladiators series one and cover the recent Gladiators Celebrity Special ahead of the series two television series starting on Saturday 18 January.
Podcast episodes will then be available weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast platforms from Monday 20 January.