Fitness coach Joe Wicks and Irish presenter Vogue Williams have been declared the champions of the Gladiators Celebrity Special, following a tense Christmas Day finale on BBC One.
A Festive Finale Showdown
The pair secured their victory after a series of nail-biting physical challenges, ultimately defeating their rivals, Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson and Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams. The festive special, broadcast on 25 December 2025, was hosted by Bradley and Barney Walsh from Sheffield's Utilita Arena.
Contenders on the revived BBC game show must compete against the programme's elite athletes, known as the Gladiators, across a range of demanding physical feats. Reflecting on the win, Joe Wicks, 40, highlighted the notorious final challenge. "Even though I had a bit of a breather, I still found that travelator hard," he said. "It’s much harder doing it in real life than watching it on TV."
Reactions from the Arena
Wicks, famed for his online PE sessions during lockdown, praised his opponent, stating: "I’m really chuffed that I won but I have to say Sam has been an amazing partner." Despite the loss, Sam Thompson remained in high spirits, declaring to the Sheffield crowd with his self-appointed Gladiator name: "El Cockroacho, baby – you can’t stamp him out!"
In the women's final, Vogue Williams clinched victory by a razor-thin margin, finishing the course just two-hundredths of a second ahead of Nicola Adams. "I honestly cannot believe it, I’ve had the best day ever," Williams exclaimed. "The crowd when I was doing so badly were so nice to me so thank you." Her win follows a recent stint on ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!.
Olympic Spirit and Silver Linings
Nicola Adams, the first woman to win an Olympic boxing gold medal at London 2012, revealed a minor injury hampered her performance. "I came down on the zipline and landed funny on my ankle and I just couldn’t get it going again," Adams explained. She joked about the result: "This is the first silver medal I’ve had!" Adams previously made history on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020 as part of the show's first same-sex couple.
Gladiators: Celebrity Special is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. A new series of Gladiators is scheduled to air on BBC One and iPlayer in early 2026.
