The 6ft 8in Scotsman Tom Stoltman, who holds the title of the world's strongest man, has been announced as the latest addition to the cast of the BBC's hit show Gladiators. The 32-year-old from Invergordon in the Highlands will appear in the fourth series of the rebooted programme, which is hosted by the father-son duo Bradley Walsh and Barney Walsh.
Stoltman Confirms News on Instagram
Stoltman took to Instagram on Monday, June 20, to confirm the news, sharing a photo of himself grinning and flexing his muscles. In the caption, he wrote: "I'm so excited to become a Gladiator! And join the amazing Gladiator team. More news and exciting announcements coming soon @bcciplayer & @bbcgladiators."
He later told the BBC: "This is a dream opportunity and I'm incredibly proud to become a Gladiator. I've spent my life pushing myself to see what I can achieve and joining this incredible show is the next challenge. I'm excited to bring my strength, determination and personality to the arena but, most importantly, I want people watching to feel inspired to believe in themselves and take on their own challenges."
Filming and Broadcast Details
The upcoming series of the Saturday night prime-time show will begin filming in Sheffield next month before returning to BBC iPlayer and BBC One in 2027. Stoltman, who stands 6ft 8in (203cm) tall and weighs nearly 180kg, made history in 2021 as the first Scot to win the title of world's strongest man. He will join fellow Scot Sheli McCoy, known as Sabre on the show, who is a 38-year-old Scottish weightlifter and gym owner that joined the BBC programme in 2023.
Gladiator Name Yet to Be Revealed
Stoltman's Gladiator name has not yet been announced. His inclusion comes after fan-favourite Gladiator Giant, whose real name is Jamie Bigg and is one of the tallest bodybuilders in the world, made his exit from the show in early 2026 after three seasons.
Fan Reactions
Fans were delighted by the announcement. One commented: "Amazing news Tom!!! Go smash it!" Another wrote: "I hope you'll be known as the albatross! Well done Tom, can't wait to see you in action." A third added: "This is exciting news Tom. Can't wait to see you in action. Especially hang tough. Congratulations." Someone else simply said: "This is awesome!!"
