If there’s one show that paved the way for the likes of Ninja Warrior and Total Wipeout on Saturday night telly, it’s Nineties game-show Gladiators.
It’s only fitting, then, that one of the original Gladiators had a go at the Ninja Warrior UK course on this Saturday’s show.
Now a firefighter, 51 year-old Saracen, aka Mike Lewis, competed on Gladiators for eight series between 1992 and 2000. Speaking before his attempt at the notoriously fiendish Ninja Warrior course, Saracen explains his reasons for wanting to give it a go, saying: “I wanted to test my fitness, and also just to show people that age isn’t a barrier, we can all do this.”
However, despite getting full marks for optimism, Saracen’s attempt at the course doesn’t quite go to plan – in fact, the very first obstacle, the Quintuple Step, sees him lose his balance and fall into the water, signalling the end of his run.
“Another one does bite the dust,” he laughs after his run, while commentator Ben Shephard quips that they “should have sent Wolf instead”.
Never mind, Saracen – you’re still a Nineties hero in our minds.
Ninja Warrior UK, ITV, Saturday, 7pm
