BBC’s Gladiators pop-up event is coming to Bluewater with inflatable arena and challenges like Hang Tough and Duel

Meet the stars of BBC’s Gladiators and compete against your friends and family in a series of immersive challenges.

The interactive experience, based on the popular entertainment show, will give families a chance to tackle inflatable obstacle courses at one of the county’s biggest shopping centres.

The free pop-up will be at Bluewater in Greenhithe for two days and is the largest experience of its kind in the country.

It includes versions of some of the show’s most beloved events, such as Hang Tough, where participants must swing across a grid of rings and avoid the Gladiator to reach the opposite platform.

Fans can also take part in Duel, during which both competitors are placed on high podiums and must try to knock each other off with pugil sticks.

There will be a host of familiar faces from the show at the Kent event, and fans can take advantage of meet-and-greet and photo opportunities with the contestants.

James Waugh, centre director at Bluewater, said: “We are thrilled to announce that Bluewater will be hosting the biggest Gladiators immersive experience to date this month.

“It is going to be a fantastic opportunity for families to enjoy a free action-packed day out at Bluewater, with the chance to meet some of the cast as well as participating in the challenges.”

Gladiators first aired on ITV in 1992. The show, presented by Ulrika Jonsson, ran for eight years until poor viewing figures led to its cancellation in 2000.

The BBC revival made its debut in January 2024 with Bradley Walsh and his son, Barney, as the hosts. It has since become one of the channel’s best-loved entertainment shows and spawned a celebrity New Year’s Day special featuring Rob Beckett, Ellie Taylor and Joel Dommett.

“We’re so excited to be bringing our largest scale fan activation yet to Bluewater,” says BBC marketing manager Dan Cavallo. “We are thrilled by the support for season two of the show, and want to give fans the opportunity to meet the Gladiators and test their mettle in the ‘arena’.

“These events have been super popular, and we’re expecting our biggest turn out yet, so get down early and enjoy an exciting day of Gladiators action!”

The Gladiators experience is free and open on a first-come, first-served basis.

The event runs from 10am to 5.30pm on Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23 at Bluewater’s Village Marquee.

You can watch Gladiators on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturdays at 7pm.