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Gladiators fans have shared their fury when a contestant who was brought in as an injury replacement will face a rival he already beat in the final.
The 11-episode series has seen a new generation of Gladiators take on the public – from an elite CrossFit athlete from Manchester to a James Bond actor and two Olympians.
The show has been marred by some controversies, including a recent major rules violation that referee Mark Clattenberg overlooked that angered viewers, as well as numerous contestants being forced to withdraw due to injury.
But the competition will soon culminate with a grand final between Wesley Male and Finlay Anderson on the men’s side and Marie-Louise Nicholson and Brontë Jones on the women’s side taking place on Saturday 30 March.
While fans will still be eager to tune in, not everyone is happy with the format leading up to the final and who they will be participating with.
Frustrated viewers pointed out how Wesley, who replaced the injured Finley Burkitt and wasn’t even in the contest when the show began, faces Finlay, who he previously beat in the quarterfinals.
Fans are furious that Wesley Male is in the finals of the show after coming in as an injury replacement.
Wesley pictured after defeating Finlay Anderson in the quarter-finals of the competition.
People were quick to take to social media to share their thoughts on Saturday’s upcoming final.
Finlay also has a controversial path through the competition, only reaching the semi-final heats as the fastest loser.
One person wrote on social media: “Neither of the top two contenders made it to the final. Gutted by Chung, he could have won it all.
Another added: ‘Do we all agree that Wesley shouldn’t make the final? Someone from the playoffs should have been selected instead of his mysterious selection.
A third wrote: “OMG having to bring in a replacement mid-show to hire another replacement to have a chance in the final.” It’s a dangerous game for the #Gladiators.’
A fourth also said: “#Gladiators is still great but it’s not the best look when two of the guys in the semi-final tie shouldn’t be there and only returned due to injuries.”
Many fans were furious that Wesley replaced Finley Burkitt, who suffered a knee injury in the quarter-final tie in February, and argued that the second-fastest runner-up should have been called up next.
One person wrote on X: “It’s not right that someone who wasn’t in the playoffs can compete in the quarterfinals.”
Another added: ‘Where the hell did Wesley come from? I bet the eliminated contestants are furious!
The 11-episode series has seen a new generation of Gladiators take on the public
Despite the furor over who topped the competition, the BBC confirmed on Tuesday that Gladiators will return for a second series.
The rebooted show returned in January with father and son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh hosting from Sheffield.
The revival has been a ratings success, as its debut episode attracted a whopping 6.4 million viewers.
Its future has now been cemented, after BBC boss Tim Davie included the series in his list of “big priorities” for the year in a speech to the Royal Television Society on Monday.
The BBC has been contacted for comment.