Huge ITV primetime show faces axe after ratings defeat to BBC's Gladiators revival

Fans of a long-running primetime gameshow are set to be disappointed as bosses look to give it the boot.

first hit our screens in 2015 to rave reviews. At the time, it was said to be the perfect void filler for , which was no longer aired.

However, now the family-favourite nineties classic has returned, it's reported Ninja Warrior will soon be removed from the primetime listings. It comes as Gladiators has won the ratings battle between the similar shows. The showing of Gladiators returned last year and pulled in over five times the viewing figures of the last Ninja Warrior series in 2022.

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A source told The Sun how Ninja Warrior worked brilliantly to replace Gladiators, with , Rochelle Humes and Chris Kamara at the helm working wonders for the audience. However, they said: "But when the BBC revived Gladiators last year, it sounded the death knell for ’s ninjas. It was an absolute ratings champion, pulling in over six million viewers versus 1.6 million for Ninja Warrior’s last series in 2022. A decision was therefore taken to rest Ninja Warrior for good."

A second series of the new format of Gladiators is set to return to the BBC early next year. There is also a lined up. The is set to air on in early 2025 and initially left fans guessing as to who they could see try their luck against the Gladiators.

After weeks of speculation from fans in August, broadcaster , TV presenter , comedian and actress were all announced to appear the Celebrity Gladiators special. The four famous faces were set to take on the "superhuman" Gladiators in a series of gruelling challenges.

Former host and triathlete Minchin said she is "so excited" to be on the show after watching it for years and thinking it looked like "terrifying fun." Dommett, meanwhile, labelled it a "dream come true". He joked: "I’ve been illegally running up escalators backwards all my life in preparation and now it’s happening for real. Super excited to be up against all my favourite muscley people in leotards and have some fun."

Former contestant and Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor also said: "We all love the show in my house and I’m so excited to take part. I can’t wait to get chased by athletic goddesses and ask Viper about his childhood." Beckett quipped he was ready to "be a catastrophic humiliation in front of the nation".

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