Gladiators' Cobra claims stars had orgies in hotel after show as he exposes show's dark secrets

Gladiators star Cobra has opened up about the show's dark secrets - claiming the crew used to have orgies. Watch a clip from the classic show here:

The show – broadcast from 1992 to 2000 – drew huge audiences to its Saturday evening ITV slot, and it is making a return on BBC next year.

The programme saw competitors take on a number of physical challenges against the 'Gladiators', who were basically a bunch of athletes who you would never back yourself to beat at any sort of physical challenge.

But while they may have looked like they were in tip top condition, it turns out they apparently got stuck into all kinds of debauchery when the cameras weren't rolling.

Michael Willson - better known as Cobra - has revealed that he was sometimes bladdered while making the show.

Speaking to The Sun, the 58-year-old said: "There were about three shows I was drunk on.

"Sometimes I would have six pints of Guinness, and two hours later I'm out in front of the cameras.

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"There's one show when I'm on the game called swingshot, which is like a bungee, and you can hear me going, 'Ada ada wee'.

"I remember looking up the wall, chasing the guy who had ten seconds head start. I'm seeing two of them. I'm thinking, 'Which one have I got to catch?'

"Ironically, I did catch him."

To be fair, necking six pints probably levelled the playing field a bit. Perhaps the Man City squad should be made to neck five tequilas before their next fixture.

On top of the drinking culture, Michael said gladiators and crew members would meet up for communal bonk sessions at the Holiday Inn near the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, where the show was filmed.

Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy Stock Photo

"There were orgies going on in the hotel," he recalled. "I was cheesed off — no one invited me."

Guinness, orgies and getting paid to t**t people with big sticks - is it just me, or does this sound like the dream job?

Aside from the hedonistic lifestyle, Cobra also claimed that the show was rigged.

"If you look at some of the old shows, on the travelator you see a little man's head," he said.

"There's a bloke sitting there. He can slow it down, because it's always dramatic when it's a close one right at the end.

"If someone's struggling it's easy to take the brake off so it goes faster suddenly and the guy they like is going to go up there.

"They would put someone like Warrior, who wasn't quick, on the wall.

"Then they know that the contestants that they like are going to get away and get the points."

LADbible has contacted ITV for a comment.

Topics: TV and Film, Sex and Relationships

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey