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Former World’s Strongest Man to become a Gladiator
Tom Stoltman, a three-time World's Strongest Man champion, has been announced as a new cast member for the fourth series of BBC's Gladiators. The 32-year-old from Invergordon in the Highlands made history in 2021 as the first Scot to win the World's Strongest Man title, and he now moves from strongman competition into the entertainment show's arena, where he will face contenders in tests of speed, strength and endurance.
Standing 6ft 8in (203cm) tall, Stoltman won World's Strongest Man in 2021 and 2022 before securing a third title in 2024, and he remains Britain's Strongest Man after a fourth win in February, beating Adam Bishop and Paddy Haynes. A hand injury hampered his bid for the 2026 world title, seeing him knocked out at the qualifying stage. Filming for the new Gladiators series begins in Sheffield next month, with the show due to return to BBC iPlayer and BBC One in 2027; Stoltman's Gladiator name has yet to be revealed.
In short
- Tom Stoltman joins Gladiators cast for series four
- Three-time World's Strongest Man, still Britain's Strongest Man
- Filming starts in Sheffield next month, airs 2027
Explained simply
Gladiators is a BBC television show where members of the public compete against trained athletes called Gladiators in various physical challenges. These challenges test strength, speed and endurance.
Tom Stoltman is a 32-year-old Scottish strongman who competes in international strength competitions. He won the World's Strongest Man title three times, most recently in 2024, and in 2021 became the first Scottish person ever to win that competition.
Stoltman is transitioning from elite specialist strength competitions to the entertainment show Gladiators. This represents a significant shift for an athlete, moving from competing only in specialist strength events to performing on mainstream television.