Gladiators legend John Anderson dies, aged 92

29 July 2024, 13:12

John Anderson was an icon of British TV in the 1990s.

John Anderson, best known as the referee on the hit ITV show Gladiators, has died at the age of 92.

A sportsman turned coach and teacher before he found mainstream fame later in life, Anderson was the head official on the show during its glorious first run between 1992 and 2000.

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Anderson died in the early hours of Sunday (July 28).

As well as his strict refereeing style, Anderson was known for opening events with his catchphrases deployed in his strong Glaswegian accent.

"Contender ready! Gladiator ready! Three! Two! One!" became as much a part of the show as the rounds themselves, as well as John advising who would start on his first or second whistle.

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John briefly returned to Gladiators for its 2008 reboot on Sky, but left after one series when he retired from television.

Away from Gladiators, Anderson had coached several Olympians, including one-time 5,000m world record holder David Moorcroft and 1988's 10,000m silver medallist Liz McColgan.

John wasn't involved in the recent successful BBC reboot of Gladiators, though it was impossible not to see the influence of Anderson on that series' ref Mark Clatternburg.