Tom Stoltman is swapping the World’s Strongest Man stage for one of the biggest entertainment arenas on British television after being confirmed as the latest athlete to join the cast of Gladiators.
The three-time World’s Strongest Man champion will feature in the hit BBC series when it returns for its fourth season in 2027, adding another elite strength athlete to the show’s ever-growing line-up of superhuman competitors.
Produced by Hungry Bear Media and MGM Alternative UK, a division of Amazon MGM Studios, the hugely successful reboot is set to return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with filming beginning in Sheffield later this month.
For Stoltman, the move represents an entirely new challenge after years of dominating one of the toughest sports on the planet.
The 32-year-old has built a reputation as one of the greatest Strongmen of his generation, winning the World’s Strongest Man title on three occasions through a combination of extraordinary power, athleticism and relentless determination.
Born in Invergordon in the Scottish Highlands, Stoltman also made history as the first Scottish athlete ever to win World’s Strongest Man, cementing his place among the UK’s most decorated strength athletes.
Now, instead of lifting colossal weights in international competition, he’ll be stepping into the Gladiators arena to test himself against a different kind of challenge, with contenders once again preparing to battle through events built around speed, strength and endurance.
While the BBC has confirmed Stoltman’s arrival, fans will have to wait a little longer before discovering the identity he’ll compete under. His Gladiator name, first official look and further details surrounding the upcoming series are all set to be revealed at a later date.
Speaking after the announcement, Stoltman described the opportunity to the BBC as a major milestone in his career.
“This is a dream opportunity and I’m incredibly proud to become a Gladiator. I’ve spent my life pushing myself to see what I can achieve and joining this incredible show is the next challenge,” he said. “I’m excited to bring my strength, determination and personality to the arena but, most importantly, I want people watching to feel inspired to believe in themselves and take on their own challenges.”
His addition gives the series another high-profile sporting name as Gladiators continues to blend elite athletic ability with primetime entertainment.
Viewers can expect to see Stoltman put his immense strength to the test in front of a packed arena when filming gets underway in Sheffield, before the new series arrives on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2027.
With one of the most accomplished strongmen in history now officially joining the cast, anticipation is already building to see how the Scottish powerhouse adapts from conquering the world’s strongest men to becoming one of television’s newest Gladiators.
Featured image credit: Tom Stoltman / Instagram
