Where are all the UK Gladiators now?

They were seemingly superhuman powerhouses, forces to be reckoned with – and only occasionally tamed by strict referee John Anderson. Originally hosted by John Fashanu and Ulrika Jonsson, Gladiators launched 25 years ago this month. But where are those man- and woman-mountains now?

Jet was a firm favourite among ardent Gladiators fans and was an original member of the team until she had to pull out in 1996 after suffering a back injury while tackling the Pyramid.

Having amassed a huge young fanbase after the success of Gladiators, Diane went on to become a children's presenter as 'The Games Mistress' on Sky One's former video game series Games World. She also hosted ITV's You Bet! and Finders Keepers.

Diane is a trained psychotherapist and Pilates instructor, and has used the former qualification to analyse Big Brother housemates in the spin-off series Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side and Big Brother's Bit on the Side.

She also once unwittingly left Twilight actor Robert Pattinson "scarred" for life when she failed to turn up to a dog beauty show which he was taking part in as a wee 10-year-old.

"Jet was supposed to be judging it, but she didn't turn up," he joked during an appearance on Nick Grimshaw's Radio 1 Breakfast Show. "It has scarred me with women – I don't trust women any more."

We feel your pain, Robert. We had a similar situation with Pat Sharp.

Yes, swimmer Sharron Davies was a Gladiator. She kicked ass as Amazon in 1996. Prior to taking part in the show, the professional swimmer won a silver medal in the 400-metre individual medley at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, and two gold medals at the 1978 Commonwealth Games.

After pulling out of Gladiators following a knee injury, Sharron continues to provide sports commentary for the BBC, is a patron of several children's charities, and returned to ITV in 2010 for Dancing on Ice.

During her time on the celebrity skating competition, poor Sharron fell foul to the acid-tongued judge Jason Gardiner, who was forced to apologise to the athlete after comparing her to "faecal matter that won't flush" following one performance.

It was a blaze of glory that led Eunice Huthart, a former contender on the show, to be invited back as Gladiator Blaze after overcoming the Travelator to clinch victory as the female champion in 1994. She possessed the power, the courage and the skills (okay, that's enough) to remain the only UK contestant to ever become a Gladiator.

Eunice has gone on to become a successful stunt double. In 1995, she was the double for Famke Janssen in GoldenEye, and since then has performed stunts in major Hollywood blockbusters including The Fifth Element, Titanic, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

She frequently doubles for Angelina Jolie, including the Tomb Raider series, Salt, Mr and Mrs Smith, and more recently was stunt co-ordinator on Maleficent.

Eunice is godmother to Jolie's daughter Shiloh Jolie-Pitt and in 2013, became the first person in the US to file a lawsuit against News Corporation in relation to phone hacking allegations. The case was later dismissed.

Warren Furman featured on Gladiators between 1996 and 2000 as the blonde-haired, bicep-bulging Ace. His other television venture was in BBC's DIY SOS as a temporary replacement in Lowri Turner's team.

Warren was famous for a brief engagement to Katie Price in the late '90s, claiming that the former glamour model constantly humiliated him during their relationship. Back in 2009, he previously told The Sun that Price was "sweet and loving" when they first met, but that changed shortly after her first breast enlargement, and he quoted her as remonstrating him with the fatal line: "You're just a washed-up old Gladiator. I'm more famous than you."

Needless to say, the engagement didn't last for very long.

His former colleague Hunter recently told The Sun: "Ace is now a Christian, he's turned to God. He had some quite horrific things happen in his life, really horrific, so it was either that or probably he wouldn't be around now."

Don't mess with former boxer and bodybuilder turned Gladiator Cobra. One of the original Gladiators, he famously demonstrated his trademark high kicks and impressive splits as he entered the arena at the start of each episode.

Cobra was also known as the joker of the group, pulling faces at the referees, contestants and fans, donning silly wigs and performing crazed monkey impressions on a whim. Master of both humour and the Hang Tough rings, Cobra remains one of the all-time Gladiator favourites.

Michael currently resides in the West Midlands, and enjoys watercolours in his spare time. Following his Gladiators success, he visited youth clubs and schools across the country to promote fitness.

Blond, curly-haired bodybuilder James Crossley joined the Gladiators as the handsome Hunter in 1993, staying with the show until 2000. He went on to win the prestigious title of Ultimate Gladiator after competing against fellow male gladiators in 1999.

The sexual chemistry between Hunter and the show's presenter Ulrika Jonsson was palpable, and the pair went on to date briefly in the mid-1990s. You may also remember his cameo appearance in Emmerdale's Christmas special of '95, at the height of his Gladiators fame.

Crossley went on to train as an actor, and toured with Sir Peter Hall in Shakespeare's As You Like It in both the UK and the US (2003-2004). He's also worked with John Godber's renowned Hull Truck theatre company, and in 2010 appeared on stage in Godber's Up 'n' Under. He still works as a health and fitness specialist.

Former British gymnast and speedy, leotard-clad Lightning was one of the toughest Gladiators and remained undefeated in the UK arena. So tough and determined was our Lightning that she competed in the Gladiators arena in 1999 just three weeks after giving birth to her first child. Hardcore.

Kim made a welcome return to Gladiators for its 2008 revamp in a Legends special, competing alongside fellow former Gladiators Flame, Rebel, Rocket, Ace, Hunter, Trojan and Wolf against the new Gladiators for charity.

She also presented children's show Room 785, which aired on the British Forces Broadcasting Service TV for Her Majesty's Armed Forces worldwide.

She has a son, Lexus, and daughter, Skye.

Saracen was hard as nails and lasted the entirety of the full eight series, as well as competing in the international challenge in South Africa.

Mike went back to being a London firefighter when the series came to an end in 2000, and occasionally makes guest appearances on various daytime TV shows such as This Morning.

He returned to ITV's Saturday night primetime lineup on Ninja Warrior recently, and has even tackled the tough obstacle course.

Fearsome feline Panther struck fear into her opponents as she slinked on stage to the theme tune of Janet Jackson's 'Black Cat'.

After the success of Gladiators, the former champion bodybuilder, who previously reigned as Miss North Britain, Miss England, Miss Great Britain, Miss Russia and Miss Universe, now runs her own gym. Called Panthers Gym, obviously.

London-born Mark Smith rose to fame as Rhino with a 5-year stint on Gladiators. Our minds were blown upon discovering that he's starred in a series of Hollywood movies including Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Batman Begins.

Smith also appeared in Ben Affleck's Oscar-winning drama Argo (2012), and Nicolas Cage's The Frozen Ground (2013). The bodybuilder and actor even appeared on EastEnders in 2005, guest-starring as Johnson, and has TV credits including Robin Hood, Trial and Retribution and TNT's The Last Ship to his name.

The villainous Wolf struck fear into the very heart and soul of his opponents, who were often left quaking in their bright white trainers.

Representing the antithesis to Falcon's respected sportsmanship, Wolf tried to break rules and cry foul, often butting heads with referee John Anderson, and routinely refused to shake the hands of his contenders. His long, flowing curly locks were a force to be reckoned with all by themselves.

Michael Van Wijk held his role for the entire series, and revealed he was inspired to take the alter-ego 'Wolf' after auditioning for a role in Kevin Costner's Dances with Wolves in 1989. He didn't get the part.

In 1997, he fell for a Brass Eye spoof when Chris Morris managed to trick him into taking part in a fake appeal for fictional animal rights abuses – including the case of Carla the elephant, who it was claimed had managed to get her trunk stuck in her own behind.

Michael returned to the arena for a Gladiators Legends Special with Ace, Hunter and Trojan, and received a standing ovation from the crowd. He joined Sky's revival of Gladiators as 'the leader of the pack', when he was appointed as team manager for the show's second (and final) series on the channel.

After Gladiators, Michael moved to Auckland, New Zealand, opening up a gym named (yes, you guessed it) Wolf's Gym.

Contenders were subjected to the mighty sting of the speedy Scorpio. Former bodybuilder and model Nikki Diamond was an original Gladiator, but was forced to pull out after series 3 when she sustained a severe back injury while taking part in a panto.

Prior to Gladiators, the star made her screen debut in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, telling the Express in a recent interview: "I was one of many girls running around London not wearing much!" She also appeared in Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane's Nuns on the Run, and Slipstream with Star Wars actor Mark Hamill.

On how she got onto the show, Nikki added: "I was always a fan of the American series of Gladiators and watched it avidly, even though it was transmitted here in the early hours of Saturday morning. It was an amazing show and I wanted to have a go.

"My then-husband noticed an advert in a newspaper confirming it was coming over to the UK and anyone interested should apply. We sent in some pictures and Nigel Lythgoe, the producer, contacted me and said he wanted to see me. I was offered a contract, the first Gladiator to be offered one."

After leaving Gladiators, Nikki worked as a reporter for Watchdog, and made 48 episodes of the children's programme Demolition Dad. She currently runs the Chun Ming Dao Martial Arts Association in Epsom with her partner Neil Webster.

Nikki also revealed that Michael Willson (Cobra) was her best friend on the show, and that the pair kept in touch up until recently.

Former UK competitive aerobics champion Suzanne Cox was a firm fan favourite as the sassy Vogue, who backflipped her way into the arena to her theme music of Madonna's 'Vogue'.

Vogue competed on the show from 1995 until its end, and was not to be messed with on events such as Hang Tough or the Powerball.

Post-Gladiators, Suzanne released her own fitness videos, and ran a fashion shop called COR along with fellow former Gladiators Saracen and Panther.

She went on to marry Gladiators quarter-finalist Mark Roberts, and they later welcomed daughter Amber and son Flynn.

Glossy-haired Mark Griffin was Gladiator Trojan from 1993 to 1996, before quitting the series to concentrate on his acting career.

Following on from the show, he's featured in TV hits including Curb Your Enthusiasm, NCIS, Doctor Who and Strike Back.

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Mark has also starred in movies including Daddy Day Care and Dr Dolittle 2, and most recently took the lead in 2014's Dragons of Camelot.

Mark and fellow Gladiators star Kate Staples (Zodiac) had a daughter together, but have since gone their separate ways.

Former nightclub bouncer and bodybuilder Warrior was one of the mightiest Gladiators, and excelled in events such as Powerball.

Contenders were in awe of Warrior's unwavering strength and sheer size, and Michael Ahearne went on to perform as his physically intimidating alter ego on the show from series one to six.

In 1997, Michael was accused of perverting the course of justice after passing payments to a police officer on behalf of a gangster accused of attempted murder. He was sent to prison after being found guilty following a 24-day trial. He served part of a 15-month jail sentence, and was unsuccessful in an attempt to appeal his conviction in the year 2000.

Michael went on to pursue a career in acting and singing, and later opened Mike Ahearne's Pro Gym in Birkenhead.

The awesome and agile Zodiac, former British and Commonwealth pole-vault record holder Kate Staples, joined the Gladiators roster in series 2.

Kate left the show after series 5 following a serious accident which left her with broken bones in her neck. Although she made a recovery following a nine-hour operation, the injury meant that her time on Gladiators and her professional athletics career came to an end.

Kate also welcomed a child with fellow Gladiator Trojan (Mark Griffin), and Jet (Diane Youdale) was to become godmother to their daughter Ella. She later married rugby player Chris Sheasby, and the pair have a son together.

She continues to work in health and fitness, running Adventure Bootcamp in Cobham, Surrey and working regularly with decathlete Daley Thompson on initiatives to get people of all ages interested in sport.

The fearsome Falcon was a long-standing Gladiator, slipping into the pink, blue and white leotard for series two until the show came to an end. Falcon was also known for being affable and a good sport, always shaking the hands of her opposing contenders.

After hanging up her Lycra one-piece, Bernadette Hunt has promoted healthy living at schools across the country, and carried out promotional work for charity.

Speaking about life after Gladiators, she told the Basingstoke Gazette: "I'm very happy with the work I do now and am always busy. My time is spent as a personal trainer and with my children Adam, 23, and Angel, 4."

But despite fond memories of her time as a Gladiator, the star won't be resurrecting her role as Falcon in the near future, saying that she turned down the chance to appear in the revived series "as I try to keep a lower profile and have lots of commitments".

Former bodybuilder and wrestler Shadow, aka Jefferson King, was known for his legendary icy cold stare and fearsome, frosty intimidation tactics.

Jefferson took part in the first series of Gladiators but was dramatically sacked after testing positive for anabolic steroids. Around the same time, he was also alleged to have taken cocaine in a London nightclub. King admitted taking steroids, but denied the cocaine claims.

Speaking at the time, Jefferson released an apology to fans and fellow Gladiators, announcing: "I was cheating myself. I did it to get my body back up to par.

"The thing I hold closest to my heart is the admiration of millions of children who watch the show... I'm very sorry to have let them down, and also my colleagues on Gladiators. I did a very foolish thing at Christmas. I took a compound containing anabolic steroids. There is no justification for taking them – I knew if I was found out, I would be fired."

Jefferson later trained to become a wrestler, and made a cameo role in Spice Girls movie Spiceworld in 1997.

After a long history of battling drug addiction, Jefferson is currently clean and works in a clinic for drug rehabilitation, sharing the story of his addiction and recovery with Inexcess.tv in a video interview.

Prior to Gladiators fame, John Anderson was a teacher and coach for Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games athletes, training track and field stars from Liz McColgan to David Moorcroft – and even former Gladiators star Judy Simpson (Nightshade).

Years after Gladiators had ended on ITV, John resumed his role as strict referee for Sky's revival of the series, but was replaced by John Coyle after just one series.

John continues to coach at a regional level, and was credited for his ability in transforming British athlete William Sharman from a decathlete to a world-class sprint hurdler.