Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

Glasgow And Gladiators

by Russell Turner - 16:52 on 22 December 2025

There was a break from running on Sunday when, for the second week, cats were left home alone for the night (with well filled dishes) so Matchgirl and I could go gallivanting. The destination was Glasgow; the attraction was the Gladiators Live Tour.

I’m not a huge fan (although I’ve no objection to them) but Matchgirl enjoys the sight of bulky men in brief Lycra so it was a good excuse for another road trip, a meal at India Quay and a night in the Pacific Quay Premier Inn.

There’d been a matinee, so I thought there might be fewer kids at the evening show. I was wrong. The place was heaving with them, fortunately well controlled by parents. Many sported home-made placards plus foam fingers bought from the on-site merch stands where everything from Gladiators key-rings to hoodies could be had. Matchgirl resisted the temptation.

This was the final night of the tour, so its slickness was no surprise, but I suspect it had been as well staged and efficiently produced right from the start and was just as raucous as the TV show, though even more pantomime – hence Legend bigging himself up and being happy to be in Edinburgh. Cue loud boos from the audience.

Duel, Powerball, Gauntlet and Wall made up the Gladiators vs Contenders battles, some real, parts definitely scripted (but no less entertaining). A 20min break followed, during which we could watch the crew slot together the Eliminator with amazing skill considering it’s no different than the TV version. The male final concluded with the winner proposing to his girlfriend at the top of the Eliminator. I doubt that happened every night.

Like Strictly, there’s certain to be an annual tour, but Matchgirl opined that once was enough. It was worth the trip, though. Recommended.

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