GLAD TO BE BACK - ON SKY

ITV's old 90s' hit GLADIATORS returned to Sky One last night - and it's as if the show had never been away.

The channel and presenters might have changed - Ian Wright and Kirsty Gallacher instead of John Fashanu and Ulrika Jonsson - but it still felt like an authentically-updated version.

The cocky challengers were hilariously being found out just as quickly as ever and the 'water falls' added a real splash to events.

The problem I have with the show is recalling how agonisingly-long it used to take to film each bit at the NIA when ITV made it in Brum.

Anyone sitting in the audience would wait for what seemed like hours before someone would last about three seconds on top of the podium. And then the floor managers would try to get the fans clapping like mad seals.

So, every time I see the audience clapping like crazy I begin to wonder just how long they've been sitting there waiting to perform.

Sky sensibly seem to have speeded up the final broadcast version given that all viewers at home want is a piece of the action as quickly and as often as possible.

My big dilemma now is this.

Should I let my children know this series exists with the inevitable consequences that they'll be hooked - or should I keep quiet? Decisions, decisions...