Shamed Gladiators star Shadow reveals the surprising amount show stars were paid – and what they raked in meeting fans
SHAMED Gladiators star Shadow has revealed the surprising amount show stars were paid - and what they raked in meeting fans.
Shadow, 61, real name Jefferson King, says he missed out on merchandise profits or royalties during his time on the ITV show, claiming the cast were compensated just £500 per episode.
Gladiators, which premiered in 1992, quickly became a nationwide hit, captivating up to 20 million viewers weekly.
Discussing the differences between the UK and US versions on the Anything Goes With James English podcast, Shadow highlighted that, while American gladiators received ongoing income from the show, he was only paid per episode and had to rely on public appearances to boost his earnings.
He recalled, “There were thousands of people who applied for the job throughout the country,” as producers ultimately chose “six boys and six girls” for the lineup.
Shadow also shared, “I don’t even think how big the show was gonna be. In the first year we were getting £500 per show, and the second year was when it blew up, and they realised how big the show was gonna be.”
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He noted that, unlike his American counterparts, saying “We get a flat fee per show.
"You could earn £2,000-£3,000 a month, opening shops, doing signings, that type of thing, but no we didn’t get any merch rights, no repeat fees.”
When asked if he ever raised concerns about the pay - around £1,071 when adjusted for inflation - Shadow said, “Not in the first year, so many people were trying out for the show, and if you didn’t like the contract, then you didn’t sign it.”
He explained that, despite a raise to £750 per show in the second season, the UK earnings still couldn’t compare to the American show’s pay structure.
Shadow detailed the grueling schedule, working 14-hour days and undergoing two weeks of apparatus training before each season.
He left the show after two years under controversial circumstances, with allegations of cocaine use in a London nightclub.
However, producers cited steroid use as the reason for his departure.
Following his time on Gladiators, Shadow faced personal struggles, including an addiction that led to crime.
Jefferson allegedly began using cocaine at just 14 after relocating to New York.
His addiction reportedly worsened following a breakup with his wife, which came after he was removed from the popular ITV series.
To support his addiction, he sought loans from family members and became involved in criminal activities.
In a 2015 interview, Jefferson shared that he had managed to turn his life around.
However, by age 60, he confessed to participating in a drug-driven blackmail scheme.
He received a six-year, three-month prison sentence after demanding £1,000 from the family of 40-year-old Aaron Ali, who had been held captive.
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At one point, Jefferson allegedly directed an accomplice to "fetch a hammer to break his legs" after Ali attempted to escape.
Other participants in the plot, including so-called ringleader Simon Batson, Donna Harman, and Otis Noel, were also sentenced for their roles in the six-and-a-half-hour ordeal.
