John Anderson dead at 92: Gladiators referee who became the voice of hit TV show passes away as tributes pour in
JOHN ANDERSON, referee of the cult 90s TV show Gladiators, has died aged 92.
John became a household name in the UK known for his iconic catchphrase “Contender ready! Gladiator ready!” on the popular series.
After starting out as a teacher, Scotland-born John made a name for himself long before joining Gladiators as an athletics coach.
He guided the careers of several different Olympians in track and field including Dave Moorcroft, who won the 5000m race in 1982.
John later joined Gladiators at its inception in 1992 and stayed with the show until it ended its original run on New Year’s Day, 2000.
The official Gladiators TV X account paid tribute to John online, writing: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our beloved referee, John Anderson, at the age of 92.
“Our hearts go out to his friends and family. John will forever be remembered as the iconic voice that brought ‘Gladiators Ready! Contenders Ready!'”
John will forever be remembered as the iconic voice that brought ‘Gladiators Ready! Contenders Ready!’
Gladiators TV
His former colleague Dave also remembered John fondly, telling Athletic Weekly: “I’m certain that I would never have been a decent athlete if it wasn’t for John.
“Not just because of the training he gave me, but he took a shy kid who didn’t believe in himself and just had that amazing ability to believe in me and others.
“He turned water into wine.”
Dave added: “He would die for his athletes and he never took a step backwards. He was a fighter in everything he did.
“He coached me from the age of 16 and never took a penny. It cost him a fortune for the privilege of working for nothing.”
I’m certain that I would never have been a decent athlete if it wasn’t for John
Dave Moorcroft, one of John Anderson's Olympic athletes
And fans chimed in to pay tribute on social media.
Someone wrote on X: “May he rest in peace.”
Another simply added: “RIP”.
John reprised his Gladiators role when the show was briefly resurrected on Sky1 in 2008.
He enjoyed occasional cameos as a TV referee for other programs, appearing on two episodes of Top Gear with Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc.
And even after surviving a heart attack in 2015 – he continued to mentor and coach athletics stars.
In 2014, John tasted yet more medal success when he helped Brit hurdler Will Sharman to a European hurdles silver.
He also trained some of the foremost elite British athletes of the 1970s and 80s, including double Commonwealth 10,000m champion Liz McColgan.
As a young boy growing up in Scotland, John was a gifted footballer.
He leaves behind his wife Christine Anderson, who he married in 1962.