Michael Van Wijk - Wolf's Return To Gladiators

Wolf's Return To Gladiators

After being missing from British Television screens for nine years, van Wijk told Loaded magazine in April 2008, "I want to come back, I want to be a Gladiator again." Loaded sent a journalist from London to Wolf's home in Henderson, Auckland, to persuade the actor to return to England to appear in the new series. According to the Loaded article, today, van Wijk, 59, is a regular on the Kiwi Cage Fighting scene, and used to compete nationally in Ju Jitsu championships. He is a twice silver medallist competing against fighters half of his age for the New Zealand title.

Most recently he appeared on the Gladiators Legends Special where he took part in alongside Ace, Hunter and Trojan. But the standing ovation Wolf received when he reappeared in the Gladiator arena was said to have lasted for five minutes, holding up filming of the show and forcing producers to quieten the crowd. Sky could not deny any further the British public's desire for Wolf's return, and after Loaded magazine's campaign to bring the character back, Sky announced on August 29, 2008 that Wolf would return in the second series."It was like I'd never been away." said van Wijk. "The audience was explosive and phenomenal and clearly wanted more of the Wolfman." However, he was to be a team captain rather than an actual Gladiator. The revived Gladiators was axed by Sky in May 2009.