Tilt (Gladiators)
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Tilt is an event played in several incarnations of the televsion series Gladiators. In this event, a contender and Gladiator engage in a tug of war on tilting platforms. Due to their weight advantage, the Gladiator is located on the higher of the two tilt platforms.
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[edit] Rules
One Gladiator faces one contender, and on the whistle engage in a 30 second tug of war. The contender on the lower tilt table has their table tilted backwards, the Gladiator on the higher tilt board with their table tilted forwards. In order to win, the Gladiator needs to tilt their table back on the whistle in order to gain leverage on the rope.
As the rope is attached (using a belt) to the two participants, a win is signalled when one of the particpants is pulled off their board. Letting go of the rope by either participant is not allowed and will result in disqualification. Sitting down or kneeling is also forbidden. At the start of the whistle, the tilt must be in the correct alignment with the Gladiators platform angled down facing towards the lower contender platform angled upwards.
[edit] International differences
In the UK, there were two pulls for each contest, in America and Australia, there is only one pull. The American version takes place over water and the gap between the tables is bigger.
In Australia, the Gladiators tilt table was nearer the ground, and thus the tilt was not in a straight alignment.
[edit] Event History
[edit] America
Years active: 2008(ii)-
Tilt is to be introduced in the second series of the 2008 revival. 10 points are awarded for a win, 5 for a draw. The event replaces Tug-O-War which played during 1993-1996 of the original American run.
[edit] UK
Years active: 1993-1995
Tilt was first road tested during the 1993 Wembley Live shows and made it's first televised appearance in the 1993 season. It was the only event to have been roadtested in the Wembley shows to not receive any significant modifications before it's Birmingham debut.
During series 2 (1993), 5 points were awarded for a contender win and 2 points for a draw. This was changed to 0 points for a draw in 1995.
The event proved unpopular with Gladiators due to the tilt alignment favouring the contender, and the events appearances declined from 1994 onwards. Furthermore, Tilt caused two serious Gladiator injuries to Panther in 1994 (back injury) and Nightshade in 1995 (neck injury). Following Nightshade's accident the event was axed, the first time an event had been axed during the UK run.
Tilt will not be returning for the first series of the 2008 revival.
[edit] Australia
Years active: 1995-1996
Tilt appeared frequently during the first series (1995) but made only one early appearance in the second series before being axed, possibly due to safety concerns raised in the UK.
Ten points were awarded for a win and 5 for a draw.
Tilt will not be returning for the first series of the 2008 revival.
