Gladiators got off to a very cheeky start on Saturday night as a contestant made a very X-rated comment just minutes into the show.

Host Bradley Walsh was left open-mouthed in shock as player Joe, 40, made a rather racy joke during his introductory chat with the presenter.

After introducing the contestant, Bradley then asked Joe what his potential Gladiator name could be.

Using the opportunity to make his mark, the driving instructor from Wirral responded: ‘By brother says I should be called The Penetrator!’

The cheeky remark left the audience in sтιтches and Bradley was quick to ask the question once again, with Joe then stating that he’d be called ‘The Joker’ instead. 

The eyebrow-raising moment caused a stir among viewers too, with several rushing to X, formerly known as Twitter, to comment on Joe’s words.

Gladiators got off to a very cheeky start on Saturday night as a contestant made a very X-rated comment just minutes into the show

Host Bradley Walsh [left] was left open-mouthed in shock as player Joe, 40, made a rather racy joke during his introductory chat with the presenter

‘ᴅᴇᴀᴅly serious, how did that joke make television lol’ 

‘The Penetrator??? Yeah I’m not that’s a suitable Gladiator name mate.’

‘The Penetrator ? OOH MATRON!’

”I’ve been called The Penetrator!’ Please say less’

While another posted a meme which said: ‘This is a family show!’ 

It comes after Gladiators viewers declared the rebooted BBC show was ruined last week after it was announced a fan favourite had been forced to quit the compeтιтion.

During last Saturday’s show hosts Bradley and Barney Walsh revealed Nitro, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, had been left injured during training. 

The studio audience went wild as the muscle bound Gladiator and GB sprinter, 36, was introduced and quipped he was simply ‘too powerful’.

After introducing the contestant, Bradley then asked Joe what his potential Gladiator name could be

Using the opportunity to make his mark, the driving instructor from Wirral responded: ‘By brother says I should be called The Penetrator!’

The eyebrow-raising moment caused a stir among viewers too, with several rushing to X, formerly known as Twitter , to comment on Joe’s words

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‘Sometimes I’m too powerful. And I ended up hurting myself. I’ve got a little bit of a dodgy knee’. 

He continued: ‘But these things happen in sport, you know, when you’re pushing yourself as hard as you do.

‘The pecs aren’t going anywhere – they’re right here. They’re staying here.

‘I need all those Nitro fans out there to give me some energy because I need to recharge.’

Gutted fans took to X saying: ‘Nitro injured… series ruined. He’s the best of the best’: ‘Aww no Nitro’: ‘So disappointing that Nitro is out of the whole season. He is the absolute boss of the wall. He will be missed’: ‘No Nitro this season is low key heartbreaking’.

It comes after Gladiators viewers declared the rebooted BBC show was ruined last week after it was announced fan favourite Nitro was forced to quit the compeтιтion

During last Saturday’s show hosts Bradley (L) and Barney (R) Walsh revealed Nitro, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, had been left injured during training

Earlier in the episode slammed the show’s ‘cheesy’ locker room scenes and ‘cringe worthy acting’.

Following the challenges cameras captured the resident bodybuilders and gymnasts returning to their dressing room, with viewers begging for the segment to be scrapped. 

During the show, Apollo furious at his own performance, threw his water bottle across the room in anger, but those at home branded it embarrᴀssing. 

Taking to X they said:  ‘They have kept the locker room scenes, so cheesy’: ‘the acting in the locker room is so cringe’: ‘Still doing this s*** locker room cam are we?’: ‘Wish they’d ditch the locker room s***e’.