John Anderson: Gladiators referee dies aged 92

John Anderson, the referee on the television programme Gladiators, has died at the age of 92.

Tributes have been paid to the Glaswegian, who became famous in the 1990s for his officiating on the show. His catchphrases included “Contender, ready! Gladiator, ready!”

Anderson was an eminent track and field coach who helped the careers of multiple Olympians including David Moorcroft, who broke the world 5,000m record in Oslo in 1982. He also coached Judy Simpson, Sheila Carey and Liz McColgan. The latter won Olympic silver in the 10,000m in the 1988 Games in Seoul.

Anderson died in the early hours of Sunday.

Moorcroft told Athletic Weekly: “I can’t speak too highly of John. He turned water into wine. At our club [Coventry Godiva], we’d never had anybody break four minutes for a mile, but not only did I do it, but Tim Redman, Colin Ridding and Steve James all broke four minutes.

“I don’t think any of them would describe themselves as world-beaters, but John just got the best out of people.

“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.”

Anderson came from a teaching background to become one of the early National Coaches for the AAA of England. He had been a coach to an Olympian at every Games from 1964 to 2000, and is estimated to have worked with more than 170 Team GB athletes.

He subsequently became a recognisable voice on Saturday nights as Gladiators’ head official from 1992 to 2000.

He briefly reprised the role in 2008 before returning to athletics coaching.