GLADIATORS was halted just minutes into the latest episode over a safety hazard during the first battle.
The hit BBC show returned for its third instalment of the second series, following its successful reboot last year.
Bradley and Barney Walsh introduced the first battle called The Ring as Steel and Phantom took on the first two contenders.
However, just moments in the game was halted by head referee Mark Clattenburg.
As he blew his whistle, Mark could be heard telling Steel: “Your shoe, one minute.”
It then transpired the gladiator’s laces needed to be tied, and Mark gladly obliged him.
After the awkward exchange the game was then re-started with just 19 seconds on the clock.
Eagle-eyed Gladiators fans at home were left amused, with one writing: “You never forget your weekend job at Foot Locker.”
A second wrote: “Mark Clattenburg: referee and tier of Steel’s laces.”
“And here I thought they had better shoes this series, clearly not needing their shoelaces done up,” said a third.
While a fourth commented: “How cute was that. Doing his shoelace up.”
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Gladiator wows RTE Late Late Show viewers as she easily squats Patrick Kielty before discussing Ireland star brother” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6368113534112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Gladiators narrator Guy Mowbray couldn’t help but make a cheeky dig at Mark, as he told viewers: “And to think in the Premier League we used to question his eyesight.
“Only joking, Mark.”
Gladiators continues on BBC One and iPlayer.
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