Around 7,000 fans descended on a Kent shopping centre to meet the stars of BBC’s Gladiators at the country’s largest experience of its kind this weekend.

The organisers behind the free day out at Bluewater, in Greenhithe, said the event was “hugely successful” despite criticisms surrounding the lengthy wait times.

It was an interactive experience, giving families a chance to tackle inflatable obstacle courses and meet and take photographs with their favourite contestants.

The games also included versions of some of the show’s most popular challenges, such as Hang Tough, where participants swing across a grid of rings and avoid the Gladiator to reach the opposite platform.

The event, which was held on Saturday and Sunday (March 22 and 23), worked on a first-come, first-served basis and saw people queue for around eight hours.

A spokesman for the BBC said: “The Gladiators had a hugely successful visit to Bluewater, meeting thousands of fans over the weekend.

“We were so pleased so many people came out to see the Gladiators and play some of the games from the show.

“As this free public event was so popular unfortunately some people did not get the chance to meet the Gladiators but we hope to arrange similar events in the future.”

Speaking to KentOnline, mum-of-two Becky said she had a “really positive experience” and praised the organisers for arranging a separate disabled line.

She added: “The staff inside were so friendly and chatted to those in the queue. There was a ‘referee’ lady who had such great charisma and spoke on the mic to keep the entertainment going.

“The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were very happy to have been given a foam Gladiator hand to take home as a souvenir.

“Although there was a wait, we feel it was very well managed and the staff did very well with the amount of people there.”

Taking to social media to share their experience, another fan said despite it being a “long day” it was “absolutely amazing”.

Another said: “The queue was huge, however, we had an absolutely brilliant time. Thanks, Bluewater for hosting this, my son and his friend are still buzzing.”

However, the experience has been slammed by some attendees who criticised the long wait times and poor organisation saying it was a “flop”.

Speaking to KentOnline, Simon, who had travelled from Lincolnshire, said anyone who arrived after 10.30am on Saturday was turned away.

He added: “It was so badly done. I saw children crying and adults including me were very saddened by it indeed.”

Commenting on social media, mum Hermione, who visits and reviews days out in Kent and London, said she queued for almost eight hours to be told the activities were no longer running.

She said: “This is probably the worst free event we have ever been to. An absolute flop of an event which could have easily been prevented by a ticketed system and virtual queue.

“I wonder why this was not in place when it was clear this would have been a hugely popular event. Poor management by whoever organised this and I hope the day runs better for others tomorrow.

“What a wasted day and sad times for the children and parents near the back.”

Gladiators first aired on ITV in 1992, presented by Ulrika Jonsson, and ran for eight years but was revived last January with hosts Bradley Walsh and his son, Barney.

In the show, four men and women compete in physically challenging events against the resident Gladiators, athletes who specialise in areas such as bodybuilding or field and track events.

The current series has introduced new Gladiators, Cyclone and Hammer, alongside fan favourites Apollo, Athena, Bionic, Comet, Diamond, Dynamite, Electro, Fire, Fury, Giant, Nitro, Phantom, Sabre, Steel and Viper.

Among them is also Hythe-born Matt Morsia, a former PE teacher at Folkestone Academy.

Dad-of-two Matt was among the new recruits for series one and has built up quite the fanbase as the self-assured – and some might say arrogant – Legend.

Read his full interview with KentOnline here.

He won the attention of show producers after gaining prominence with his YouTube channel MattDoesFitness, which now has more than 2.3 million subscribers.

You can watch Gladiators on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturdays at 7pm.