You may not have noticed but there appears to be some media hype surrounding the return of the TV show Gladiators to our small screens, apparently it’s going to be bigger and better than before.

I was wondering how 16 years after the show originally aired, some of the old Gladiators would now fare. I could appreciate how some of them may now be bigger, but better? Would Jet be more of a Spurt these days and would Wolf still have any of his old bite, or teeth for that matter?

Apparently apart from the referee, there is going to be a totally new cast. The Borehamwood Times has recently reported that Borehamwood boasts its very own next generation of TV Gladiator, with personal trainer and all round athlete Jenny Pacey, aka Enigma taking a major part in the show.

Do you think the inspiration for this pseudonym came from the name for a previous incarnation of the Crown Pub in Borehamwood? However she arrived at her name, I am sure we all wish her the best of luck!

It did get me thinking about how the promotions and media people behind these shows appear to know what they are doing, really understanding how to generate public interest in an event.

They recognise that if the shows contestants were facing opposition Gladiators called Kevin, Doris, Marjorie or Bernard, that wouldn’t exactly set the public’s imagination on fire, however give them mysterious and vaguely threatening names like Tornado, Inferno, Ice and Tempest and you have an entirely different proposition on your hands.

Maybe we could learn a thing or two from them and attempt to inject some fun, interest and enthusiasm into local politics, by adopting a similar scheme here in Hertsmere Borough Council.

Although I am not suggesting that councillors should enter our council chamber doing back flips, covered in baby oil and wearing skimpy, sequined covered Lycra outfits, the very thought of which may mentally scar you for life. Neither am I suggesting that we then proceed to stand on top of podiums, pummelling each other senseless with padded Pugil sticks, although I am willing to try anything once.

Councillors could all adopt different names to indicate a specific attribute or character trait of theirs. For example, I could be called CLLR “DEFIANT”, “MELEE”, “PAUNCH”, or in the same vane as Gladiator Enigma being named after a local Borehamwood business, I could call myself CLLR "NERO”.

If other councillors took on their own alter ego names, the council chamber could have exciting name plates like CLLR "LOOSE CANNON”, "SUBTEXT”, "DK”, "POWERNAP”, "VACILLATE” and "FERRET”. Council agenda papers might report that a CLLR "DEVIOUS" will be proposing a motion, being seconded by a CLLR "NICE”? With recorded comments in the minutes from perhaps a CLLR "CHEERFUL” and "PERNICKETY”. Although, we would need to ensure we pick names that are appropriately captivating and not make ourselves sound like one of the newest members of Snow Whites gang of Dwarfs.

The leaders report would be far more endurable if the Mayor announced in a loud booming voice that it was being delivered by “THE ANTAGONIST” or “THE AUTOCRAT”. Even the Mayor would have an opportunity to get in on the act as maybe “MAYOR APOLLO (video)” could preside over the council ‘arena’?.

If you have ever watched a Full Council Meeting online, you will already know that every so often it can lack excitement and stimulation. I guarantee that this would also change if we modified the format of Council meetings, to have more of a Gladiator multiple event feel.

For example, councillors could literally score real political points against each other, with a trophy going to the councillor with the highest score at the end of the session.

Opposition business could become a round called the “THE WALL”, as that is what we sometimes hit when trying to propose a motion. Questions from members of the public could be renamed “HIT AND RUN”, acknowledging their lack of opportunity to reply.

At the end of the political year our chief executive, now renamed the referee, could mark the beginning of the local elections with a starting pistol, the election itself becoming “THE ELIMINATOR” round.

Here, wanabe Councillors would scramble through an obstacle course made up of potholes and dodgy pavements around their wards, with an election being won or lost in Allum Hall, as the winning candidate makes it to the top of the strength-sapping Travelator, swinging on the rope through the paper finish line.

Now that would be a reasonable first past the post system, that even advocates of proportional representation couldn’t argue with.

Wow, I think I may have just seen a vision of our political future and it is covered in shiny blue, yellow and red Spandex.

I will approach ITV to see if they think my idea has legs, until next time this is Cllr "NERO" signing off! AWOOOOGAAAAH