| The Crystal Maze | |
|---|---|
 2016 revival titlecard | |
| Genre | Game show |
| Created by | Jacques Antoine |
| Based on | Fort Boyard |
| Directed by |
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| Presented by | |
| Starring |
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| Theme music composer | Zack Laurence |
| Opening theme | "Force Field" |
| Ending theme | "Force Field" |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 6 (original) 3 (revival) |
| No. of episodes | 83 (original; inc. 5 specials) 1 (2016 SU2C special) 45 (revival) |
| Production | |
| Producers |
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| Production locations |
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| Running time | 60 minutes (inc. adverts) |
| Production companies | Chatsworth Television (1990–95) Fizz in association with Little Lion Entertainment (2016) Fizz and RDF West (2017–2020) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 4 E4 (2020) |
| Release | 15 February 1990 – 10 August 1995 |
| Release | 16 October 2016 |
| Release | 23 June 2017 – 31 December 2020 |
| Related | |
| Jungle Run | |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
The Crystal Maze is a British game show devised by Jacques Antoine, based upon his format for the French game show Fort Boyard, and produced for Channel 4. The programme focuses on teams of contestants, a mixed group of men and women, attempting a range of challenges to earn time required to help them complete one final challenge, which if completed successfully earns them a prize. The premise of the show is themed around challenges set to different periods of human history within a fictional labyrinth of time and space (the titular "Crystal Maze"), and is notable for the use of golf ball-sized Swarovski glass crystals (referred to as "time crystals") as a reward for each challenge successfully completed by contestants, and lock-in conditions for contestants that ran out of time or broke a three-strikes rule on a challenge.
The Crystal Maze originally consisted of six series, including five Christmas specials involving teams of children, which aired between 15 February 1990 to 10 August 1995. The first four series and three specials were hosted by Richard O'Brien, with the remaining two series and specials hosted by Edward Tudor-Pole. In October 2016, Channel 4 created a one-off celebrity edition for Stand Up to Cancer, hosted by Stephen Merchant. In 2017, the broadcaster began airing new episodes of the game, after reviving it following the 2016 special, revamping its format and creating several standard episodes along additional celebrity specials, and appointing Richard Ayoade as host. This run was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic after three series with the final episodes airing in 2020.[1][2][3][4]
A 10-episode American version of the show, filmed on the same set as the UK version, aired on Nickelodeon in 2020.[5][6]
In March 2016, The Crystal Maze Live Experience opened, allowing the public to buy tickets and compete in a replica of the game show's zones and challenges.[7][8]
- ^ "The Crystal Maze Returns to Channel 4 in 2017". Channel 4. 13 January 2017. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- ^ "Channel 4 orders more episodes of The Crystal Maze". Channel 4. 22 January 2018. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- ^ "C21Media | Home to the International Entertainment Community".
- ^ Kemp, Ella (18 August 2021). "Richard Ayoade's 'Crystal Maze' reboot reportedly axed by Channel 4". NME. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ Davis, Alex (3 June 2019). "Nickelodeon Orders "The Crystal Maze" Adaptation". Retrieved 3 June 2019.
- ^ "Nickelodeon Greenlights The Crystal Maze, All-New Version of UK Hit Game Show". Nickelodeon Press. 3 June 2019.
- ^ "A Live Immersive Experience (Coming Soon)". The Crystal Maze Official Website. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ "The Crystal Maze is coming back as "immersive" experience". Radio Times. Retrieved 11 June 2015.