The Crystal Maze returns to C4

For Channel 4 that's fantastic. They'd be stupid not to commission a series.

I thought it was odd how much effort went into it. Updated theme, updated Titles and what stuck me as beyond odd was the BT sponsorship advert with the Crystal on it.

I get the impression a lot of money was spent on it...

There just need a decent old type prrsenter. Who could fill the shoes and be ensctrick?

Merchant was OK but I couldn't warm to him fully and I fear he would have the same effect on me if he were to host a full series. I would love to see someone else in the role.

Solid ratings though I'd have liked a bit more. It's a tricky one to schedule really as it probably should be at 8pm, but if C4 filmed before the Experience opens in Manchester in April they should be able to get a series out in the Spring when the 8pm slot is less competitive. Otherwise Tuesdays might be a good bet - not sure how much it moved in the schedules in the 90s but Thursdays 8.30pm is the slot I remember it airing in.

Merchant did fine and in many ways was perfect for this pilot - he did well enough that I wouldn't mind him returning to front a series, but not so well that it would be a shame if he didn't.

I thought this was on next Sunday.

after reading that they will be thickos if they don't do that

To put into context 3 million is fantastic for Channel 4, looking at BARB Channel 4 current biggest show Gogglebox recently has been getting between 3 and 4 million, First Dates hits between 2.5-3 million, The Last Leg hits around 2-2.5 million, Homeland hits between 1.5-2 million and Chatty Man gets between over 1-1.5 million.

Another supposed one off 8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown regulary gets between 1.5-2.5 million and has been commissioned for 18 new episodes and The Last Leg has also been given a bigger commission for next year and while I know some probably watched for nostalgia but I sincerely hope after last night The Crystal Maze returns next year.

That's fantastic! Hopefully they'll give it a series, it really didn't feel strange at all having it back.

I do hope the new series, if made, features real contestants and not celebrities*. It's okay as a one off special for charity but I'm more interested in watching Tim, the systems analyst from Newbury in Berkshire.

The theme tune was rerecorded, which was strange for a supposedly one off nostalgia trip and a big hint that they're really testing the water to revive the series. The new arrangement was okay but the original would've worked perfectly fine. It was distinctive and a big part of the original show.

The games were great. Loved how they brought back that one where you have to weigh the different balls in Futuristic Zone. I was actually thinking about that one whilst watching the show and then there it was. Seeing the model spider with the crystal on it, where you have to avoid the threads was great as well; though it was in Medieval Zone this time, rather than Futuristic. The 'don't touch the lazer' one in Futuristic was a bit too similar though to be featured in the same episode.

I hope if a new proper series happens, the games are as mechanical as possible. If the crystal is protected by a screen, for example, I'd rather it was released by a mechanical trigger that the contestant forces rather than someone behind the scenes with a mouse button who has decided the game has been completed. I recall in one of the kids specials when this boy of about 10 years old had this game where you had it stick the weights on mats and get the right combination in order to release the crystal. During the game, the kid unwittingly put himself onto one of the mats which caused the screen protecting the crystal to go up. Naturally, he made a dash for it but as he left the mat, the screen came down again before he could get there. So, he simply moved the mat so it was by the crystal, stood on it and grabbed the crystal. I remember Richard O'Brian laughing and telling him he'd cheated but gave him the crystal anyway. Fully deserved in my opinion. Great memories.

One thing I felt the original did better was giving the impression that the zones were huge, as was the distanceee between them. I know the original set was probably larger but still probably not as large as the impression given. Particularly when transiting between zones. In the original, you'd get an ongoing version of the theme music insinuating an epic journey and shots of the presenter and team crossing pools on beams or climbing through ducts. Yesterday, it seemed you turned a corner and were in another zone.

Crystal dome looked more or less like it did in the original, which was good. Not sure if it was a little smaller or not. I didn't like the way the crystals went red rather than just go dark in the original and the sound effect when they expired was much more muted. The original effects gave more or a sense of urgency.

All small things though. All in all, it was much better than I was expecting and I enjoyed it.

*pretty random/surreal to be watching Rio Ferdinand on the crystal maze

I guess when it came to the games they had to use the ones that are in the experience- and I imagine they intentionally based them on ones from the original show.

Presumably the limitations of them using the live experience is why they were being told what the next game category would be rather than the captain choosing? Would that prevent them from doing a full series, if there are only a limited number of games available?