The Crystal Maze returns to C4

It is a bit odd that they're scraping the bottom of the celebrity barrel for this, I would have thought people would be gagging to take part in the new Crystal Maze.

Now we're two episodes in, here's a few things that grate on me.

The music in the Dome. What happened to it this week? It's like they didn't have a 35 second version, or a loopable version, so they just had to fudge the opening titles version together. A real shame, when the original music sounded better to me, and had neat versions for every conceivable length of time in the Dome.

Richard forcing his catchphrases. Follow the hand, follow the hand. We get it. A real hard sell on this and it's not particularly entertaining. I do like Richard as host, but there's too much of him and the contestants talking over one another, especially when they come out of a game. Perhaps it's just because they're 'celebs' and all want to get a word in.

Drawing attention to the editing all the time. We all know it's a TV show, but pointing out the edits really interrupts the flow of the programme. If they're going to be that blunt about edits, they may as well just show each game in its entirety on the overhead camera, and then play a montage of the staged cutaways after the game. Of course, they wouldn't as it spoils the flow of the show. And so does Richard highlighting where there's going to be a jump cut, and the space teleportation effect.

Repetition of the games. Seen a lot of the same ones last week. More variety please.

On the positive side, the set is amazing and the games themselves are good. Many of them evoked that "what are you doing?! send for the child of three!" feeling, and that's what matters I suppose.

I think that is nostalgia speaking, to be honest, Paul Nolan got a load of telly work in the mid-eighties because he had appeared on Blind Date and been quite amusing. There have always been people famous just for being on the telly. Look at an episode of Blankety Blank or Punchlines and you're not telling me that the celebrity line-up was any better (Ellie Laine? Rose Marie?).

And besides, that is a weak argument to use against The Crystal Maze as Jermaine Jenas has won 21 caps for England and Adil Ray has written and starred in four series of a sitcom on primetime BBC1.

I think it's more Louie Spence than those that people are taking issue with. The sort who are literally scraping the bottom of the barrel and would usually turn up on a throwaway reality show that nobody watches.

You can still be on target without having to pick from the usual Z lists. Celebs who quite obviously have never watched the show before and to them it's just a another TV booking aren't great either. That's why the line up in the pilot was great as they were all on target and obviously fans of the show originally.

The usual suspects have been included granted but the likes of Jodie Kidd, Steve Jones and David Coulthard actually have jobs and don't just turn up on every celeb show going. On the whole though they really just weren't necessary - the show is big itself enough.

As for last night - not too surprised they opted not to follow the zones in order but it really is unnecessary. On the whole though a much better show and possibly the one they should have launched with. Richard Ayaode is really making the role his own - not sure who's idea the hand is but it's a very clever device to give him his own identity from the off.

Whilst Spence was a total cancer on episode 1, I think Essex brought out the best in Richard.

I don't think the calibre of the celebs is the problem. I don't think it really matters who plays the maze.

For me it's the quality of the games & the pacing. There were games in the original that I used to hope to see again every week. Don't think I can say that for any I've seen so far.

2 games for some zones is not enough and it would benefit from being moved along a bit quicker. But overall very enjoyable.

A shorter introduction to the contestants at the start could shave off an extra 2-3 minutes, which in Crystal Maze terms is at least an extra game in the first zone.

Yes well I don't follow football and I've never seen an episode of Citizen Khan or any other work Mr Ray has done. Therefore to me he (along with Jenas) is unknown to me. Your calibre of celebrity is clearly different to mine. You're entitled to your opinion and argument and I'm entitled to mine. Let's agree to disagree, sir.

Well if they're unknown it's just a civilian epsisode to you?

Anyway either of those two contestants will not be annoying.

Totally agree not happening in the current run though I'm afraid.

You might be happy to know that there are some new games in tomorrows episode, clip shown on Trending Live a couple of minutes ago shows Rylan attempting a new game in the water cell in Aztec, and features a reappearance from the good old rotating log.

Loads of new games and a new character. Probably the best episode so far too.