Fort Boyard

Recently, Challenge?, the all UK gameshow TV station, filmed a new series of Fort Boyard in August, to be shown from September.
It featured a whole new cast which really disappointed me as I was expecting the old favourites we call Melinda Messenger and Lesley Grantham, who plays the evil Boyard, master of the Fort.
The new cast includes this young woman called Jodie Penfold, who does her best Melinda impression, and Chris Ellison, better known as 'Burnside' from The Bill, plays the part of Boyard. I think the only good thing about the new series is that Tom Baker plays (No not a Time Lord!) but the mad Captain Boyard keeps locked up in the Watchtower.
Send me your thoughts.

Who were your favourite Fort Boyard Presenters?
Do you like/Have youseen the new series of Fort Boyard?
What do you like about Fort Boyard?
What are your favourite games?

Overall, it's not too bad, but the new "Boyard" isn't enough of a pantomine villain as he was
when the character was originally played by Leslie Grantham on the old Channel 5 series.

As I recall, the original "Boyard" would storm off in a huff, when it was revealed how much
of his gold they'd won. The new "Boyard" seems to begrudgingly stays around and even
waves goodbye to the overhead camera with everyone else at the end of the show.

Of course Leslie Grantham couldn't possibly reprise his role of "Boyard" for this new series,
since he's returned to EastEnders, to play "Den (Back From The Dead) Watts" again. He
would've had to be in 2 places at once, with the recording of his EastEnders return, most
likely coinciding with when the new Challenge TV series of "Fort Boyard" was taped.

I think the new presenter, Jodie Penfold is OK. What TV shows has she been on before,
if any? I find her somewhat rather less grating than her artifically enhanced predecessor!

The character in place of the old Professor in the watchtower (The Captain, played
by the former Doctor Who actor Tom Baker) I guess is eccentric enough.for the role.

Although, I'm basing all this on the last few minutes I've seen of each episode, because
at the time, I was really waiting up for the next episode of Knightmare (Season 6) to start!

Overall, I think its just natural development of the original concept that Channel 5 showed. It's done it quite well I think.

There was no way that Leslie Grantham was going to be back on it, now he's back on EastEnders. The new guy though just doesn't feel right in this role. Jodie's nice though Good choice for Tom Baker for the role of the Professor in the tower though.

However, it still hasn't sorted out the problems from last time. I think there's too much standing around doing nothing and too much talking. Now they've decided to leave the on-screen timer on during the non game bits, its quite obvious to see how much time is wasted running around and talking. Bit too much, really.

Crystal Maze, which was devised on the back of this format, sorted this out by ending a game, cheering/crying a bit and straight into another game. They did most of the talking at the beginning and the end. Still at least they didn't do what most shows do now - at the top of the show: "Tom is 35, a banker, from Hereford." Few minutes later: "Tom, what do you do? I'm a banker from Hereford."

Will this new series of Fort Boyard be repeated on terrestrial?

I heard rumors that Challenge want to make a new series of Crystal Maze but they can't afford to make it by themselves so they want to join up with either channel 4 or five. Doeas anyone know if this is true and if so will it be repeated on terrestrial??

Thanks!

LoveTV

__________________
Happy New Year!

2004

I wouldn't mind seeing a new series of The Crystal Maze. I can see why Challenge are interested in having a new series as I is so popular.

I am also aware of plans to make a new series of Knightmare (Knightmare VR) I would whether Challenge would be interested in this???

I was watching Fort Boyard and as I watched the opening titles i noticed a 'mistake' or rather CHEAT.
On the the titles you see the presenter and the Team in a speedboat heading towards Fort Boyard. But this was the new series and Jodie Penfold presents it. So what was MELINDA MESSENGER doing in the Boat????
Also on the titles almost all of the clips are from previous series starring Melinda and Lesley.
What is going on? : : :

There appears to be a celebrity/charity special of Fort Boyard airing on Challenge as I type this.
I don't recognise all the celebs taking part, but I do recognise Tim Vine from the Sketch Show,
and (I think) Terri Dwyer, who I believe used to appear in the Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks.

Craig from BIG Brother 1 is also a contestant. (Avid Merrion must've let him out for the day!)

Has anybody noticed how the Challenge generic announcement hasn't been updated? It says "Now off to Melinda at Fort Boyard". Sort yourself out Challenge!
Chris Ellison is too nice and doesn't fit the profile of Boyard that Grantham created. Jodie is OK but is always flirting with the team (especially during the episode with the Cambridge Boxers last week!). She also looks like she has filth underneath her when Jack and Jules bring the gold to be weighed.
Too much chat still and why are they trying to win over 5 keys in some episodes-rubbish.
Tom Baker as the Captain is pretty good yet he acts like he is reading off a script when telling you the answer to the clues and riddles at the end-and he is always chuckling.
I presume it didn't take long to film either as everybody is wearing the same clothes in each episode. Except Jack and Jules with the same clothes all the time.

Overall a very good show.

On the note of bringing the Crystal Maze back-I'm all for it. Richard O'Brian was absolutely brilliant. Not like his copycat Ed Tudor Pole. He was nice during those special Kids Crystal Mazes though.