‘The Crystal Maze’ Is Coming Back, Richard O’Brien To Host

The popular game show from the 90s The Crystal Maze is set to make a comeback, and Richard O’Brien, best known for his role in The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Tim Curry, has even been confirmed as the host. The original host left during the original series, leading to the lower viewership of the Saturday night game show as Ed Tudor-Pole took over.

The Crystal Maze took teams of six around the four-zoned maze. Zones included the Medieval Zone and Industrial Zone, with “Mumsey” a character during O’Brien’s years. He reportedly created the character himself, and the Medieval Zone was supposed to be his home world during the show.

There were four types of games that could be played during the one-hour program. The host picked the type, whether it was a skill, physical, mental, or mystery game. The contestants then picked the best one of their group based on the type of game. The aim of The Crystal Maze was to collect as many crystals as possible, giving five seconds in the final round—the maze. Those who ran out of time during the games or committed a foul during the automatic lock-in games were then locked into a room. A crystal could be used to buy the contestant out.

It is expected that the new version of the maze will be similar to the original. The difference is that individuals can buy their way into the game. There is a crowd-funding page on Indiegogo being created, where individuals can spend their own money to help the show get back on the air. Those who pledge just £45 will get the chance to appear on the program, likely in the Industrial Zone. Those who pledge £300 will be able to enter a team of eight, according to The Daily Mirror.

There will be some changes according to The Independent. So far, O’Brien’s involvement in the new The Crystal Maze has not been confirmed, but he will not host in the traditional sense or run around with contestants. Ticket holders will get the chance to immerse themselves into an hour and 45 minutes of running around the various zones. The Ocean Zone will not be used due to “health and safety” reasons.

“Modern audiences want to do, not watch. In recent years, there has been a cultural shift towards entertainment that audiences can engage with in a more active way. The Crystal Maze represents the perfect opportunity to do something for this new audience on a grand scale.”

The show will not come back to TV screens. According to the executive producers and the artistic director for the show, modern audiences are not interested in watching something. There is a move to people wanting to take part actively, and The Crystal Maze offers the perfect opportunity for that.

[Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images]