Original Aztec Camera Plan from The Crystal Maze!

This month I was able to acquire an original 90's camera set plan of an Aztec Cell from The Crystal Maze. This was an extremely unique find and I am excited to add it to my collection. The plan was stapled to the back of the set, hence the staple holes. An electrician found it who was working on the show and it was him who kindly sold me it. It has been well looked after for the past 25 years. The game is titled "The Catwalk", and looking at the plan of the cell and the corresponding camera angles, it appears this is from the rickety bridge game 'Feed the Gods', as featured in Aztec Series 2 Ep 1. Richard O'Brien even makes a passing reference of walking like a cat, whilst the game is in play with contestant Erica. The plan even features James's Dillon's name, (Set designer). There is a request for him to put a window in the cell door. The location of the crystal, camera cranes and mini cams also feature. This is another incredible piece of Crystal Maze TV History which I am going to treasure.

Interview With Richard O'Brien, plus a Christmas guest star with previous time travel experience

There's not much in life I'll drag my carcass out of bed for at 1am but this is a special case, mainly because my laptop is currently stationed downstairs and my phone is teeteringly close to being impaled on a very sharp implement.

First off, this year's Boxing Day special features a guest appearance from 'Doctor Who' actor Pearl Mackie who sets this year's Christmas team an extra little task for a bonus crystal. I'm not against this, its Christmas, it's just a fun little addition to make it a bit more special than the other celebrity specials in the year.

Secondly, and the reason I've done this at 1am because I felt there wasn't a second to waste when I saw it, jackremembersthings.blogspot.com has another interview. A big one. But first I implore you to go here and read the build-up to an interview with an icon.

Get comfy, pour yourself a glass of something fizzy, put out the fire and throw another log on the cat as Jackremembersthings meets Richard O'Brien

All credit to jackremembersthings.blogspot.com for his Crystal Maze interviews over the last couple of weeks, and check out his Youtube channel for his Crystal Maze interviews as well as a couple of others that will appeal to the 90's-est of 90's kids. Merry Christmas!

Interview Clip with David G. Croft. Original Producer/Director.

Incredible new interview with one of the brains behind the awesome original series. David discusses how the Maze came about. He then goes into detail about how it was filmed, the set, studio locations, its revival, game development and the huge logistics that were involved in making Crystal Maze. (48 new games per series were needed!). Zone transitions are also discussed, and David G. Croft voices his own critique about the new series.

"I am very proud of what we did, because I do think we planted a flag in the landscape. We did make something special. I am absolutely thrilled that there is still an audience, and I would never ever have guessed, that the re-runs would still happen, let alone make a new series." 

- David G. Croft Producer/Director The Crystal Maze 1990-1995

The Crystal Maze Xmas Special

Now confirmed to be on 8pm Boxing Day!

Meanwhile here at the Maze Fan Blog we have been busy making our own Crystal Maze inspired Baubles and Puzzles. Merry Crystal-Mas to all our blog followers!

The Festive Flavoured Theme

'Tis the season for Santa hats on the Crystals and for ice to form on the water in that cell in Aztec. Personally, I would prefer something other than celebrities for a Christmas special (because Richard Ayoade trying to deal with overexcited, shouting children would be TV gold), but one thing that does make it a bit more special than the other specials in the summer is the Christmas theme tune.

 Sure there's the snow, the carolers from last year, a pantomime horse this year and the presence of Biggins, but something about the sound of bells just sets the tone from the off.

 

Confirmed Christmas 2018 Lineup

The 5 celebs taking part in the Christmas special have been named:

• Christopher Biggins (Porridge, I'm a Celebrity, and many, many, many pantomimes)
• Chris Kamara (Football pundit and has a habit of saying 'Unbelievable')
• Frankie Bridge (The Saturdays singer and wife of previous celeb contestant Wayne Bridge)
• Deborah Meaden (Dragons Den entrepreneur)
• Jamie Laing (Made in Chelsea and heir to the McVities biscuit fortune)

Here's Biggins in a previous life hosting his own game show On Safari