Remembering Malcolm Heyworth

 Last weekend we found out that Malcolm Heyworth has passed away aged 83. Malcolm was the managing director at Chatsworth Television, a company which aside from giving us the Sunday treat that was Bullseye, provided us with 3 large scale game shows that for many growing up in the 80s and 90s were lynchpins of our viewing: Treasure Hunt, Interceptor and The Crystal Maze.

 Malcolm bought the now long running Fort Boyard format at MIPCOM in April 1989, the annual TV industry trade show where worldwide producers shop their formats to international broadcasters. After the success Heyworth had with Treasure Hunt, Channel 4 agreed to fund a pilot episode of Fort Boyard shot at Elstree studios. After they realised they'd have to make changes to the format to suit a UK audience (different market, different tastes, different viewing needs), changes that would affect every other broadcaster hoping to make their own Fort Boyard series, Channel 4 insisted on the creation on a new show for a UK audience, and thus The Crystal Maze was born. 

Malcolm, production designer James Dillon and original series producer and director David G Croft

Here's a few comments from others remembering Malcolm:

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A post shared by Richard Drew BFDG (@thescaleruler)

I worked closely with Malcolm Heyworth during the creation and production of all six series of the Crystal Maze. During that time, he became a mentor to me and then a close friend. He cared passionately about the show and took great pride in its success and the quality of the production. He wanted every penny of the budget up on the screen and refused to compromise. These principles mean that the Crystal Maze still has legions of fans around the world, and the show is rightly regarded as iconic television. He said to me many times, ‘David, I don’t want to make wallpaper television,’ and his legacy is that he never did. 

 David G.Croft - Director & Producer - The Crystal Maze

Just heard the sad news Malcolm Heyworth of Chatsworth TV passed away yesterday - most people would be happy to be responsible for one of Bullseye, Treasure Hunt and The Crystal Maze, he did all three.

— Brig Bother (@BothersBar) July 3, 2026

It's also worth saying that on the day of finishing this up, the news came out about the passing of former Celebrity Crystal Maze contestant and host of Sky quiz show Cleverdicks Ann Widdecombe. Condolences go out to her friends.