Memorabilia from the show for sale - Screen Used Crystal Maze Props

The Crystal Maze Fan blog has been working hard recently, saving as many pieces from The Crystal Maze TV show as possible, given that the programme was abruptly axed by Channel Four recently.

We made one van trip last month when the set was demolished, and we made one final trip yesterday to collect the remaining pieces. We sold all 14 TV game Crystals in just 24 hours. Three were sold to the USA, one went to Scotland, one went to Ireland and the rest across England. This is a testament to the enduring popularity of the show, and why it must return again in the near future.

We took a rare photo of 14 real game Crystals all together before we sent them out to you all. We are also currently selling Aztec Zone Game Letter Tiles and have two Medieval Mine Cart game jewels left. 

If you are interested, check out our eBay -

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144176532397?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338273189&customid=&toolid=10001&pub=5575378759&icep_ff3=1&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229508&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg

We will blog about all of the items we have saved from the Maze in due course.

No profits are made from these sales - all monies go towards the Crystal Maze fan blog which is preserving as many items as possible from the show. Only spare props are sold to recover our expenses

Crystal Maze Repeats on TV, No-One Told Me It Had Been Going A While

Before I get to Crystal Maze getting repeat airings, could you give these lads a 'like' each, please: 

 

 

Now that little bit of admin is out of the way...

Another 30th Anniversary - An Excuse To Mention Denis Norden

In February we covered the 30th anniversary of the start of The Crystal Maze so today I just wanted to mention it's 30 years since that first series ended. The last episode of series one went out on the 10th May 1990. It was the last show broadcast to be filmed at Shepperton Studios and it started with an outtake that they left in the final cut, a moment that wouldn't have been out of place on Denis Norden's 'It'll Be Alright On The Night'.

Today is 30 years since the last episode of series one, and it opened with this little outtake which they kept in the final cut pic.twitter.com/mXq8Wmcm8y

— Crystal Maze Fan Blog (@maze_blog) May 10, 2020

 

Challenge TV - Keeping Game Shows Repeats on Rotation Since '97

In 1995, the original run of The Crystal Maze came to an end and, this being before video streaming online or on-demand services, it meant there was no real way to watch the show anymore. One option was occasional repeated showings as part of Channel 4's 'The Bigger Breakfast'. This was an extension to the regular Big Breakfast which would be scheduled during school holidays when kids had less to do and needed more TV aimed at them to keep them busy. In amongst showings of 'Saved By The Bell', 'Batman' (the '60s version) and 'Eerie, Indiana' would often be a repeat of TCM. In 2000 The Bigger Breakfast' was replaced by T4 and the programming changed to mostly just be Popworld and repeats of Hollyoaks. However there was a more long term option than waiting for school holidays and hoping TCM was included in the week's programming. 

In 1993, "The Family Channel" was launched in the UK. Born from the remnants of ITVs closed South East franchise TVS, The Family Channel promised no sex, violence or bad language and instead focused on programming the family can watch together. Shows on the channel included Remington Steele, The Wonder Years and The Bob Newhart Show. However most importantly what would be a precursor to the the channels future, self produced content in Trivial Pursuit and a family version of the Roy Walker classic Catchphrase.

In 1997 the channel was rebranded as Challenge TV and all focused moved to game and quiz shows. Now while Challenge in its current incarnation has a somewhat limited selection (as I'm writing they've scheduled 2 hour blocks of Bruce's Price is Right, Pointless, The Chase and All Star Family Fortunes for the day), when it first launched there was a much wider range of programming filling the hours.

With Any Good Franchise Comes Merchandise - The '90s Merch

From the desktop of Phil Newton-England

With the exciting news of the Eastern Zone expansion pack coming out soon for the awesome Crystal Maze board game, we thought this would be a great opportunity to take a look back at some official Crystal Maze merchandise that has been released throughout the years. 

Most of you will already have the fantastic ‘The Crystal Maze Challenge’ by Neale Simpson, Chris Lore & the team. This 224-page book not only contains ‘play at home’ games & puzzles, but also has some superb on-set pictures and informative interviews with presenters & crew, talking about the maze from its premiere in 1990 right up to the modern version we all know & love today. The Crystal Maze Challenge by Headline is, by far, the biggest & thickest book there has ever been about the show. If you haven’t got a copy yet, we truly recommend it. 

Are you in the market for a new puzzle book whilst you jet off for the summer?

Friend of the blog, previous interviewee and live experience game designer Charlie Wheeler has added puzzle book writer to his CV.

The Crystal Maze is possibly getting a US version

Before I say this, it must be taken with a wheelbarrow sized pinch of salt so prepare accordingly. An article popped up online today suggesting the possibility of a US version of everyone's favourite British game show devised by a Frenchman.

https://www.c21media.net/banijays-crystal-maze-leads-to-us/

For a bit of background, as I understand it, the ownership of the show is as follows:

TCM is produced by Fizz, which is owned by RDF Television, which itself is a subsidiary of Banijay Group after BG bought RDF's parent company Zodiak Media. I think this is how it goes, I may not be 100% accurate but I know the name above the door at the top of the pile is Banijay Group.

An American producer by the name of Bunim Murray Productions, which is also under the Banijay Group umbrella, is wanting to shop the format around to US broadcasters. BMP being the people who brought the world 'Surviving R Kelly' and some unknown thing called 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians', so TCM seems like something a bit different for them.

Where to watch the Maze on Demand, (Original and Revival)

Original Series 1990-1995

https://www.nowtv.com/watch-crystal-maze/3e2669dd4dd9f510VgnVCM1000000b43150a____

Free 14 day pass on Now TV - Great quality, all the Original Series - much better quality than YouTube.

It has also started back on Challenge TV as of 30th April 2018.

Revival Series 2016-Present

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-crystal-maze

Keep watching, liking, sharing the Maze - let's keep the Maze here to stay this time. I don't think us maze fans could bear the thought of the set getting dismantled and skipped again, and consigned to the history books! Long live The Crystal Maze. (Channel 4, KEEP IT FOREVER - best programme ever made). A recent poll on Twitter showed that most people do not want Celebrity Editions of the Maze.... C4, you need to pull the Celebrity editions..... there is one show that shouldn't have Celebs and that is the Maze. C4, please listen to your audiences. Thanks.