Channel 4 has today confirmed the commission of a brand new series of The Crystal Maze from Fizz, RDF Television’s entertainment label. The 20 x 60 series will be hosted by new Maze Master Richard Ayoade, and includes a set of celebrity specials for Stand Up to Cancer.

Producers are already looking for teams of five contestants who have what it takes to navigate the Aztec, Medieval, Industrial and Future zones of the maze. They will face a range of skill, mystery, physical and mental challenges to win crystals that equate to time in the final test – the legendary Crystal Dome. Details of how contestants can apply will soon be announced.

The series will be filmed at The Bottle Yard Studios in Bristol, where a purpose built maze spanning over 30,000 square feet is being created by the original Crystal Maze designer, James Dillon (The Mighty Boosh, The Royle Family).

The Crystal Maze, which originally aired from 1990 to 1995, returned to Channel 4 in October 2016 for a Stand Up To Cancer celebrity special and proved a hit with loyal fans and newcomers alike, winning a consolidated audience of 4.3 million viewers. The new series will air this year.

The Crystal Maze will be executive produced by Peter Usher and Neale Simpson for Fizz and has been commissioned by Tom Beck, Commissioning Editor for Entertainment, and Head of Entertainment, Ed Havard. The Crystal Maze is a Banijay Group Format.

Tom Beck, Head of Live & Events at Channel 4 said of the commission "The Stand Up To Cancer special was so brilliant and so successful that commissioning a series of The Crystal Maze was almost a no-brainer. And I couldn’t be more pleased and excited that Richard has agreed to become the new Maze Master – he’s an inspired choice."

Neale Simpson, Creative Director at Fizz adds: "It was a huge privilege to bring this channel-defining show back as a special for Stand Up To Cancer. We’re thrilled at the prospect of building a maze to the scale and cinematic spectacle of the original, and our hope is to bring a new vision to the legendary time travelling adventure that will excite the next generation of viewers."