Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Crystal Maze officially coming back for celebrity special: Stephen Merchant - not David Tennant - to host

The one-off will raise money for Stand Up To Cancer

Jack Shepherd
Thursday 01 September 2016 16:33 BST
Comments
Original Crystal Maze presenter Richard O'Brien
Original Crystal Maze presenter Richard O'Brien (Rex Features)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

After 21-years off our TV screens, The Crystal Maze is returning to Channel 4, with Stephen Merchant acting as host.

Earlier this week, a widely cited report detailed how the tenth Doctor Who, David Tennant, would be hosting the one-off celebrity special for Stand Up To Cancer, something the broadcaster denied in a statement.

In Channel 4’s statement, Merchant said: “As a huge fan of the original series, I’m honoured to support Stand Up To Cancer by hosting this one-off edition of The Crystal Maze. Richard O’Brien and Ed Tudor-Pole leave big shoes to fill, but I have size 14 feet, so I’ll do my best.”

Comedian Stephen Merchant
Comedian Stephen Merchant (Getty)

The aformentioned report also hinted that, if the show is a rating's success, the nineties game show could be picked up for a series.

The original series - which ran for six series between 1990 and 1995 - saw contestant race through a course, consisting of varying tasks, all to reach the Crystal Dome.

Rather than play for a replica crystal, the unannounced famous contestants will play to win money for Stand Up To Cancer.

Ed Havard, Channel 4’s Head of TV Events, added: “We wanted something extra special for the Stand Up To Cancer campaign this year, so we’re delighted that Crystal Maze will be returning for a celebrity one-off. And in Stephen Merchant we have the perfect host – he is our dream booking for this show.”

The celebrity-filled special airs 21 October.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in