A team of brave contestants. A labyrinth of unpredictable challenges. A mysterious host who looks a bit like that guy off The IT Crowd.
The next episode of the hit Channel 4 game show The Crystal Maze will see two Oxford students competing as part of a team, hoping to defeat puzzles and win the grand prize.
Recent Music graduate Callum Spiller (Pembroke College) and soon-to-be second-year Fine Art student Lee Simmonds (New College) are joined by three of their old school friends as they don their jazzy jumpsuits and take to our screens on Friday. The team only thought about applying after Vice Captain Matt jokily tagged Lee in the application advert on Facebook, but Team Captain Callum took things “a bit too far, and basically forced everyone to fill in the form”.
“I think it all went a bit far as soon as we were invited to interview. The whole day just seemed like something out of a bad sitcom…”
For those unfamiliar with the show, contestants must take it in turns to tackle a series of challenges, each falling under the label of Physical, Skill, Mental or Mystery. These could range from climbing over obstacles or across a precarious plank to solving a memory puzzle or brainteaser. Their success in these trials (or lack thereof) determines how much time they can spend in “The Crystal Dome”, where they are given the chance to gather tokens and win a big prize.
On his experience of the show, Callum said that it was “surreal”, adding that they “only really applied as joke – I think it all went a bit far as soon as we were invited to interview. The whole day just seemed like something out of a bad sitcom…”
This won’t be the first time that Oxford students have appeared on popular TV shows, with others having featured on University Challenge, First Dates and Pointless, to name a few.
Why should we tune in? Well, “you get to see two Oxford students and their friends degrade themselves on national television. If that doesn’t sell it to you then nothing will”. Fair point.
The episode will be broadcast on Friday 29th September at 8pm on Channel 4.
