The Crystal Maze returns for new series with brand new zone

The Crystal Maze will be back on Channel 4 this year with a brand new zone.

The 2019 series will air soon and introduce us to The Eastern Zone.

Channel 4 teased: “Influenced by the historic art, architecture and monuments of East Asia, the zone will feature five games rooms for eight new games, set around a lily pond, cherry blossom trees and ornate vases. The new zone will join the Futuristic, Aztec and Industrial Zones, with all four featuring a host of challenging new puzzles in the forthcoming series. ”

It’s the first time a new realm has been added to the show since the Ocean Zone was introduced in the fourth series way back in the original 1990s run.

The Eastern Zone has been designed by production designer, James Dillon, who designed all the original zones featured on the series. He and the programme’s team of games designers have come together to create a fantasy microcosm of pre-modern East Asia complete with challenging themed games.

James Dillon said: “It’s very exciting to be asked to design a new zone for The Crystal Maze. The challenge, to create a zone referencing such an ancient and beautiful part of the world, and to bring those intense, rich colours and textures to the mix of zones that make up the Maze, has been most enjoyable.”

The next series will again be hosted by Maze Master Richard Ayoade who will welcome more teams of five celebrity contestants, who will take on a host of skill, physical, mental and mystery challenges, in the hope of winning crystals that can be exchanged for time in the iconic Crystal Dome.

As always, the celebrity specials will see the teams aiming to win a prize sum for Stand Up To Cancer.

Neale Simpson, Executive Producer at programme makers Fizz said: “We’re thrilled to be back with more maze-based madness and especially excited to share our new zone, all-new games and some frankly ridiculous new nonsense involving an over-sized crystal.”

The Crystal Maze airs on Channel 4 later in 2019.

There will be 13 new episodes including a Christmas special.