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Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge

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For the original game show, see Fort Boyard (TV series)
Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge
Presented byLaura Hamilton
Geno Segers
(Series 1–2)
Andy Akinwolere
(Series 3–)
Theme music composerPaul Farrer
Country of originUnited States
United Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series5
No. of episodes42 (aired to date)
Production
Executive producersNigel Pickard
Ged Allen
Pierre Godde
ProducerSteve Pinhay
Production locationsFort Boyard, France
Running time22 minutes (Series 1–2)
52 minutes (Series 3–)
Production companiesAdventure Line Productions
The Foundation
Original release
NetworkDisney XD (USA)
CITV (UK)
Release17 October 2011 – 23 March 2012 (USA)
1 January 2012 –
present (UK)
Related
Fort Boyard

Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge is a CITV game show that premiered on 1 January 2012 in the United Kingdom. The first two series were a co-production with Disney XD, airing from October 17, 2011[1] to March 23, 2012 in the United States.

The show is a challenge game where six teams of teenagers battle-to-the-finish to win the Ultimate Challenge and become "Conquerors of The Fort". The show is a revived version of the original Fort Boyard and was presented by Geno Segers and Laura Hamilton in the first two series. In May 2012, Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge was renewed for a third series.[2] It was also revealed that Andy Akinwolere would be the new co-host, replacing Segers. Hamilton and Akinwolere returned to present series 4 and 5.

In the UK, the third series began on 8 December 2012 and was simulcast on the ITV network. The fourth series began airing on 20 October 2013 and the fifth on 15 October 2014.

The series is also being rolled-out globally (excluding France and the Nordic countries) on the Disney network.

Format

Six teams compete against each other in a tournament. Each episode, two teams face each other in a battle to see who is the strongest and toughest team. The challenges are based on toughness, fear and speed. In each season, the teams play three times each; with the two teams which have the most gold coins returning for the final round of the tournament at the series' finale.

Every level, the teams fight to get a key which helps them in the final level of the game in the Treasure Chamber. If they get three (five from series 3) keys or more at the end of the game, they get the maximum amount of time in the Treasure Chamber (3:00); but if they get two (four from series 3) keys or less, a time penalty will be dealt out (see below). If a team wins a 4th key (6th or more from series 3), they receive an extra 150 bonus coins per key which are added to their final total.

Games

Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge uses the same games as the original show; but with different names, no lock-ins and may also be slightly adapted in order to suit the show. For example, in Boiler Room the contestant is not hancuffed to the pipe; instead must move a chain with the key on through the maze and out to the exit within the time limit.

Each solo team challenge is against the water clock (a clepsdyre) usually set at either 1:30, 2:00 or 2:30 minutes. Some games (such as Tightrope and nearly all duels) require a code to open the box containing the key, which is outside the room or nearby the other team members. Games involving members of both teams are not against the water clock and are known as "duels".

Regular Games

For more detailed information, see Phase One and Phase Two sections of the main Fort Boyard article.

In order of first appearance:

Council Duels

Before the teams go to the Treasure Chamber, the final challenge in each episode is a non-timed duel in the Council 'hallway' (an open area on the second floor) between both teams.

Tests usually involve a level of skill and speed; such as building a tower with shaped blocks, using chopsticks to write the word "Boyard" on a pole or hammering nails into a piece of wood. The whole team(s) take part in the duel and the winners receive the final key of the day. Games played so far include:

In order of first appearance:

  1. Surface Tension
  2. Tipping Point
  3. Tower Build
  4. Balance of Forces
  5. Letter Pick
  6. Hammer Time
  7. Reflex
  8. Weights
  9. Hang Nail
  10. Floating Towers
  11. Dominoes
  12. Shape Stack

The Treasure Chamber

File:Fort-Boyard salle du trésor.jpg
Inside the Treasure Chamber

The Treasure Chamber is the climax to each episode of Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge. The gold is stored here, which is guarded by the Fort's tigers (except in series 1 to 3).

Series 1 and 2

Before they enter the chamber, each team is handed a scroll with a plan of the board (a giant alphabet chessboard), which is composed of Georgian letters and the word "Fort Boyard" is also written out on it. On this chessboard, they must place four circular plates of color, as shown in the plan. These plates are hidden in the decorative elements of the chamber (a treasure chest, barrel or underneath ropes). They must therefore find where they are hidden. Boxes are suspended in the fountain and the key for the coins is on top of a vertical rod above and on either side of the Fountain.

Once a team has found and placed their four plates in the right place, the captain returns his/her hand to a tiger's head located nearby the entrance. If correct, the key is released to open their chest containing the coins. Once the chest is opened, coins fall into the fountain below. The team members must collect as many of these coins as possible and put them into a Plexiglas box near the entrance.

At 0:20 seconds from the end of the 3 minutes, a bell rings and the gate of the Treasure Chamber begins to descend and the 8 candidates must get out before it closes.

Then it's time to weigh the coins; two candidates from each team take turns placing their container on the scales to set the number of points scored by the team. At the end of the show, the ranking of teams is updated compared to previous results

Keys for the Treasure Chamber

No. of keys Time awarded
4 3:00 minutes + 150 bonus coins
3 3:00 minutes
2 2:40 minutes
1 2:40 minutes (for 3 team members),
2:20 minutes (for the other 1 team member)
0 2:40 minutes (for 2 team members),
2:20 minutes (for the other 2 team members)

Series 3 onwards

Several changes were made to the Treasure Chamber in this series, including a new time structure and layout.

Keys for the Treasure Chamber

No. of keys Time awarded
6 or more 3:00 minutes
+ 150 bonus coins per key
5 3:00 minutes
4 2:50 minutes
3 2:40 minutes
2 2:30 minutes
1 2:20 minutes
0 2:10 minutes

Filming

Fort Boyard from the air

Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge is set and filmed on the Fort Boyard fortress, on the west coast of France.

From a broadcasting perspective, Fort Boyard itself was refurbished during 1988–89 to become, essentially, a large outdoor television studio. The Fort has its own doctor, catering facilities, as well as production gallery and veterinary centre. The Fort is equipped with 10 portable television cameras, one camera crane for overhead shots, one under-water camera as well as a number of smaller cameras which specifically cover individual games and challenges around the Fort.

Filming took place between 9–15 July 2011; consisting of two seasons of 10 episodes each. A third season was filmed from 7–14 July 2012, with a further 10 episodes made. The fourth was filmed from 18–25 June 2013 and the fifth from 22–27 June 2014.

Teams

In series 1 and 2, there were 24 participants (48 in total) from 13 to 19 years of age, divided into 6 teams (12 teams in total) of 4 members (two British and two American members in each team). However, in series 3, contestants were from 14 to 18 years of age and were all British. In addition, each team has a captain. In Series 4, from 12-18 years olds. In Series 5, a new set of six team names were introduced to replace the original names: Grey Rhinos, Orange Tigers, Green Crocodiles, Black Tarantulas, Golden Eagles and Burgundy Cobras.

In the first two series the teams consisted of three boys and a girl; from the third series, there are two boys and two girls per team.

Each team has a color and a symbol of animal:

Episodes

Series 1

Episode No. Teams Air Date (USA) Air Date (UK) U.S. viewers
(hundred thousands)
1 Yellow Scorpions Vs Red Vipers October 17, 2011 January 1, 2012 5.37[3]
2 White Falcons Vs Blue Sharks October 18, 2011 January 7, 2012 4.6[4]
3 Silver Dragons Vs Green Jaguars October 19, 2011 January 14, 2012 3.4[5]
4 Blue Sharks Vs Red Vipers October 24, 2011 January 21, 2012 4.3[6]
5 Yellow Scorpions Vs Green Jaguars October 25, 2011 January 28, 2012 2.9[7]
6 Silver Dragons Vs White Falcons October 26, 2011 February 4, 2012 3.5[8]
7 Yellow Scorpions Vs Blue Sharks November 1, 2011 February 11, 2012 5.2[9]
8 Red Vipers Vs Silver Dragons November 2, 2011 February 18, 2012 2.46[10]
9 Green Jaguars Vs White Falcons November 7, 2011 February 25, 2012 3.6[11]
10 (final) Yellow Scorpions Vs Green Jaguars November 7, 2011 March 3, 2012 3.7[12]
  • Conquerors of The Fort: Yellow Scorpions

Series 2

Episode No. Teams Air Date (USA) Air Date (UK)
1 Blue Sharks Vs White Falcons January 16, 2012 March 10, 2012
2 Yellow Scorpions Vs Red Vipers January 17, 2012 March 17, 2012
3 Green Jaguars Vs Silver Dragons January 18, 2012 March 24, 2012
4 Red Vipers Vs Blue Sharks January 19, 2012 March 31, 2012
5 White Falcons Vs Sliver Dragons January 20, 2012 April 1, 2012
6 Yellow Scorpions Vs Green Jaguars January 23, 2012 April 7, 2012
7 Red Vipers Vs Silver Dragons January 24, 2012 April 8, 2012
8 Blue Sharks Vs Yellow Scorpions January 25, 2012 April 14, 2012
9 White Falcons Vs Green Jaguars January 26, 2012 April 21, 2012
10 (final) Silver Dragons Vs Blue Sharks January 27, 2012 April 28, 2012
  • Conquerors of The Fort: Silver Dragons

Series 3

Episode No. Teams Air Date (UK)
1 Green Jaguars Vs White Falcons December 8, 2012
2 Blue Sharks Vs Silver Dragons December 9, 2012
3 Red Vipers Vs Yellow Scorpions December 15, 2012
4 Yellow Scorpions Vs Green Jaguars December 16, 2012
5 White Falcons Vs Sliver Dragons December 22, 2012
6 Blue Sharks Vs Red Vipers December 23, 2012
7 Blue Sharks Vs White Falcons December 26, 2012
8 Red Vipers Vs Green Jaguars December 27, 2012
9 Yellow Scorpions Vs Silver Dragons December 29, 2012
10 (final) Blue Sharks Vs Green Jaguars December 30, 2012
  • Conquerors of The Fort: Green Jaguars

Note: episodes 7–10 were not simulcast on both UK channels as usual; the airdates are for ITV1 only. CITV will air these at a later date, due to schedule changes and in order to celebrate its 30th birthday.[13]

Series 4

Episode No. Teams Air Date (UK)
1 Yellow Scorpions Vs Blue Sharks October 20, 2013
2 White Falcons Vs Green Jaguars October 27, 2013
3 Red Vipers Vs Silver Dragons November 3, 2013
4 Silver Dragons Vs Green Jaguars November 10, 2013
5 White Falcons Vs Yellow Scorpions November 17, 2013
6 Red Vipers Vs Blue Sharks November 24, 2013
7 Yellow Scorpions Vs Silver Dragons December 1, 2013
8 Red Vipers Vs White Falcons December 8, 2013
9 Blue Sharks Vs Green Jaguars December 15, 2013
10 (final) White Falcons Vs Green Jaguars December 22, 2013
  • Conquerors of The Fort: Green Jaguars

Series 5

Episode No. Teams Air Date (UK)
1 Rhinos Vs Tigers October 15, 2014
2 Cobras Vs Trantulas October 22, 2014
3 Crocodiles Vs Eagles October 29, 2014
4 Eagles Vs Cobras November 5, 2014
5 November 12, 2014
6 November 19, 2014
7 November 26, 2014
8 December 3, 2014
9 December 10, 2014
10 (final) December 17, 2014
  • Conquerors of The Fort: TBA

Transmissions

USA

Season Episodes Season Premiere Season Finale
1 10 17 October 2011 7 November 2011
2 10 16 January 2012 27 January 2012

UK

Series Episodes Series Premiere Series Finale
1 10 1 January 2012 3 March 2012
2 10 10 March 2012 28 April 2012
3 10 8 December 2012 30 December 2012
4 10 20 October 2013 22 December 2013
5 10 15 October 2014 17 December 2014

International release

Country / Region Channel Series premiere
 Canada Disney XD October 22, 2011
 Netherlands Disney XD (Netherlands) February 20, 2012
 Poland Disney XD (Poland) February 2012
 Russia Karusel April 1, 2012
 South Africa Disney XD (South Africa) April 2012
 Australia
 New Zealand 		Disney Channel
Disney XD (Australia) 		April 28, 2012
April 10, 2014
 Italy Disney XD (Italy) June 20, 2012
 United Kingdom
 Ireland 		Disney XD (UK & Ireland) August 20, 2012
 Quebec Vrak.TV August 31, 2012
 India Disney XD (India) September 2012
 Malaysia NTV7 May 3, 2014
 Portugal Biggs 2014

References

  1. ^ http://www.tv.com/shows/fort-boyard-ultimate-challenge/
  2. ^ "Disney, CiTV renew Fort Boyard". C21 Media. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  3. ^ http://thevoiceoftv.com/nielsen-tv-ratings/monday-october-17-2011-cable-final-ratings/
  4. ^ http://thevoiceoftv.com/nielsen-tv-ratings/tuesday-october-18-2011-cable-final-ratings/
  5. ^ http://www.brianfordsullivan.com/ratings/2011/10/20/wednesdays-cable-ratings-storage-wars-special-lands-on-top-663512/cable_20111019/
  6. ^ http://thevoiceoftv.com/nielsen-tv-ratings/monday-october-24-2011-cable-final-ratings/
  7. ^ http://thevoiceoftv.com/nielsen-tv-ratings/tuesday-october-25-2011-cable-final-ratings/
  8. ^ http://www.brianfordsullivan.com/ratings/2011/10/27/wednesdays-cable-ratings-psych-hits-season-high-for-usa-264012/cable_20111026/
  9. ^ http://thevoiceoftv.com/nielsen-tv-ratings/tuesday-november-1-2011-cable-final-ratings/
  10. ^ http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2011/11/03/wednesdays-cable-ratings-south-park-horror-story-share-demo-crown-763211/cable_20111102/
  11. ^ http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2011/11/08/mondays-cable-ratings-mnf-dominates-once-again-for-espn-561012/cable_20111107/
  12. ^ http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2011/11/08/mondays-cable-ratings-mnf-dominates-once-again-for-espn-561012/cable_20111107/
  13. ^ "CITV set for classic kids TV weekend". BBC News Online. Retrieved 27 December 2012. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

Comprehensive fan sites:

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