Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge

Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge is a British-American children's game show, based on the French show Fort Boyard, which aired on both CITV and Disney XD. The first two series were a co-production with Disney XD, airing from 17 October 2011[1] to 23 March 2012 in the United States. In the United Kingdom, it premiered on New Year's Day 2012 and ended on 17 December 2014 after five series.

For the original game show, see Fort Boyard
Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge
GenreChildren's adventure game show
Based onFort Boyard
by Jacques Antoine
Presented byLaura Hamilton
Geno Segers
Andy Akinwolere
Theme music composerPaul Farrer
Country of originUnited States (Series 1–2)
United Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series5
No. of episodes50 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersNigel Pickard
Ged Allen
Pierre Godde
ProducerSteve Pinhay
Production locationsFort Boyard, France
Running time20 minutes per episode (approx.) (Series 1–2)
1 hour per episode (approx.) (including adverts) (Series 3–5)
Production companiesAdventure Line Productions
The Foundation
DistributorZodiak Media
Release
Original networkDisney XD (USA)
CITV (UK)
Picture format16:9 (UK)
Original release17 October 2011 – 23 March 2012 (USA)
1 January 2012 –
17 December 2014 (UK)
External links
Production website

The show is a challenge game where six different "fearless" teams of teenagers battle-to-the-finish to win the "Ultimate Challenge" and become the "Ultimate Conquerors Of The Fort". The show is a revived and updated version of the original format, broadcast in the UK from 1998 to 2003, 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 Geno Segers. Hamilton and Akinwolere both returned to present series 4 and 5.

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 (and final) series on 15 October 2014. The series was also rolled-out globally (excluding France and the Nordic countries) on the Disney network.

Format

Six teams compete against each other in a tournament. In every 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.

In 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 in series 3, 4 and 5) keys or more at the end of the game, they get the maximum amount of time in the Treasure Chamber (three minutes); 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.

Challenges

Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge uses exactly the same games like in the original show; but with different names, no lock-ins and may also be slightly adapted to suit the show. For example, in Boiler Room the contestant is not handcuffed to the pipe; instead must move a chain with the key on through the maze and out to the exit within the time limit, and The Searching Head, where the two contestants sit in a seat and there is no conveyor belt; instead, there is a plastic glass on the sides.

Each solo team challenge is against the water timer (known as 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 challenges
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 last challenge in every episode is a non-timed duel in the Council "hallway" (an open area on the second floor close to where "Cold Room" is located) 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:

  • Surface Tension
  • Tipping Point
  • Tower Build
  • Balance of Forces
  • Letter Pick
  • Hammer Time
  • Reflex
  • Weights
  • Hang Nail
  • Floating Towers
  • Dominoes
  • Shape Stack
  • Roach Race

The Treasure Chamber

The Treasure Chamber is the climax to every episode of Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge. The gold is stored here, which is guarded by the fort's tigers (only in series 4 and 5).

Series 1 and 2

Before they enter the treasure chamber, every 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 colour, 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, the bell (rung by Laura Hamilton) sounds and the gate of the Treasure Chamber begins to descend, meaning that the eight candidates must get out before it closes.

Then it is 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 keysTime 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 to 5

Several changes were made to the Treasure Chamber in this series, including a new time structure and layout. For example, the crests are not hidden.

Keys for the Treasure Chamber

No. of keysTime awarded
6 or more
(7 maximum)		 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 with two British and two American members in each team. However, in series 3 (2012), contestants were from 14 to 18 years of age and were all British. In Series 4, they were 12-to 18-year-olds. In addition, each team has a captain.

Series 5 in 2014 saw an overhaul in team colours and animals; a new set of six team names were introduced to replace the original names: (Grey) Rhinos, (Orange) Tigers, (Green) Crocodiles, (Black) Tarantulas, (Yellow) Eagles and (Purple) 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 colour and a symbol of animal:

Episodes

Series 1
Episode No.TeamsAir date (UK)
1 Yellow Scorpions Vs Red Vipers 1 January 2012
2 White Falcons Vs Blue Sharks 7 January 2012
3 Silver Dragons Vs Green Jaguars 14 January 2012
4 Blue Sharks Vs Red Vipers 21 January 2012
5 Yellow Scorpions Vs Green Jaguars 28 January 2012
6 Silver Dragons Vs White Falcons 4 February 2012
7 Yellow Scorpions Vs Blue Sharks 11 February 2012
8 Red Vipers Vs Silver Dragons 18 February 2012
9 Green Jaguars Vs White Falcons 25 February 2012
10 (Final) Yellow Scorpions Vs Green Jaguars 3 March 2012
  • Conquerors of The Fort: Yellow Scorpions

Series 2
Episode No.TeamsAir date (UK)
1 Blue Sharks Vs White Falcons 10 March 2012
2 Yellow Scorpions Vs Red Vipers 17 March 2012
3 Green Jaguars Vs Silver Dragons 24 March 2012
4 Red Vipers Vs Blue Sharks 31 March 2012
5 White Falcons Vs Sliver Dragons 1 April 2012
6 Yellow Scorpions Vs Green Jaguars 7 April 2012
7 Red Vipers Vs Silver Dragons 8 April 2012
8 Blue Sharks Vs Yellow Scorpions 14 April 2012
9 White Falcons Vs Green Jaguars 21 April 2012
10 (Final) Silver Dragons Vs Blue Sharks 28 April 2012
  • Conquerors of The Fort: Silver Dragons

Series 3
Episode No.TeamsAir date (UK)
1 Green Jaguars Vs White Falcons 8 December 2012
2 Blue Sharks Vs Silver Dragons 9 December 2012
3 Red Vipers Vs Yellow Scorpions 15 December 2012
4 Yellow Scorpions Vs Green Jaguars 16 December 2012
5 White Falcons Vs Sliver Dragons 22 December 2012
6 Blue Sharks Vs Red Vipers 23 December 2012
7 Blue Sharks Vs White Falcons 26 December 2012
8 Red Vipers Vs Green Jaguars 27 December 2012
9 Yellow Scorpions Vs Silver Dragons 29 December 2012
10 (Final) Blue Sharks Vs Green Jaguars 30 December 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 aired these at a later date, due to schedule changes and to celebrate its thirtieth anniversary.[3]

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

Series 5
Episode No.TeamsAir date (UK)
1 Grey Rhinos Vs Orange Tigers 15 October 2014
2 Purple Cobras Vs Black Tarantulas 22 October 2014
3 Green Crocodiles Vs Yellow Eagles 29 October 2014
4 Yellow Eagles Vs Purple Cobras 5 November 2014
5 Black Tarantulas Vs Orange Tigers 12 November 2014
6 Grey Rhinos Vs Green Crocodiles 19 November 2014
7 Yellow Eagles Vs Orange Tigers 26 November 2014
8 Purple Cobras Vs Grey Rhinos 3 December 2014
9 Black Tarantulas Vs Green Crocodiles 10 December 2014
10 (Final) Grey Rhinos Vs Black Tarantulas 17 December 2014
  • Conquerors Of The Fort: Black Tarantulas

Transmissions

Disney XD (USA)
Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
1 10 17 October 2011 7 November 2011
2 10 16 January 2012 27 January 2012

CITV (UK)
Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
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

Awards and nominations
Awards
Year Award Category Result
2014 British Academy Children's Awards Best Children's Entertainment[4] Nominated

References
  1. "Fort Boyard – Ultimate Challenge". TV.com.
  2. "Disney, CiTV renew Fort Boyard". Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  3. "CITV set for classic kids TV weekend". BBC News. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  4. "BAFTA Children's Awards". BAFTA. Retrieved 21 March 2015.

Comprehensive fan sites:

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