Hole in the Wall (British game show)
| Hole in the Wall | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Game show |
| Developed by | TalkbackTHAMES |
| Written by | Adam Bostock-Smith Les Keen Steve Parry |
| Directed by | Jonathan Bullen |
| Presented by | Dale Winton (series 1) Anton du Beke (series 2) |
| Starring | Anton du Beke (series 1) Darren Gough (series 1) Austin Healey (series 2) Joe Swash (series 2) |
| Voices of | Jonathan Pearce Peter Dickson |
| Theme music composer | Simon Darlow |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 11 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Producer | BBC Scotland |
| Production locations | BBC Pacific Quay, Glasgow |
| Running time | 25-30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC One, BBC HD |
| Release | 20 September 2008 – present |
| Release | List of episodes |
| Release | List of episodes |
| Release | List of episodes |
| Release | List of episodes |
| Release | List of episodes |
| Release | List of episodes |
Hole in the Wall is a game show that airs on BBC One in the United Kingdom. This game is an adaptation of the Japanese game Brain Wall (also known as "Human Tetris") in which players must contort themselves to fit through cutout holes of varying shapes in a large polystyrene wall moving towards them as they stand in front of a swimming pool. Each week, two teams of television personalities compete for £10,000 in prize money to be donated to charity of their choice.
Dale Winton served as the original host while Strictly Come Dancing ballroom dancer Anton du Beke and former international cricketer Darren Gough were the team captains for the first series.[1] Additionally, Jonathan Pearce comments on the replays and Peter Dickson provides the opening voice-over.
On 3 July 2008, the BBC announced that the show had been commissioned for BBC One. A second series was confirmed, with Anton du Beke giving up his captain role to take over from Dale Winton as host, and new team captains in the shape of former rugby player Austin Healey and actor Joe Swash. Anton Du Beke has announced he may be a mystery guest as well as hosting.[2]
Format
The game is split into four rounds as well as the final "Mega Wall".
The first round is "Solo Wall" which sees each team's guest players take a turn to face a wall just on their own. For each wall 10 points is given to player for a pass while a fail can given up to 5 points depending on the host's whim.
Next is the "Captains Challenge" or "Captins Mate" which can be one of a number of games:
- Doubles - The captain and a chosen team mate of his choosing (usually the one they are encouraged to do so by the studio audience) both attempt a wall. A maximum of 20 points is on offer.
- Props - The captain must complete the wall with a prop. This round made its first appearance when Anton Du Beke successfully cleared a wall on a space hopper.
- Mirror Wall - The captain must attempt a wall backwards (facing the swimming pool) leaving his two team-mates communicate to him about the shape he needs to make.
- Blind Wall - The captain is blindfolded and his team members have to instruct to him the shape he needs to make.
The third round is "Mystery Guest or Killer Question", the team leading being offered the choice which game they wish to play and the currently losing team playing the other challenge . A maximum of 20 points is on offer.
- Killer Question - Two players face a wall without cut-outs with a question written at the top and two answers marked as doors. The "door" with the correct answer on it is perforated on the reverse side and so gives way. The players must pass through the correct door.
- Mystery Guest - One of the team attempts a wall with a mystery guest (or several).
The fourth round is the "Team Wall". All three players face the wall with a maximum of 30 points on offer.
The programme's finale is the "Mega Wall". The leading team gets to choose to attempt the wall or nominate the opposition. All three players on the team attempt the wall, which travels at double speed - if they clear the wall they win the show (and the £10,000 to donate to a charity of their choice), while if they fail the opposing team wins.
Hole in the wall uses a specialised crane made by Street Crane Company of Chapel-en-le-Frith to move the wall.
Series 2 changes
Series 2, which starts on 26 September, contains all new challenges. Solo Wall returns with the Captain's Challenge changing its name to Captain's Mate, as now the captains have to be blindfolded. Killer Question is now named Wonder Wall, and a new challenge named Anton's Twist débuts. Team Wall also returns, while the Mega Wall has been renamed the Great Wall.
Production
Series 1 was recorded at BBC Television Centre in London, with series 2 seeing the show relocating to BBC Pacific Quay in Glasgow as part of an out-of-London production plan. From series 2 onwards, the show will also be shot in high-definition.[3]
Episode guide
Series 1
| Episode | Original Air Date | Anton's Team | Mystery Guest(s) | Points | Darren's Team | Mystery Guest(s) | Points | Mega Wall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 September 2008 | Dave Myers Zöe Salmon |
- | 49 | Andi Peters Sherrie Hewson |
Dancing Dollies | 39 | Anton's Team Pass |
| 2 | 27 September 2008 | Vic Reeves Vanessa Feltz |
The Cheeky Girls | 27 | Nancy Sorrell DJ Spoony |
- | 22 | Darren's Team Fail |
| 3 | 4 October 2008 | Phil Tufnell Nell McAndrew |
Glenn Ross | 43 | Iwan Thomas Josie D'Arby |
- | 42 | Anton's Team Fail |
| 4 | 11 October 2008 | Amy Lamé Sam Nixon |
Nouska Hanly | 40 | Siân Lloyd Mark Rhodes |
- | 43 | Anton's Team Pass |
| 5 | 18 October 2008 | Marcus Brigstocke Sarah Cawood |
Neil Fingleton | 36 | Bobby Davro Michelle Heaton* |
- | 43 | Darren's Team Pass |
| 6 | 25 October 2008 | Vanessa Feltz Joe Swash |
- | 39 | Alex Wotherspoon Angellica Bell |
Pat Warner | 62 | Anton's Team Fail |
| 7 | 1 November 2008 | Phil Tufnell Nancy Lam |
- | 49 | Carrie Grant Tony Marshall |
Brian Big | 54 | Anton's Team Pass |
| 8 | 8 November 2008 | Christine Hamilton Martin Offiah |
47 | Neil Hamilton Lady Isabella Hervey |
Ross Brewer | 37 | Anton's Team Pass | |
| 9 | 15 November 2008 | Jennie Bond Rav Wilding |
- | 32 | David Spinx Emma Rigby |
- | 33 | Darren's Team Pass |
| 10 | 22 November 2008 | Ninia Benjamin Dominic Littlewood |
- | 39× | Cleo Rocos Scott Mills |
London Wasps Women's Rugby Team | 38 | Anton's Team Fail |
* In episode 5, Michelle Heaton managed to remain dry by not failing a task but this resulted in fellow team mates Darren Gough and Bobby Davro pushing her into the water.
× In episode 10, Anton's team were deducted two points for cheating (shouting an incorrect call) during Darren's Captains Challenge (Darren being blindfolded).
International broadcasting
- The show began showing from episode 1, series 1 in the Republic of Ireland on 20 June 2009 on TV3.
