Start the fans, please. Not just because it's BAKING HOT at the moment, but also because Channel 4's classic show Crystal Maze is back this Friday – along with new host Richard Ayoade – with a Stand Up to Cancer celebrity special.
Along with the new host, contestants in episode one will include reigning Strictly Come Dancing champion Ore Oduba, TOWIE's Lydia Bright, Louie Spence, The Last Leg's Alex Brooker and Vicky Pattison before continuing with more all-star specials and a full brand new series, which was inundated with applicants.
The trailer shows Richard explaining the concept in his own perfect satirical tone.
"Welcome to the Crystal Maze. Inside lies a labyrinth of games where the highly skilled are awarded with crystals for time itself," he says.
"In short, it's nothing like real life, which frankly is a relief."
The specials follow on from Stephen Merchant's special Stand Up to Cancer episode from last year – which featured his appropriately bald head from Logan, just like the original Crystal Maze host Richard O'Brien.
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The series has now birthed two real-life versions of the Crystal Maze taking advantage of the locked room fad.
You can find these nestled in Manchester and London, meanwhile the real show is filmed in Bristol.
Related: Head this way to read our review of Crystal Maze: London
The Crystal Maze begins on Friday, June 23 at 9pm on Channel 4.
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Laurence Mozafari (he/him) is a multi-award winning journalist, editor, and presenter. A former Editor-in-Chief of Digital Spy, Laurence previously held roles as the site's Editor, Deputy Editor, and Associate Editor focusing on news, social, and video. Laurence hosted the BBC Sounds podcast Obsessed with Peaky Blinders in 2019. He also hosts his own podcast production, Time of My Life, where he interviews fascinating elders about their life lessons, including Only Fools and Horses' Sir David Jason, Star Trek’s George Takei and Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh.
Laurence was named Editorial Director – Youth Audience at Reach in early 2025. Prior to joining Digital Spy, he was previously at Bauer Media working as Digital Editor of Heat magazine's website Heatworld.com, and has also worked at and written for Sky, NME, Q magazine, Grazia, Closer, FHM and dedicated careers website GoThinkBig. He secured a first-class BA journalism degree at Staffordshire University, along with several NCTJ qualifications, and now has 14 years' experience in digital publishing covering TV, movies, music, gaming, tech, showbiz, and travel.
Laurence has been a broadcasting contributor on television and radio, including KISS, Heat Radio, BBC Radio London, Radio 5 Live, and BBC Breakfast.
He is also a visiting lecturer at various universities teaching journalism, including City, University of London, Nottingham Trent, Staffordshire University and London Metropolitan. Laurence has won numerous awards in his journalism career, including the BSME Talent Award’s Best Deputy Editor, the PPA's 30 Under 30, and the New Editor and Editor of the Year at the AOP and BSMEs. He led Digital Spy to win PPA's Digital Content Team of the Year twice, along with the British Media Awards’ Brand of the Year in 2021.
Laurence joined the committee for the British Society of Magazine Editors in 2022 and was named vice-chair in 2025. He has since hosted panels with CEOs of Immediate Media and the Media Trust at the PPA Festival, as well as presenting his own radio show on Green Man Radio at Green Man Festival in 2022. Laurence is also a Brits voting academy member.
Laurence has been lucky enough to interview numerous celebrities, actors, and musicians throughout his career. Arnold Schwarzenegger loved his hair, Jimmy Carr loved his coat and Antonio Banderas gave a shout-out to his mum. Laurence has covered set visits for The Witcher on Netflix and Marvel’s Inhumans, he got Daisy Ridley to do a Chewbacca impression and loves Marvel, PlayStation, Glastonbury and craft beer. Linkedin
