The Fortress (TV series)

The Fortress
Format Game Show
Created by Charlie Rose
Jacques Antoine
Starring Main Presenters:
Alex McIntyre
(2010-11)
Andrew Petty (2011)
Holly Abbott-Cragg (2011)
Country of origin United Kingdom
Production
Running time 30–45 Mins
(inc adverts) (per episode)
20 Mins
(Feb 2011 Pilot)
Broadcast
Original channel Youtube (2011)
www.whotv.co.uk (2010-11)
Original airing Pilot
11 February 2011 –
12 February 2011
Series
12 November 2011 –
TBC
Chronology
Related shows The Crystal Maze
(1990–1995)
Fort Boyard
(1990–present)

The Fortress is a UK game show created by Charlie Rose, based on Fort Boyard created by Jacques Antoine that was first broadcast in 1990 (as Les Clés de Fort Boyard, shortened for the second series in 1991). It acts as an unofficial spin-off almost entirely fan produced and making zero profit whatsoever as the Pilot helped raise money for Comic Relief and the Series will help raise for BBC Children in Need. Also, special 'non-charity' episodes have been produced for seasonal periods or special events - often these are not accounted for in the Show's initial run.

Set and filmed in Derbyshire, England. The initial location unknown to the public, the Fortress itself is, in fact, not a Fortress at all but an old renovated barn, renewed and reinforced in World War II times for protection against air raids. The lower floor remains stable-esque containing the four of the five challenge rooms, and the upstairs containing the Treasure Room and other space occupied by other WhoTV sets. The back wall of the building is often used as the Fifth challenge either involving the back wall or other items (such as a trampoline - in the pilot) as part of a challenge. In the Winter 2011 Episodes, the initial game rooms are being extended to make way for outdoor challenges and a sacrifice chamber is also planned for late 2011/early 2012.

Contents

Cast

In the Pilot and following Series, the cast are as follows; From the Pilot Episode, the Show is hosted by presenter Alex McIntyre with a team consisting of 3 contestants, 29 year old Andrew Petty, 15 year old Alexander Ball and 15 year old Niccolo Ebong. In the following first series, Andrew Petty becomes a permanent Team leader, however the number of other contestants increases from 2 to 3, pushing the full cast number from 4 to 5.

The 2011 'Spanish Special' is fronted by new host Holly Abbott-Cragg and features a new gameplay style similar to the previous Fort Boyard gameplay style.

Language/culture productions for 2011/12

Language/foreign culture themes are in production with the Fortress including the English Spoken variation and others.

Gameplay

The way The Fortress (TV Series) is played varies throughout the different productions. New Games have been added/removed and the Treasure Room Finale, similar to its parent show Fort Boyard also changes.

Prequel/pilot gameplay

The Team begin outside the closed doors to the Treasure Room, and run down around the building and inside, for their first game.
The Team (in this version of the show) play 5 Challenges, 4 Indoor and 1 Outdoor, each game - if won - yielding a clue, as a prize. The games are usually arranged as follows, 3 Cells are used for standard games and challenges, The Dark Room located on the inner left wall of the Fortress is used for a challenge filmed in Night Vision. The Outdoor game is filmed on the outside back wall of the Fortress, and in the Pilot, a trampoline was added to assist with the challenge of reaching the clue word that was suspended from an upper floor window.
Once 5 Challenges have been played, the Team exit to the Treasure Room, via the large wooden steps running up to it. If the team have enough clue words from the previous challenges, they can decipher the Password to the Treasure Room. The Password is a word that can go before or after all of the clue words to make compound words or phrases. If guessed correctly, the portcullis raises and the Team get 60 seconds in the Treasure Room, they must collect as much money - Pounds Sterling and transport it using their hands from the Treasure Room at the top of the stairs, to the collection bucket at the bottom. They can complete this journey as often as they wish in the 60 seconds. Once the minute is over, the portcullis slams shut and the Treasure Room is sealed again.
Ending the Prequel/Pilot episodes, host Alex McIntyre hands the bucket to the contestants, and they then wave as the camera tracks away, into the credits sequence. No counting of the money is recorded.

Series One gameplay

The Show begins with host Alex McIntyre or alternate host Holly Abbott-Cragg standing outside the closed Treasure Room doors, he announces the new contestants' names and a small picture, name and description of each of them appears on the screen, (however in Holly's episodes, this part features in the title sequence) this leads into the Opening Titles, after the intro, the episode opens as per the Pilot.
The Team can play up to 5 challenges in this game. However, as a new twist, after at least 3 games have been played, they have the option to forfeit following games (yielding more clues) if they believe they have the Treasure Room Password, also, for each game they 'forfeit', they earn an extra 30 seconds in the Treasure Room.
In the alternate version, the team have 15:00 minutes from the start of the show and the games are not timed, but must be judged entirely by the team and they must reach the treasure room before the time runs out. (In this version, Keys with clues attatched are used, to make the language barrier more achievable - the team needing at least 4 keys and 1 clueword)
Once Challenges have been played, the Team exit to the Treasure Room, via the large wooden steps running up to it. If the team have played all five games offered, they have 60 seconds to play the Treasure Room Endgame, if four games have been played they have 90 seconds, and if three games have been played they have 120 seconds in the Treasure Room. The Treasure room gameplay remains the same as the Pilot.
Ending the Prequel/Pilot episodes, host Alex McIntyre / Holly Abbott-Cragg carries the bucket with the contestants to the Treasure Room, where they place it in a designated area, and a totaliser appears on screen. However, in this version the money collected is not Pounds Sterling, but unique 'Fortress Credits'. A total over 300 wins a small prize, and a total over 600 wins a big prize. The run into the closing credits remains the same.

Transmissions

Series Year(s) Episodes Start Date End Date Channel
Prequel 2010 1 29 December 2010 29 December 2010 Screening Only
Pilot 2011 2 11 February 2011 13 February 2011 YouTube
Spanish 2011 2 8 November 2011 12 November 2011 YouTube and www.whotv.co.uk