Takeshi’s Castle was an insane, fast, crazy, dangerous, and very funny series of physical challenges, in which upward of one hundred contestants per season were ordered by General Tani (Hayato Tani), to simultaneously get through various challenging obstacles and endurance tests in order to earn the chance to storm the castle of Count Takeshi (played by Japanese star Takeshi Kitano) and win a prize of one million Japanese yen ($8,250).
Along the way, the competitors were relentlessly battered, attacked, and hindered by Count Takeshi’s crew.
The challenges faced by contestants of both sexes and all ages included having to run across lakes via a series of rolling cylinders, pole-vaulting across a river, riding down white-water rapids in plastic teacups, swinging across a void while wearing a fly costume and then letting go to becorne stuck on a horizontal Velcro-covered board and climbing a pyramid while being shot at by water cannons.
With each challenge, the number of contestants was gradually whittled down until only a few remained to go into the final battle against Takeshi’s army in laser-firing tanks.
Originally broadcast in Japan from 1986 to 1989, the show aired in various formats in 27 countries and territories worldwide.
In the UK, it was substantially re-edited and given new narration by actor and comedian Craig Charles, and the resulting shows were first transmitted from 2002 to 2004.
Count Takeshi
Takeshi Kitano General Tani
Hayato Tani Commander Jo
Michiru Jo Narrator (UK Version)
Craig Charles
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Along the way, the competitors were relentlessly battered, attacked, and hindered by Count Takeshi’s crew.
