BBC One (28 September - 21 December 2007) CBBC Channel (10 July 2008 - 4 November 2010)
Release
28 September 2007 (2007-09-28) – 4 November 2010 (2010-11-04)
Trapped! (known only in its final series as Trapped!: Ever After) is a British children'sdark fantasy-themed adventure game show that was first shown on BBC channels from 28 September 2007 through to 4 November 2010.
Plot
The show is set in a dark, six-floor fictional tower with windows which, from the opening titles, is situated on a small island in the middle of the open sea. Every episode is introduced by "The Caretaker" (played by Simon Greenall), a male world traveller who only came there for one good night's sleep, but he was imprisoned there by "The Voice" (performed by Eve Karpf in series 1 and Faith Brown from series 2 onward). To eventually earn his freedom, the Caretaker must trap as many children (referred to in the programme as "Unfortunates") as the Voice personally deems worthy.[1]
Six human children compete on each episode and are brought to the tower by another captive, "Wiley Sneak" (physically portrayed by Olly Pike). Locked in a lift-like cage and winced up by The Caretaker via a simple wheel and pully system, the children begin at the top of the tower and must journey down to the bottom; one child is eliminated or "trapped" on each floor, and the last one remaining receives the "Key of Freedom" and escapes. Sequestered in the attic of the tower, Caretaker occasionally offers English commentary and instructions while viewing the events through his "Watch Tank," a large and delicate globe mounted within a frame that gives a 360° overhead view of the relevant portion of the tower.
Trapped! (2007–2009)
Each contestant is given an earpiece receiver, or "Whisper Clip," that they must wear during the competition. Each floor of the tower poses a different challenge to the team, demonstrated by Wiley while the Caretaker provides instructions through both live commentary and pre-recorded voiceover. Before each challenge begins, one contestant is informed by The Voice, via their Whisper Clip that they have been chosen to act as a "Saboteur," and must try to make the team fail without being detected by the others. Throughout each task, The Voice guides the Saboteur via the Whisper Clip attached to their ear, advising them of the best way to successfully sabotage each task.
If the team passes the challenge, the Saboteur becomes trapped on that floor and the others move down through the tower. If the team fails, each contestant casts one vote as to the Saboteur's identity; the one who receives the most votes becomes trapped, regardless of whether or not they were the Saboteur. A "draw straws" box is used in the event of a tie, and the one who draws the shortest straw is trapped.
The last two contestants compete in "The Fight for Freedom," a timed quiz consisting of alternating questions that tests their recall of the events of the episode. When time runs out, the high scorer wins the game and uses the Key of Freedom to leave the tower.
Trapped!: Ever After (2010)
Trapped!: Ever After title card
For 2010, changes were made to the format of the programme, particularly in areas of themes, the games and interaction with the Unfortunates. Introducing a brand new attic for the Caretaker, recaps were made of previously trapped unfortunates on higher floors of the tower and the appearance of the Voice was revised. The final round was revised to put both contestants in a best-of-seven Q&A round, represented by a four-step path toward the Key of Freedom; a correct answer allowed a contestant to advance one step, while a miss allowed the opponent to do so. The first one to reach the Key became the winner. In the cases of both contestants being one step away, one of them must answer their question correctly first. If both are wrong, it keeps on going until someone gets it right.
Music
The music is written by Dobs Vye, a composer who specialises in writing for television.
Peter Wardell as Boris the Organist (Series 1) and The One-Eyed Watcher (Series 2-3)
Leisha Wickham as Millicent ( Series 4)
Brian Wheeler as Mr Baby Botherer (Series 4)
Matthew Wren as Moonhowler (Series 2-3)
Crew
Director – James Morgan
Producer and creator – Rob Hyde
Writers – Carl Carter and Tony Cooke
Art director – Catherine Land
Set design – Richard Drew
Lighting director – James Campbell
Challenges
Trapped! incorporates two different types of challenges (excluding the Fight for Freedom): timed challenges, where the Unfortunates must work together to complete a challenge during a set time limit, usually around "90 seconds" to "2 minutes", and mental challenges, where persuasion and the ability to influence others' decision making is tested. Throughout the series, there are 38 unique challenges used (39 if including The Fight for Freedom).
Timed Challenges
Black Widow (First played: Series 1, Episode 1 - "Poplar", Last played: Series 1, Episode 11 - "Liverpool", Played on Floor 6): In this challenge, Unfortunates must suck up white balls, described as spider eggs, using vacuum hoses within 90 seconds. The Saboteur would have to sneakily suck up yellow eggs, described as Black Widows, which would make more eggs fall from the ceiling, making the challenge more difficult to complete. This challenge was played 4 times.
Wicked Wardrobes (First played: Series 1, Episode 1 - "Poplar", Last played: Series 1, Episode 13 - "Burnley", Played on Floor 3):
Freaky Factory (First played: Series 1, Episode 2 - "Willesden", Last played: Series 3, Episode 3 - "Sutton Coldfield", Played on Floor 5):
Wall of Sorrow (First played: Series 1, Episode 3 - "Cambridge", Last played: Series 3, Episode 10 - "Hackney", Played on Floor 6): In this physical challenge, the unfortunates must build "the wall of sorrow" using all 80 bricks provided, and must complete the wall within 90 seconds. Periodically, there will be "blackouts", giving the Saboteur an opportunity to destroy the wall. This challenge was played 8 times.
Sleep Creepers (First played: Series 1, Episode 3 - "Cambridge", Last played: Series 3, Episode 2 - "Wigan", Played on Floor 3):
Goblet of Ice (First played: Series 1, Episode 4 - "Ipswich", Last played: Series 3, Episode 13 - "Bolton", Played on Floor 6): In this challenge, the unfortunates have just 90 seconds to carry cups of powered snow into a goblet whilst travelling over slippery stepping stones. Slipping and stepping on the floor will cause the goblet to tip up, erasing progress. This challenge was played 6 times.
Exploding Toad in the Hole (First played: Series 1, Episode 4 - "Ipswich", Last played: Series 1, Episode 13 - "Burnley", Played on Floor 3):
Horror Heads (First played: Series 1, Episode 1 - "Liverpool", Last played: Series 1, Episode 11 - "Liverpool", Played on Floor 4):
Body Shock (First played: Series 2, Episode 1 - "Wolverhampton", Last played: Series 3, Episode 11 - "Leeds", Played on Floor 6): During the challenge, Unfortunates must complete a body using parts around the room within 2 minutes. During that time, there will be blackouts, allowing the Saboteur to release the Botherers, two men behind a cage who will destroy the body. To pass, the body must be complete and the Botherers must be locked in their cage. The challenge was played 9 times.
Poisoned Harvest (First played: Series 2, Episode 2 - "Watford", Last played: Series 3, Episode 7 - "Eastbourne", Played on Floor 6): In this challenge, Unfortunates must collect red and yellow "Weedle Berries" into each others baskets, which they carry on their backs, for 2 minutes. However, the saboteur is tasked with contaminating those baskets with poison berries, which are purple. Contaminating two or more baskets with purple poisoned weedle berries results in failure. The challenge was played 4 times.
Septic Sewers (First played: Series 2, Episode 2 - "Watford", Last played: Series 3, Episode 11 - "Leeds", Played on Floor 5):
Camp Fear (First played: Series 2, Episode 3 - "Norwich", Last played: Series 3, Episode 10 - "Hackney", Played on Floor 3):
Forbidden Chambers (First played: Series 2, Episode 4 - "Castleford", Last played: Series 3, Episode 13 - "Bolton", Played on Floor 3):
Giant Appetite (First played: Series 3, Episode 1 - "Brixton", Last played: Series 3, Episode 12 - "Glasgow", Played on Floor 6):
Mutternot’s Tales (First played: Series 4, Episode 1 - "Gravesand", Last played: Series 4, Episode 10 - "Weston-Super-Mare", Played on Floor 6): A place for everything, and everything in it’s place. Miss Mutternot is not happy. The Tower Library is completely confuddled. Unfortunates must carefully put the books back in their rightful place, but the Tower is prone to power cut, and some one is upset the librarian. One of them cannot be trusted.
The Frozen Princess (First played: Series 4, Episode 1 - "Gravesand", Last played: Series 4, Episode 13 - "Bolton", Played on Floor 5): There once was a Princess, cold hearted and mean, frozen inside and out. Wake her up and she’ll scream. To warm subzero heart unfortunates must gently place five flowers, one by one, into her chilly blue hands. Sounds easy eh, but someone is to upset her
Botherers Blocks (First played: Series 4, Episode 2 - "Hastings", Last played: Series 4, Episode 11 - "Livingston", Played on Floor 5): Unfortunates will have to work cut out in this nasty nursery. They must build the tower out of toy blocks scattered around the room, whilst keeping an eye out of baby Botherer. But beware, if there are power cuts, one unfortunate will be out to cause chaos. With a baby Botherer is on the loose, there will be trouble! To pass, Unfortunates must make sure baby’s back in the pen and all the toy block are on the rug.
The Lost Invitations (First played: Series 4, Episode 3 - "West Bromwich", Last played: Series 4, Episode 13 - "Bolton", Played on Floor 6):
Millicent And The Moths (First played: Series 4, Episode 3 - "West Bromwich", Last played: Series 4, Episode 13 - "Bolton", Played on Floor 3):
Poisoned Hollows (First played: Series 4, Episode 4 - "Fulham", Last played: Series 4, Episode 12 - "Ipswich", Played on Floor 5):
Mental Challenges
Feed Me Lies (First played: Series 1, Episode 1 - "Poplar", Last played: Series 1, Episode 11 - "Liverpool", Played on Floor 5): In this challenge, the Unfortunates are confronted with two sentient plants: Phyllis and Madge. During the challenge, players will place a seed from a bag under the magnifying glass in front of Phyllis, who will then read aloud the statement on it. The group then must decide if the statement is a truth or a lie and feed said seed to the corresponding plant (Phyllis for truth and Madge for lies). If the players feed the right plant 3 times, they'll pass. If they feed the wrong plant 3 times they'll fail.
Snake Attack (First played: Series 1, Episode 1 - "Poplar", Last played: Series 3, Episode 12 - "Glasgow", Played on Floor 4):
Toxic Treats (First played: Series 1, Episode 2 - "Willesden", Last played: Series 1, Episode 12 - "Bow", Played on Floor 6):
Poison Banquet (First played: Series 1, Episode 2 - "Willesden", Last played: Series 1, Episode 12 - "Bow", Played on Floor 3):
Witch's Brew (First played: Series 1, Episode 3 - "Cambridge", Last played: Series 1, Episode 10 - "Newcastle", Played on Floor 4):
Deadly Medley (First played: Series 1, Episode 4 - "Ipswich", Last played: Series 1, Episode 13 - "Burnley", Played on Floor 5):
Green Fingers (First played: Series 2, Episode 1 - "Wolverhampton", Last played: Series 3, Episode 11 - "Leeds", Played on Floor 4):
Extraction (First played: Series 2, Episode 1 - "Wolverhampton", Last played: Series 3, Episode 11 - "Leeds", Played on Floor 3):
The One-Eyed Watcher (First played: Series 2, Episode 2 - "Watford", Last played: Series 3, Episode 7 - "Eastbourne", Played on Floor 3):
Spooked (First played: Series 2, Episode 3 - "Norwich", Last played: Series 3, Episode 10 - "Hackney", Played on Floor 5):
Two-Faced Liar (First played: Series 2, Episode 3 - "Norwich", Last played: Series 3, Episode 13 - "Bolton", Played on Floor 4):
Fairy Trials (First played: Series 2, Episode 4 - "Castleford", Last played: Series 3, Episode 13 - "Bolton", Played on Floor 5):
Beware The Crowman (First played: Series 3, Episode 1 - "Willesden", Last played: Series 3, Episode 12 - "Glasgow", Played on Floor 5):
The Wolf and the Nut (First played: Series 4, Episode 1 - "Gravesend", Last played: Series 4, Episode 13 - "Bolton", Played on Floor 4):
A Child For Tea (First played: Series 4, Episode 1 - "Gravesend", Last played: Series 4, Episode 11 - "Livingston", Played on Floor 3):
The Midnight Bride (First played: Series 4, Episode 2 - "Hastings", Last played: Series 4, Episode 11 - "Livingston", Played on Floor 5): When the clock strikes 12 the Midnight Bride has so many marriages she cannot decide. This is all getting silly. The marriage man said. You must find a husband before you are dead! Unfortunates must find three potential husbands, but beware, present her with any she doesn’t like to look of there will be trouble. (screaming) Choose incorrectly three times and it’s all over. (screaming)
Split Ends (First played: Series 4, Episode 2 - "Hastings", Last played: Series 4, Episode 12 - "Ipswich", Played on Floor 4):
Scallywag Wood (First played: Series 4, Episode 2 - "Hastings", Last played: Series 4, Episode 10 - "Weston-Super-Mare", Played on Floor 3):
De Mol, a Belgian reality game show franchise with a similar premise
De Verraders, a Dutch reality game show franchise with a similar premise
References
^Trapped! Full Episode - Series 1, Episode 1 (Poplar) [CBBC, 2007] | TTV, retrieved 1 January 2023Caretaker: "I only came here for a nights kip hundreds of years ago, but I've been trapped here ever since! The Voice caught me. She is a cruel mistress. I've never seen her, but you can always hear her, "talking in your noise-hole." She's promised to (eventually) let me go, but only if I help her trap as many Unfortunates as possible, in the Tower."
These lines were sometimes present in series 1, after the contestants "entered the tower", having been introduced by the caretaker while wincing them up via "The Cage", but before the caretaker explained the rules of the show.
