Fort Boyard (game show)

Fort Boyard is a French adventure game show created by Jacques Antoine, Jean-Pierre Mitrecey and Pierre Launay, which first aired on 7 July 1990. International versions of the show have been produced in numerous countries around the world, making it one of the longest-running and most successful adventure game show formats globally.

The show is set in the real Fort Boyard, a sea fort located in the Pertuis d'Antioche strait, on the west coast of France. In each episode, a team of contestants undertakes a series of physical and mental challenges, often located in the fort's cells, to win keys and clues. The keys are needed to unlock the vault where the treasure is held. The clues are used to deduce a "keyword" (mot-clé) which, when spoken in the treasure room, releases the gold.

The format typically involves three phases:

• Trials for Keys: Teams compete in challenges designed to test their strength, agility, and problem-solving skills. Success earns them keys. Failure results in being imprisoned.

• Trials for Clues: If the team does not acquire enough keys to open the vault, they then participate in trials to win clues.

• The Treasure Room: Using the clues, the team must guess the keyword. If they guess correctly and speak it into the microphone in the treasure room (otherwise referred to as the 'Hall of Treasure'), the treasure is released. The team then has a limited amount of time to collect as much gold as possible before the vault door closes.

Key characters that are recurring elements in many international versions of the show include:

• Père Fouras: An enigmatic old man who resides at the top of the fort's tower and provides riddles and challenges.

• The Masters of the Keys: Individuals who guard the keys and present challenges to the contestants.

• Pass Partout: A character who helps the contestants navigate the fort.

• Pass Muraille: A character, traditionally mute, who guides the contestants through the fort's pathways.

Fort Boyard's popularity stems from its blend of adventure, suspense, and teamwork, as well as the iconic setting of the fort itself. The show has maintained its appeal by evolving its challenges and character lineup over the years.