It took a seven-year quest and a lot of hard work to bring The Crystal Maze back to television.
Five celebrities have gamely taken on the maze in thepopular live event venueto raise money for charity.
Looking back at the shoot months later, it was a very weird, very intensive time.
The response, says Neale, was unbelievable.
I just sobbed, he says.
Then Channel 4 called up and went obviously, were going to do a series.
Neale had been waiting seven years for that phone call.
Ive always been slightly obsessed about the show, he tells us.
Here was I trying to cobble together a lame knock-off of my favourite show of all time.
With the rights secured, what was the next hurdle?
The big problem was always the huge set-up costs, Neale tells us.
The pressure for channels now is completely different.
Enter charity fundraisersStand Up To Cancer.
In the early 2016, they were in talks with Channel 4 about that years TV telethon.
Little Lion take all the credit for the live experience, says Neale.
Where was he in the spring of 2016?
I was back in at Channel 4 in my bi-annual plea to try and bring the show back.
In the end it was all down to perfect timing, Neale says.
Hence Neale ending up doing the delirious seven a.m. Henry Hoover act.
The thirst has always been there for a revival, Neale says.
I remember reading a Metro poll a couple of years ago which said thatThe Crystal Mazewas the No.
1 thing people wanted to bring back from the 90s.
2 on the list was shell suits no mention of Global Hypercolor t-shirts, which was disappointing.
Oh, there have been tears!
Its about can we do it justice, can we do it the right way?
There are things weveobsessedover.
Tonights broadcast then, is the result of seven years of tenacity, love and obsession.
Weve not cut corners on anything.
The Crystal Maze airs tonight on Channel 4 at 9pm.
