''Trapped!'' (known in its final series as ''Trapped!: Ever After'') is a British

children's A child () is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking countries, the legal definition of ''child ...

dark fantasy Dark fantasy, also called fantasy horror, is a subgenre of fantasy literary, artistic, and cinematic works that incorporates disturbing and frightening themes. The term is ambiguously used to describe stories that combine horror fiction, horror ...

-themed adventure

game show A game show (or gameshow) is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment where contestants compete in a game for rewards. The shows are typically directed by a game show host, host, who explains the rules of the program as well as commentating a ...

that was first shown on

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

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 Faith Brown (born Eunice Irene Carroll; 28 May 1944) is an English actress, singer, comedian and Impressionist (entertainment), impressionist. She was a star of the ITV (TV network), ITV impressions show ''Who Do You Do?'', and was The Voice in t ...

from series 2-4) after they caught him trespassing on their domain. 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. Caretaker: "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.'' 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 Lift or LIFT may refer to: Physical devices * Elevator, or lift, a device used for raising and lowering people or goods ** Paternoster lift, a type of lift using a continuous chain of cars which do not stop ** Patient lift, or Hoyer lift, mobile ...

-like cage and winced up by The Caretaker via a simple wheel and pully system, the children begin at the top of the

tower A tower is a tall Nonbuilding structure, structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from guyed mast, masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting ...

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 An attic (sometimes referred to as a '' loft'') is a space found directly below the pitched roof of a house or other building. It is also known as a ''sky parlor'' or a garret. Because they fill the space between the ceiling of a building's t ...

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 automatically 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)

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.

Cast and crew

Voice cast

* Simon Greenall as The Caretaker (all series, all episodes) * Eve Karpf as The Voice (Series 1 only) *

as The Voice (Series 2–4) * Olly Pike as Wiley Sneak (all series, all episodes) *Helen Evans as Ethel the Witch (Series 1), Miss Mutternot (Series 2–4), Madame Deux Visage (Series 2–3), the Crowman (Series 3) *Peter Wardell as Boris the Organist (Series 1) and The One-Eyed Watcher (Series 2–3) *Matthew Wren as Moonhowler (Series 2–3) *Eloise Dale as Midnight Bride and Frozen Princess (Series 4) * Sophie-Louise Dann as Evil Granny (Series 4) *Jolana Lee as Split Ends (Series 4) * Dusty Limits as Marriage Man (Series 4) *Djalenga Scott as Esmé the Creature Transformer and Scarlett the Wolf Hunter (Series 4) *

Kiran Shah Kiran Jethalal Shah (born 28 September 1956) is a Kenyan actor and stunt double. Shah was born in Nairobi, Kenya to an Indian family. He lived in Kenya until he was twelve years old, when he moved to India with his family. While living in Ind ...

as The Grimble (Series 4) *Leisha Wickham as Millicent (Series 4) *Brian Wheeler as The Baby Botherer (Series 4)

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

Transmissions

References

External links

* * {{UKGameshow, Trapped, Trapped! 2007 British television series debuts 2010 British television series endings BBC children's television shows British children's fantasy television series British children's game shows British English-language television shows British television shows featuring puppetry CBBC original programming Television about werewolves Television series by BBC Studios Television shows about fairies Television shows about witchcraft