Takeshi's Castle

Brilliant show. Love it. I watch this show all the time and I am not bored of it. It keeps me happy. My favourite character in the show has to be either Animal or Blondie. I have so many favourite games, one of them being Sumo Rings. The show makes it even more funny with Craig Charles commentating it. There is hardly any winners though. There had to be about 2 or 3 winners and that was it. When it gets to the showdown at the end, I vote for the guards because I know they will win all the time. Is there going to be another series? If so, let me know please. I have no idea if there is going to be another series. I really need to know please.

i think that Takeshi's Castle is an absolutely fantastic programme. It is very funny. I can't watch a single episode without laughing at least 5 times! All of the challenges are amazing and look so difficult, and the contestants are the ones that make it funny by falling over or something. I want to thank Craig Charles, Hayato Tani (General Lee) and everyone else especially the contestants for making such a funny show a success!!! I always watch it. Absoulty brilliant 10/10!!! I try to watch the repeats on Challenge at 5pm everyday after school. I can't miss an episode. My favourite challenges have got to be Wipe Out, Skipping Stones, Avalanche, Honeycomb Maze and Dragon Lake. This show makes me feel better when I'm upset! :)

I absolutely adore Takeshi's Castle, and enjoy watching it immensely. I find myself laughing out load often and love all the games, the Takeshi team antics and the crazy contestants – who I have to say happily laugh at themselves hilariously.

If you're a lover of energetic, entertaining, manic game shows, this is the one to watch.

My only complaint is, must the UK listen to Craig Charles' idiotic running commentary? His comments are sexist, racist, puerile, repetitive, irritating and constantly undermine my viewing pleasure to the extent that I have to watch it with the volume turned down, which effectively ruins the show.

I will keep watching the show, because it's too brilliant to miss, unfortunately with the volume off (can't we have English subtitles of the programme instead Mr Charles' nonsense?).

Takeshi's Castle (2002) is the re-dubbed UK release of cult-classic Japanese show Operation! Takeshi's Castle (1986-1989), an endurance-based game show in which 100+ contestants compete in a series of outlandish assault-course-like challenges until the numbers are whittled down to a select few. From here, the remaining handful of contestants can go on to battle the infamous "Count Takeshi" and his guards for the chance to win up to one million in Yen. The show is notable for at least two reasons; the first is the outright eccentric nature of the events and the seemingly dangerous falls, scrapes and mishaps that befall the contestants during their bid for glory. The second is the appearance of esteemed Japanese actor/filmmaker/comedian Takeshi Kitano, who here plays the titular count (though his appearance is edited down in this particular version). The format of the show mixes the bizarre events alongside some even more bizarre sketch-based moments of typically absurdist Japanese humour, as the contestants put themselves through some of the cruellest and most punishing events ever witnessed on national television.

What was great about the original show was the way that the contestants seemed to be having a great time, even when falling eight feet into shallow water, being smeared in mud or talcum powder and being knocked off a rickety suspension bridge by a barrage of rubber-ball cannon fire. It also benefited from a colourful, larger than life quality, in keeping with the tradition of early Nintendo video games and Anime films; as the overstated supporting characters and continual appearances from General Tani (here renamed General Li) give the events a sense of context and continuity. Ultimately though, the programme works because of its uniqueness; with the nature of the games, the imagination, the willingness and excitement of the contestants and the obviously low-production values (combined with the witty commentary from actor Craig Charles, with his bad puns and sly double-entendres) all adding to the bizarre, subversive glee.

Literally the BEST Japanese show ever. I've watched this with friends, family, girlfriends, coworkers and more!!! We all loved it and seriously one of the most fun and entertaining shows ever on TV, period! If you haven't watched this gem, please do!! It's a Must!. Stay safe in 2021 all! Cheers :)