Romesh Ranganathan and Tom Davis, comedians, podcasters, and admirers of nostalgic game shows, will provide a uniquely British perspective on the new Prime Video Japanese reboot of physical challenge show Takeshi’s Castle.
Launching on 30 August exclusively to Prime members in the UK and Ireland, Romesh and Tom Take Takeshi’s Castle is the latest addition to the Prime membership. Millions of Prime members in the UK enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership for just £8.99/month or best value £95/year.
Davis, a Takeshi’s superfan, and Ranganathan, a fan of watching people fall off things and humiliate themselves, will guide viewers through the hilarious, dramatic, and, at times, utterly baffling world of Takeshi’s Castle 2023 with their usual combination of infectious enthusiasm and world-weary cynicism.
Recapturing the essence of ‘90s mayhem, viewers will watch as over 100 contestants—the “attacking army”—attempt to storm the impenetrable Castle, fighting off all manner of guards, devils, and giant foam mushrooms along the way. Only the bravest and luckiest will make it through to take on Takeshi himself, and potentially bank 1 million yen.
Millions of Brits grew up watching Takeshi’s Castle—and, in 2023, Prime Video will bring the ultimate in hangover TV to a whole new generation.
Commenting on their involvement in this Prime Video reboot, Ranganathan and Davis said:
“Nothing is more magical than a reboot of a successful show from yesteryear, heavy though is the pressure in bringing back the wonder that is Takeshi’s Castle. We are honoured to be bringing back the maddest show of all time to a whole new generation; hopefully they can take away the life lessons we learnt from the original."
“Takeshi’s Castle has a special place in the hearts of UK viewers, and Tom and Romesh’s ingenious new take on the show makes it as incomprehensible as ever, and very, very funny,” said Dan Grabiner, head of Originals, UK & Northern Europe.
Takeshi’s Castle is a Prime Video Japan Original reboot which launched in April in Japan. Rumpus Media will produce the eight-episode Romesh and Tom Take Takeshi’s Castle in the UK. Iain Wimbush is the executive producer.
Romesh and Tom Take Takeshi’s Castle represents the growing UK Original slate on Prime Video, along with new UK-produced series and movies launching across 2023. These include 007’s Road to a Million, an unscripted adventure series inspired by James Bond; How to Date Billy Walsh, a British high school romantic-comedy film; stranger-than-fiction docuseries The Greatest Show Never Made and Fake Sheikh; psychological thriller and twisted love story Wilderness; and Fifteen-Love, a drama series set in the world of elite tennis.
Romesh and Tom Take Takeshi’s Castle will join the thousands of TV shows and movies in the Prime Video catalogue including UK-produced Originals such as Clarkson’s Farm, The Grand Tour, All or Nothing: Arsenal, The Devil’s Hour, Mammals, Jungle, and James May: Our Man In Italy, U.S. hits like The Boys and Reacher, as well as exclusive TV shows like Star Trek: Picard, Nine Perfect Strangers, and Little Fires Everywhere; movies like Coming 2 America, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, and BAFTA-nominated Everybody’s Talking About Jamie; plus live sport including ATP Tour and WTA Tour tennis. All available at no additional cost as part of Prime Video, which is available in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide (offers and titles vary based on location).
Prime members will be able to watch all episodes of Romesh and Tom Take Takeshi’s Castle anywhere and anytime on the Prime Video app for smart TVs, mobile devices, Fire TV, Fire TV stick, Fire tablets, games consoles, on Virgin’s V6 TV Box, the TalkTalk TV set top box, Sky Q, Apple TV, Chromecast, BT TV, or online at www.amazon.co.uk/primevideo.
In the Prime Video app, Prime members can download episodes on their mobile devices and tablets and watch anywhere offline at no additional cost. Prime Video is available in the UK and Ireland at no extra cost to a Prime membership for just £8.99 a month or £95 per year. New customers can find out more at amazon.co.uk/prime and subscribe to a free 30-day trial.