The Way Out

Back in the mid-2010s, escape rooms became a mainstay of the entertainment world. They're the small chambers where you and your team try to crack puzzles and open locks and get out before the time limit, otherwise something horrible will happen: you'll be eaten by monsters / blasted into space / have bad poetry read at you.

We were somewhat surprised to realise that nobody had attempted to turn the escape room into telly before now. Well, nobody on English-language telly: the Belgian series Code van Coppens had been running for some years, and formed the basis for our show The Way Out.

Teams of three took part in a series of challenges. Two of the team went into the room, and one person sat with Mel in the control room where they would provide hints and heckle. Mostly heckle.

On screen, the rooms looked properly televisual, big bright challenges that we could understand at a glance. Across the series, our guinea-pigs would test their mind and body - observation, deduction, pattern spotting, and the ability to crawl underneath a bunch of lasers.

Immersion was important - the players were in their room, and nothing was going to bring them out. "Confession" scenes, recorded afterwards, were only shown before and after each ad break, and never interrupted play. Mel's scientific explanations, exposing some of the tricks used by the games, were only given to the viewers. She'd also give hints to the players when they struggled, and explain anything they'd solved quickly.

By employing comedians, we viewers knew we'd get people who were able to improvise and react, and were never entirely predictable. By employing the same comedians through the run, the producers were able to economise and perhaps squeeze an extra episode from the budget.

All things considered, The Way Out was a thoroughly diverting and entertaining few hours. We'd gladly watch more.

Based on an original Belgian concept created by Roses Are Blue for VTM and distributed by Be Entertainment. Local development of The Way Out was led by James Donkin at Curious Cat.

Comedians Ed Gamble and Nish Kumar picked their own teams, based on friendships and talent and other factors. Ed was joined by Chloe Petts and Lou Sanders; Nish worked with Amy Annette and David O'Doherty.

Weaver's Week review