Jailbreak (TV series)

Last updated

Jailbreak
Genre Reality game show
Directed byHelen Grace
Jonathan Newman
Presented by Craig Charles
Charlie Stayt
Ruth England
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes30
Production
Executive producerSebastian Scott
Production company Princess Productions
Original release
Network Five
Release12 September (2000-09-12) 
1 October 2000 (2000-10-01)

Jailbreak is a reality television game show. It was hosted by Craig Charles, and co-presented by Charlie Stayt and Ruth England. It was shown in 2000 by Five in the United Kingdom. Original host Ulrika Jonsson had to pull out of the project due to health concerns over her newborn child. [1]

Contents

Format

Contestants in Jailbreak had to escape from a mock prison in order to win a cash prize of £100,000. The "prison", at a secret location near Potters Bar, Hertfordshire (Actual location was near Colsdale farm, just outside Cuffley), was fitted with hi-tech security systems. "Inmates" faced a three-week authentic prison regime, complete with 35 prison guards and a 18-foot (5.5 m) high fence topped with razor wire. A number of flaws in the security system were deliberately placed by the production team. Escapes were aided by a series of clues (often revealing flaws in the security system through cryptic messages), and by texts from the viewing public with suggestions on escape routes.

The show was won by three female contestants Roberta Woodhouse, 29, Hannah Davies, 24, and Laura Hawkins, 22. They broke out of the prison in the early hours of a Saturday morning - 14 days into the show. [2]

It has not been commissioned for a further series.

References

  1. "BBC News | ENTERTAINMENT | Craig Charles to host Jailbreak". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  2. "BBC News | ENTERTAINMENT | Jailbreak trio escape". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2025.