Knightmare (TV series)
A children's game show set in a fantasy dungeon.
Knightmare is a British children's adventure game show that aired on CITV from 1987 to 1994. It is notable for its use of blue screen chroma key to create a fantasy medieval dungeon, and for its high level of difficulty. The show gained a cult following after its original run ended.
Quick Facts
- Creator
- Tim Child
- Presenter
- Hugo Myatt
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Series
- 8
- Episodes
- 112
- Runtime
- 25 minutes
- Company
- Anglia Television
Facts from the source article.
Format
Each game involves a team of four children aged around 11–16. One member, the Dungeoneer, wears the Helmet of Justice, which blocks their vision except for the area around their feet. The other three act as advisers, guiding the Dungeoneer through a fantasy dungeon displayed via blue screen chroma key. The advisers describe the environment and give instructions, similar to text-based computer games. The objective is to complete three levels of a specially designed dungeon, each containing rooms with puzzles, obstacles, and inhabitants. Some inhabitants help, while others hinder or end the game. Teams may choose between multiple exits. Objects and magic spells are available; spells require an adviser to spell the word correctly.
Production
Tim Child conceived Knightmare in 1985, inspired by the ZX Spectrum games Atic Atac and Dragontorc. He enlisted artist David Rowe to design backgrounds and borrowed the blue screen technique from weather forecasts. The computer graphics were created by the Travelling Matte Company using a Supernova graphics system. A 15-minute pilot called Dungeon Doom was recorded in early 1986, featuring Hugo Myatt. A second 20-minute pilot, renamed Knightmare, was filmed in January 1987 and included the concept of lifeforce. Child sent this pilot to the ITV Children's Committee, which commissioned a series of eight half-hour episodes.
Transmissions
After its ITV run, Knightmare was broadcast on The Sci-Fi Channel from November 1995 until October 1998, but ratings were low due to limited satellite and cable availability. In the US, Series 5 and 6 aired on a local Long Island station. In December 2002, Challenge began repeating the show as part of a Christmas Cult Selection; it won an internet poll for best show in that selection. Repeats continued until March 2007. In January 2013, two episodes from Series 7 aired on CITV as part of an 'Old Skool Weekend', becoming the second most watched programme of that weekend.
Further developments
Activision released a video game adaptation. In 2002, a reformat called Knightmare VR was announced, using avatar technology to place the Dungeoneer in a fully 3D computer-generated world. A £40,000 National Lottery grant was awarded in July 2003, and a 13-minute pilot was posted online in August 2004. The pilot retained original actors Hugo Myatt and Mark Knight, and introduced a new host named Garstang. The Helmet of Justice was removed, allowing the Dungeoneer to see their surroundings, and only one adviser was needed. Reactions were mixed, with some feeling the guiding element was lost. The project was shelved in May 2005.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes of Knightmare (TV series) are there?
Knightmare has 112 episodes across 8 seasons.
When did Knightmare (TV series) first air?
Knightmare first aired on 7 September 1987.
More in British Children's Fantasy Television Series
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