Knightmare!

This show does not need much of an introduction for 1980’s and 1990’s kids! It was possibly the unique gameshow/ drama that defined a generation! The site at the start of the show being greeted by Lord Treguard to when he cried Oooh Nastyy!, when someone failed a quest!

It was the brainchild of a certain Tim Child, that was produced at Anglia’s studios in Norwich for 8 series! At the time technology wise it was clever, a typical Knightmare room was basically a studio with blue walls and a floor, with the rest being largely computer generated (with the exception of props, quest objects, and most of the Dungeon characters). The contestants would consist of a team of four with one being the dungeoneer, and the other three being advisors! The dungeoner would wear a helmet that would mostly blind him/ her, with the exception of seeing whats below them (eg when they approached a table could see the objects), they had a knapsnack for taking food to keep their life force high! However they could not take more than two non food objects! The team would have to guide their dungeoneer through three levels, reclaiming swords, shields or daft maids! They would have to dodge dangerous things like saws in the Corridor Of Blades, the rotten stench of Sly Hands (check out this classic Sly Hands moment I recall), and wall blockers whose faces resembled Thai wifes!



Sly Hands has to Blow his ORN!

The series proved an instant hit when the first series came out in 1987, possibly because it was such a challenge and new for kiddies of the time. The early series (1 to 3) lacked Pickle, and featured lots of hilarious level 1 deaths (the best being Akash and his maids) and only one winner! It seems to have been pretty much dungeon based, but quite love the classic 1980’s sounding theme!



Akash and his legendary assistants!


Perhaps the kids were a bit too intimidated by being in the dungeon antechamber with Lord Treguard alone, telling them how daft they were in failing a quest and felt a lot more comfortable when eventually cuddly legend Pickles came along, the show also evolved gradually, with a lot more adventures in medieval towns, castle yards etc (all inside Anglias TV studios of course), but with level 1 being made a lot easier reducing the classic premature deaths (only two in latter half of shows life!). However the show increased in quality with legendary characters like the dragon Smirkenoff, Sly Hands, Hordriss and the frightening Lord Fear, with his scary Dreadnaught, and better sound effects increasing the drama of tension of a long brave dungeooners adventure as he/ she heard the dreaded Goblin horns noise! While making sure his life force head did not lose face! I was hooked onto the show from the age of 5 until it stopped in 1994 aged 8. The show was really at its peak when Lord Treguard and Pickle made a great couple, with Treguard constantly mentioning how daft Pickle was and not really standing up to his master much plus Simon…sidestep to your left (see below)!!!



Simon into the pit! Plus some other dumb deaths!

There was also a sister show that was produced in France which I don’t have much details on! Eventually the show was axed in 1995 despite the high viewing figures that remained and the address details for teams to enter the next series for last ever show. Apparantly it was axed partly due to money costs and ITV wanting new shows for younger kids, it was a sad day and kids TV would not be the same again. There was a large online campaign in the early 2000’s to bring back Knightmare, but led to a silly pilot being made called Knightmare VR, which was nothing like the Knightmare we know and loved, it was rightly scrapped. Instead the classic episodes were shown on Challenge TV for the starving 1980’s and 1990’s kids that are now adults for a number of years, and endless clips were stuck on youtube!
Overall: One of the all time childrens shows still features in all time childrens shows lists! LEGENDARY!!!!!