Series Guides

Series 1 (1987) :  Series 2 (1988) :  Series 3 (1989) :  Series 4 (1990)

Series 5 (1991) :  Series 6 (1992) :  Series 7 (1993) :  Series 8 (1994)

Knightmare on Children's ITV

Relevant audio and video clips can be found amongst the individual Series Guides, or as an index in the Clips section. Remember that you can download and save any clip to your hard disk (instead of viewing them online) by RIGHT clicking on the link, and choosing 'Save Target As' (or similar).

A total of 112 23/24/25 minute episodes were made. The budget for each episode was £50k, making it very expensive for a game show but cheap for a drama (Knightmare had both elements). There were eight winning teams over the eight series as follows (thanks to Billy Hicks for compiling this):

A Brief History of the Knightmare Series

1985

The idea for Knightmare was established and the format went into development. See The History of Knightmare.

1986

Cromakey tests conducted in Anglia TV's Studio A. The first pilot episode was filmed, entitled Dungeon Doom. Later, a second pilot was filmed with improved opening titles and life force graphics added, and the name changed to Knightmare. The finished pilot viewed by the ITV Children's' Committee, who decided to commissioned 8 half-hour episodes.

1987

Series 1 went into production and was transmitted from Monday 7th September 1987 at 4.45pm - the same year that Children's ITV introduced live presentation. A second series of 16 episodes was commissioned.

1988

Series 2 transmitted from Monday 5th September 1988. Children's ITV announces a competition for viewers to design a dungeon chamber, and presenter Mark Granger talks to dungeoneer Mark on the phone after their winning episode. Knightmare wins a bronze medal from the Youth Programmes category of the New York International Film & TV Awards 1988. Another series of 16 episodes commissioned by ITV.

1989

Series 3 transmitted from Friday 8th September 1989. Another series of 16 episodes commissioned.

1990

Broadsword produces The Satellite Game for The Children's Channel on BSB Satellite, starring David Learner who became Treguard's first assistant - Pickle in Knightmare Series 4. A French version of Knightmare - Le Chevalier du Labyrinthe and a Spanish version - El Rescate du Talisman commissioned and went into production in their respective countries.

Series 4 was filmed with the introduction of many outdoor filmed scenes compared with the painted rooms of the first three series. An Eye Shield introduced to enable players to view video of the path the dungeonner is taking. Series 4 transmitted from Friday 7th September 1990. Another series of 16 episodes commissioned.

1991

A German production of Knightmare was agreed with RTL. Broadsword Television were to make the first series of 50 episodes in Norwich, and then export the production to Cologne for the second series. However, this was cancelled. Series 5 transmitted from Friday 6