MESSAGE FROM ME

Welcome to issue 42 of The Eye Shield. There are several treats in store for you this issue, you lucky lot, including the first three of my Knightmare photos from my recent visit to Hedingham Castle in Knightmare Locations, and the beginning of my sister Rosey’s valiant attempt to revive The Big Issue – let her know what you think of it! In addition to these two tempting treats, Ian Down’s fun little tale – Mind Games – concludes in this issue; I hope you enjoy its amusing ending as much as I did.

I was on holiday during the week in September when the previous issue of TES found its way onto the website. When I returned home, I was thrilled to discover no less than five e-mails that had been sent in response to my latest plea for feedback. A big thank-you goes out to all of you who e-mailed me – your views, reviews and anecdotes are all featured below. I was tempted to hold some of them back for the next issue, but I’m now hopeful that I’ll have a fresh batch by the New Year, so get writing, readers, and surprise me pleasantly once again!

One of the e-mails I received was from my old buddy Richard Temple, whose gripping tale of treachery and market forces – Trade in the Old for the New – continues in this issue after a short hiatus. Thanks again for continuing the story, Richard. I must admit, I’m very keen to find out how it ends for poor old Honesty Bartram and Julius Scaramonger, but Richard is a cruel man, readers, and he’s not going to let us know until January! Still, you should find that this issue of TES does not disappoint, so get reading!

Ross Thompson was one of the many people who dropped me a line after reading issue 41:

Hi Jake,

I like your Eye Shield magazine a lot! Keep up the good work.

Ross, I like hearing from people who like TES a lot! Thanks for reading, and for writing.

Here is some more from Guernsey’s Ian Down. Thanks again for getting in touch, Ian.

Using adult actors (sometimes rather attractive ones) may have partly been the key to Knightmare’s success. Tragically, in terms of more series with the original cast, it wasn’t to be. However, I feel that if we keep shouting loudly in such a multi-channel culture, it has to come back in some format. The Knightmare community would, of course, decry any new version of the show, citing petty reasons (either technical or personnel-wise) and through our own individual preferences. But I feel that even a show only half as good as the original would blow away anything on TV as of today. If you could only wheel out Hugo Myatt and one or two others, the continuity would hardly miss a beat, and I bet they could better the original graphics almost without trying these days.

Ah, Ian, if only it could be so… Speaking of a children’s television show even half as good as Knightmare, by the way, you might want to consider the following e-mail…

Here is something from my old friend Liam Callaghan, who decided to watch one of my favourite current TV shows after reading about it in TES!

A few months ago, I read an article by yourself on the state of contemporary TV, and you were quite well disposed towards Raven, describing it as something like the closest equivalent to Knightmare in this day and age. When I was glancing at my TV guide the other week, I happened to notice it was being repeated on BBC1, so I watched it, and, considering the state of most kids’ programmes today, I wasn’t holding my breath. However, I was pleasantly surprised - indeed, quite impressed - by the end of it, and I reckon it’s probably the best thing on TV as far as kids’ shows are concerned right now. The Knightmare influence is obvious - not just in the bearing of presenter James McKenzie, but also in the "epic" feel of the adventure; they stick with the same group of kids for five episodes, gradually eliminating the weaker ones, in a comparable way to sticking with the same team in Knightmare for anything from one to four episodes. As for the challenges, they cover quite a broad spectrum, with both mental and physical challenges to be overcome. There are relatively straightforward challenges like Snake Pit (using wooden platforms to keep off the ground) and Tower Build (using large blocks to build a tower to reach the gold rings above), as well as very difficult challenges, like Dragon’s Blood and Thrall Demons in the Wizard’s Tower. I would say the hardest to complete is Demon Causeway (most comparable to Combat Chess from Knightmare’s second series). Probably my favourite challenge from this series, however, is Riddle Bridge. Overall, I was impressed. When the next series reaches BBC1 (for I am not yet digital), I shall keep an eye out - kids’ TV is perhaps on the ascendance again!

I hope so, Liam. I was very interested in your views on Raven, and so I’ve decided to share them with the other readers. You mention Demon Causeway in your e-mail, which is a challenge I absolutely loathe! My sister and I agree that there should either be a larger board, or only one demon on the causeway, because only one warrior can possibly get through as it is! I think it’s like a really poorly thought-out version of The Dark Knight from Incredible Games – who remembers that? My two favourite Raven challenges are Demon Square (which is exactly like the Door Monsters with its true or false questions) and Dark Path. All those of you with access to the CBBC Channel, take note – the fifth series of Raven starts this month!

The following e-mail is from James Barella.

As a 25-year-old, I fondly remember Knightmare and wish for its return to our TV screens in the near future. I was excited to see the development of a new format of Knightmare, and thought that a TV director would surely snap it up! Obviously they are happy to saturate today’s TV with poor quality shows, which do little more than fill in the schedule.

Amen to that, James! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I think the return of Knightmare is definitely a pipe dream now, but still, it’s good to dream… thanks again for getting in touch.

Our final e-mail this issue comes from Jim Waterman.

The Classic Quest in the last issue of The Eye Shield was one I’ve been waiting for. In the first few days of my university career, myself and three others were getting to know each other over a few cans of beer. For whatever reason, and I have no idea why, I mentioned Knightmare. "I was on that once!" said one of the others. "I won it, as well!"
This was, of course, Ben Lowings, whose victorious quest you’ve just featured! I’m looking forward to the Hedingham Castle feature as well – I’ve been there a few times as a nipper, as I used to live not so far away from it. I never knew it was in Knightmare, though - what was it used for, or do I have to wait two months for the answer?

Your long wait is finally over, Jim – at last you can see my pictures of Hedingham Castle, which I took whilst on holiday in September. As you will see, it features quite prominently in your mate Ben’s winning quest! By the way, Hedingham Castle is a hard place to get in to, because it is privately owned (by the direct descendent of William the Conqueror’s half-sister, no less)  – you can only visit on Sundays (and some weekdays over the summer) between ten in the morning and five in the evening, during April to September inclusive, so I just caught it in time! I hope my photos will be worth the wait! Thanks again for writing.

All your feedback has made me as happy as a dungeoneer with two helmets, readers, but I’m still hungry for more! E-mail me about Knightmare, TES, Raven, Hedingham Castle or anything else you can think of at the usual address: eyeshield2002@hotmail.com