A Timeline of Knightmare

A brief timeline of Knightmare, from 1985 to the present day.

1985

• The idea for Knightmare was established. The format goes into development.

1986

• Chromakey tests are conducted in Anglia TV's Studio A.
• The first pilot episode is filmed, entitled Dungeon Doom.
• A second pilot follows, entitled Knightmare.
• The ITV Children's Committee views the second pilot and commissions eight episodes.

1987

• Series 1 is transmitted from Monday 7 September 1987 at 4.45pm.
• A second series of 16 episodes is commissioned.

1988

• Series 2 is transmitted from Monday 5 September 1988.
• CITV's Mark Granger speaks to the first winning dungeoneer, Mark Wickson, after his 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 is commissioned by ITV.

1989

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

1990

• Series 4 is transmitted from Friday 7 September 1990.
• Another series of 16 episodes commissioned.
• Broadsword produces The Satellite Game for The Children's Channel on BSB Satellite. It stars David Learner, who also joins Knightmare.
• A French version of Knightmare, Le Chevalier du Labyrinthe, and a Spanish version, El Rescate du Talisman, go into production.

1991

• Series 5 is transmitted from Friday 6 September 1991.
• It features a new Leader of the Opposition, Lord Fear (Mark Knight).
• Another series of 15 episodes commissioned.
• A German version of Knightmare is agreed with RTL. Broadsword will make 50 episodes in Norwich before exporting the production to Cologne. This is later cancelled.

1992

• Series 6 is transmitted from Friday 11 September 1992.
• Another series of 15 episodes is commissioned.
• Knightmare narrowly fails to win the Royal Television Society award for best children's programme - a decision allegedly described as a 'travesty' by a broadsheet critic.
• After filming, the production team is kept for two days to film a pilot for the US market, Lords of the Game. American production companies remain unsure about the technical complexity of chromakey and there is no commission.

1993

• Series 7 transmitted from Friday 10 September 1993.
• Majida is introduced as the new assistant to Treguard.
• Broadsword produces TimeBusters for Children's BBC, starring many Knightmare actors.
• Figures suggest that the average viewing age has fallen below Knightmare's target audience.
• A new ITV controller of children's programming, Dawn Airey, recommissions a shorter series of 10 episodes. Virtually Impossible, aimed at a younger audience, is also commissioned.

1994

• Series 8 is transmitted from Friday 9 September 1994, followed by a short series of Broadsword's new show, Virtually Impossible.
• Dawn Airey leaves ITV. The new controller of children's programmes is Vanessa Chapman.
• Knightmare continues to attract good viewing figures - over five million. Virtually Impossible doesn't prove popular.
• After lengthy discussions between Broadsword, Anglia and ITV, neither show is retained.

1995

• Vanessa Chapman replies to letters blaming the demise of Knightmare on a fall in ratings.
• Broadsword says Knightmare should be rested until full VR technology is better developed.
• Broadsword explores moving Knightmare to Children's BBC, but negotiations fail due to copyright and other factors.
• Broadsword develops a new adventure game show for CBBC, The Sword of the Sorcerer. Despite much interest, it is not commissioned.
• Knightmare repeats begin on the Sci-Fi channel in the UK and Europe.

1996

• Knightmare repeats continue on the Sci-Fi channel.

1997

• The Eye Shield fanzine launches a Bring Back Knightmare campaign.

1998

• The Sci-Fi Channel begins repeating Knightmare again to UK cable viewers until October.
• The 3-year rights package expires mid-way through Series 4.

1999

• Launch of knightmare.com. The Bring Back Knightmare campaign is relaunched. Letters and petitions are sent to TV companies (without success).
• Tim Child writes The History of Knightmare, revealing the truth about the show’s demise.

2000

• Televirtual (formerly Broadsword) announces that it has new adventure game formats in development.

2001

• Knightmare achieves 16th place in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Kid's TV Shows.

2002

• Challenge purchases the rights to show Knightmare Series 3 as part of the Cult Selection feature over Christmas. A short documentary features Tim Child and Hugo Myatt.
• The format rights to Knightmare revert from Anglia to Televirtual. Televirtual announces details of a reformat, Knightmare VR, with Lottery funding.
• An adult format named TimeGate is also announced.

2003

• Challenge purchases Series 4 and broadcasts the episodes from 2 June in prime time.
• It later purchases the rights for Series 5 and broadcasts from 20 October.
• Televirtual wins Lottery funding to develop a demonstrator for Knightmare VR.
• Granada Media is rumoured to be interested in DVD releases of Knightmare.

2004

• Challenge buys the rights for Series 6, 7 and 8. Series 6 commences in mid-April, followed by re-runs of all Knightmare episodes.
• Series 5 and 6 are believed to have aired on New York 55 TV station for a brief period and on the US Sci-Fi Channel for about a year. Exact details are unknown.
• Televirtual hosts a launch event in London to showcase the Knightmare VR demonstrator.
• A Knightmare VR pilot is recorded. It receives mixed reviews and there is no commission.

2007

• Knightmare appears on Children's TV on Trial (BBC Four) for the 1980s epsiode.

2013

• On 5 January, CITV celebrates 30 years with an Old Skool Weekend schedule of classic shows. The final two episodes of Series 7 are shown.
• Challenge begins repeats of Series 1 and 2 from May.
• Actor and comedian Paul Flannery creates a commemorative stage show, Knightmare Live. After several successful trials, the show goes on to feature at the Edinburgh Fringe.
• Knightmare returns for a special one-off episode as part of YouTube's Geek Week.

2014

• Knightmare is voted best ever kids' TV show in a Radio Times competition.
• With crowdfunding support, artist David Rowe publishes a book of his work on the show.
• A Knightmare Convention is held at Epic Studios in Norwich, where Knightmare was filmed. Guests included Hugo Myatt, Mark Knight, Clifford Barry, Iona Kennedy, and David Rowe.

2016

• Knightmare is profiled on an episode of Screenland, which is produced by Red Bull.

2017

• Knightmare rooms are recreated by a demonstrator using Oculus Rift.

2020

• Knightmare.com relaunched to commemorate 20+ years.

2021

• In March, all 16 episodes of Knightmare Series 4 are made available on BritBox.