Knightmare (TV Series 1987 - 1994)





 

Plot

Knightmare was an innovative and popular UK television programme for children, produced by Broadsword Productions for Anglia Television and was broadcast on ITV from 7 September 1987 to 11 November 1994. The show is most noted for its pioneering use of blue screen chroma key (the idea borrowed by Tim Child from its then-new usage in weather forecasts) and advanced use of 'virtual reality' interactive gameplay on television - it also further popularised the medieval-style fantasy games craze of the 1980s popularised by the likes of Dungeons & Dragons.

 

The adventure was set mostly in a dungeon, and there were three 'levels' corresponding to difficulty. Teams of four took it in turns to challenge the dungeon to complete a 'quest' - usually to retrieve a symbolic object, such as a Crown or Shield. The dungeon master 'Treguard', and his assistant occasionally helped teams along their way as they solved problems, puzzles and riddles.

The 'dungeoneer' is the one person of the team who is guided through the adventure, and wears a helmet to blind them from reality. He or She is guided by the three other members of the team, known as their 'advisors', who sit in the dungeon ante-chamber and watch the adventure through a 'Magic Mirror'.

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The object of each quest was decided at the start, and teams would be awarded with a medal or FrightKnight trophy upon successful completion.

All teams encountered clue rooms with objects, which could be of great use later on. Clues could also consist of scrolls which often provided a hint regarding the remaining items on the table or a spy glass to check up on the 'opposition'.

 

In the early series, clue rooms were frequently guarded by a character or wall monster. The team could only proceed by answering a number of riddles or questions correctly. Teams would also often earn an additional reward by answering (commonly) all the questions correctly. Such rewards might constitute advice as to which items to take, or may include passwords or coded sequences for later use in the dungeon. On rare occasions, teams could also earn magic.

The dungeoneer's energy status was known as the 'Life Force' - it had to be constantly restored by picking up food scattered all over the dungeon, and then placed it the dungeoneer's knapsack. The current energy status was frequently shown on screen during the quests.

 

During Series 1-5, this was shown as a head with armour with three colour status. For Series 6-7 it was an animated walking knight with armour dropping off. Series 8 was an animated pie, of which slices would gradually disappear.