Knightmare

Knightmare - September 1987 to November 1994

Knightmare was an innovative and popular UK television programme for children, produced by Broadsword Productions for Anglia Television and aired on ITV from 7 September 1987 to 11 November 1994. The show is most noted for its advanced use of 'virtual reality' interactive gameplay on television, and further popularised the medieval-style fantasy games craze of the 1980s popularised by the likes of Dungeons & Dragons.

The show featured teams of four children (around 11-16 years old). On the call of "Enter, Stranger", the first member of the team (the dungeoneer) would enter Knightmare Castle via an antechamber belonging to Treguard of Dunshelm (played by Hugo Myatt). After giving his or her name, the dungeoneer would be asked by Treguard to call their three advisors, who would magically appear next to the viewing apparatus beside them (though, in Series 8, all members of the team appeared at once). Before entering the dungeon, the dungeoneer would be given a knapsack to wear, in which they were to place food found along the way, in order to replenish Life Force. In addition, the Helmet of Justice was put on the dungeoneer's head, blocking their vision except for the area immediately around them. The story was that this was to protect the dungeoneer from seeing the real danger ahead.