Knightmare - the fondly remembered children's gameshow from the late 80s and early 90s - is making a once-off comeback as part of YouTube's upcoming Geek Week. It promises to retain the tone & style of the original broadcast, with many of the original cast & crew returning for the episode (which will feature four UK YouTube personalities as contestants).
But what about all those other fondly remembered shows from the era? Nostalgia is a powerful marketing tool, so it's no surprise some old favourites reappear from time to time - although sometimes that can go very wrong indeed. Still, here's some of our favourites from the 80s and 90s, as we take a look at whether they've been revived for more modern audiences:
Big Break:
This snooker gameshow and derivative of darts-based Bullseye was predominantly notable for its trickshots, memorably sardonic sidekick John Virgo and catchy theme tune:
Revived? Nope. The show was last broadcast in 2002, and hasn’t returned to screens since. Given host Jim Davidson’s controversial (to say the least) career and personal life since the show’s end, if it does come back it is likely to do so without its former frontman.
Noel’s House Party:
Gunge, Gotcha and, of course, Mr. Blobby: Noel Edmonds’ variety show - broadcast from, ahem, ‘Crinkley Bottom’ - was the definitive 90s Saturday night viewing for many families.
Revived? Absolutely not. The show ended, perhaps appropriately, in 1999 - an early casualty of the changing tastes of a new generation. Edmonds has more recently been busy filming several million episodes of Deal or No Deal (fact: there's now enough episodes in the archives to keep the show going daily until the year 2675). Also: the continued absence of Mr. Blobby from our TV screens should be considered a not insignificant mercy.
Gladiators:
“You will go on my first whistle!”. Ah, Gladiators - so many memorable characters, so many contestants knocked off great heights onto safety mats.
Revived? Yep. Sky One brought it back for two seasons in 2008, complete with iconic referee John Anderson (for season one) and that snarling antihero Wolf (for season two). Alas, we’d all moved on, and it just wasn’t the same. The show faced its own Eliminator, and wasn’t up to the task.
Supermarket Sweep:
Based on a long-running American show of the same name, the Dale Winton fronted show was a fairly standard quiz enlivened by contestants legging it around a specially-built studio supermarket trying to collect giant inflatable groceries. Because why not?
Revived? But of course. It returned for a brief run in 2007, ensuring daytime television contained 90% more supermarket for 40 episodes.
Incredible Games:
Like Knightmare for a slightly younger generation, this had young contestants (and occasionally celebrities) take part in a number of sci-fi challenges, including diving into alphabet soup and trying to avoid being consumed by a strange Darth Vader like ‘dark knight’. Terrifying stuff, as long as you were under eight and innocent enough to believe the shoddy special effects.
Revived? Disgracefully not. In fact, it ran for a mere two seasons on BBC. The campaign for its reintroduction starts here, although without Blobby cameos this time.
The Crystal Maze:
No introduction needed. Except for this:
Revived? Bizarrely not. You’d think a show so beloved would surely have experienced a cynical, short-lived revival in the almost two decades (!!!) since its cancellation. Perhaps it’s for the best: The Crystal Maze, after all, was never really the same following the departure of Richard O’Brien. If someone somewhere does have the inclination to bring it back, they’d better do so while Mr. O’Brien - now 71 - is still able to prance around while making sarcastic remarks to camera. Otherwise, what’s the point?
(Image: Knightmare / BBC)
