Cover featuring Ed Welch, composer of the Knightmar e theme music.

Theme Music

By Keith McDonald

The iconic Knightmare theme was composed by Ed Welch (born 1947).


A prolific composer, Welch created the title music for several well-loved gameshows of the 1980s and 90s, including Blockbusters, Catchphrase, and Crosswits.

The cadences within some of his themes are remarkably similar. The original Knightmare and Blockbusters theme tunes fit seamlessly over both sets of title graphics.

Welch has been involved in several children's television shows, from Thomas the Tank Engine to Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids. His early work also shows an interest in tales of fantasy and witchcraft.

Welch's portfolio includes the score for plays and screenplays, in addition to incidental music and live broadcasts.

He co-composed the Icelandic entry for the 1995 Eurovision Song Contest. BBC commentator Terry Wogan cheekily refers to him as 'one of the Welches of Reykjavik'.

Download samples

DownloadSeries 1-3 Opening Theme (1.71MB)

DownloadSeries 1-3 Closing Theme (2.14MB)

DownloadSeries 4-5 Opening Theme (193.39kB)

DownloadSeries 4-5 Closing Theme (Standard) (212.86kB)

DownloadSeries 4-5 Closing Theme (Extended) (797.68kB)

DownloadSeries 6-8 Opening Theme (1.82MB)

DownloadSeries 6-8 Closing Theme (1.43MB)

Guitar tab

DownloadGuitar tab by Lee Robson (20.16kB)

See also Fan Remixes of the Knightmare Theme.

You Might Also Like...

Place of Choice

The Place of Choice, the opening scene from Series 4 of Knightmare.

The first room of the Series 4 dungeon featured a rotating disc between mountains that allowed dungeoneers to select their quest object.

Title Sequences

Sketch from the original titles created by Siriol, (with motion film filter applied)

Knightmare's original opening title sequence, which lasted for five of its eight series, was created by animation company Siriol.

Children's ITV - 1988

Children's ITV 1988 - Mark Granger collage

A review of Children's ITV in 1988, particularly the autumn months when Knightmare Series 2 was broadcast.

See Also