CITV 1993 advert for Knightmare with Lord Fear and Lissard

Children's ITV - 1993

By Keith McDonald

A review of Children's ITV in 1993, particularly the autumn months when Knightmare Series 7 was broadcast.


A new dawn for CITV

Children's ITV 1993: Lissard appears in a 'CITV Made for You' trailer series.

In late 1992, a single Controller of Children's Programmes was appointed at ITV, replacing the old committee system responsible for scheduling. This was Dawn Airey from Central TV.

She axed the CITV presenters in 1993 (amid rumours of a bust-up with Tommy Boyd) and replaced them with trailers and voiceovers.

More about Dawn Airey's role in the end of Knightmare

Children's ITV 1993: A 'next week' continuity using the Knightmare opening titles.

Characters and animation from CITV programmes were adapted for use in continuities, including the Knightmare opening titles.

The voiceovers were delivered by Steven Ryde, who was hired from the Central TV Junior Television Workshop.

The greater game awaits. Let us plunge ourselves into the Knightmare...

Voiceover

DownloadTrailer followed by an introduction to Episode 13 (485.4kB)

In-character trailers: Lord Fear

With no studio guest appearances in the latest round of CITV changes, trailers and continuities for the new series took the form of in-character set pieces.

Lord Fear and Lissard set the tone quite convincingly.

Children's ITV 1993: Lord Fear and Lissard star in an in-character trailer.

Listen, you lot! I'm a very busy man trying to be a seriously nasty person. I haven't got time...

Lord Fear

He gives the time and date of the episode.

Lord Fear: "Until then, beat it!"

Brand awareness

Children's ITV 1993: A 'Made for You' trailer sequence (dark background)

From 1991, there had been an increasing emphasis on programme trailers and cross-pollination between shows for similar age groups.

This gained momentum with the latest changes to the CITV presentation.

Children's ITV 1993: A promo for Children's Ward.

The presentation now always referred to the service as 'CITV' and the branding was upheld by the presence of a CITV logo.

However, 'Children's' was still present in the full logo.

Children's ITV 1993: A 'Made for You' trailer sequence (white background)

Appear on the next series

The address card appeared after several episodes in the second half of the series, inviting viewers to apply for the next year.

Children's ITV 1993: An invitation and address to apply to appear on Knightmare.

The Dragon's Lair

At the end of Episode 13, there was an advert for the latest Knightmare book, The Dragon's Lair, by Dave Morris.

This was published by Yearling, priced at £2.99.

Children's ITV 1993: An advert for the latest Knightmare book, The Dragon's Lair

What did CITV look like in 1994, Knightmare's final year?

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