Some interesting scans, courtesy of Rea Pearson
We were recently fortunate to catch up with Rea Pearson, who fans of Knightmare will remember as the main adviser for Team 5 in Series 5. Rea generously took the time to speak with us about her experiences on the show, offering some wonderful insights into what it was like to be part of the legendary dungeon adventure. She was warm, engaging, and clearly still holds fond memories of her time on Knightmare — something we’re always thrilled to hear.
Even more excitingly, Rea was kind enough to send us scans of several documents related to her appearance on the show. These include behind-the-scenes materials and correspondence that provide a fascinating glimpse into the production process and what went into preparing for an adventure in the Dungeon. With her kind permission, we’re delighted to be able to share these documents with you. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a curious newcomer, we think you’ll enjoy this rare look behind the scenes of one of Knightmare’s most interesting and unique teams.
This is part of Rea’s application letter for the show.
After their time in the dungeon, Rea and her team found themselves sharing a train back to Exeter with the team that had gone before them — the victorious group consisting of Dungeoneer Ben and his advisers John, Ray, and Johnathan. The journey provided a chance for the two teams to reflect on their experiences and get to know one another better. They swapped contact details during the trip and went on to keep up a brief but friendly correspondence by post in the months that followed.
During filming, both groups spent a fair bit of downtime in the green room, where they bonded over games of Lemmings on the Commodore Amiga — a popular and addictive pastime at the time. The game became a shared obsession, and it even sparked some creative fun. Adviser John from the winning team took to reimagining various Knightmare characters as Lemmings, blending the fantasy world of the show with the quirky charm of the game. It was a lighthearted way to pass the time and a lovely example of how the experience of being on Knightmare extended beyond the screen.
Some time after filming, the two teams reunited in Exeter for a friendly game of bowling — a fun opportunity to catch up and continue the bond they had formed during their Knightmare experience. Rea recalls the outing fondly, though she admits she can’t quite remember who won. That said, she suspects it was probably the boys who came out on top!
If you’re curious to hear more of Rea’s memories and behind-the-scenes stories, be sure to tune in to episodes 9 and 10 of Temporal Discussion Series 5. She shares even more insights into her team’s time in the dungeon, their interactions with other contestants, and what it was like to be part of such an iconic show.
