A block of soap appeared as a clue object three times in the first two seasons of Knightmare.
Team 2 of Series 1 were given the hint "those that incur foul language may have to wash the mouth out", indicating that they should take the soap. Unfortunately they didn't bother to pick up anything else, leading to their swift demise at the hands of Lillith, who required something with which to comb her hair.
A few episodes later, the purpose of the soap was revealed when Team 6 of Series 1 also found it in the Level 1 clue room. Granitas told them to "keep the soap for your escape", and when dungeoneer Richard was swallowed by a monster, Treguard said they must use something to upset its stomach. Rubbing a little soap on the floor soon did the trick.
On the third occasion, the soap was a red herring. Team 5 of Series 2 discovered it in the Level 2 clue room, along with a gauntlet and a scroll. The Oracle of Confusion's ramblings included the advice: "Soap will cleanse, but not the spirit. Accept the challenge. Take the word but do not read it." The team failed to realise they should pick up the gauntlet, and took the mention of soap to mean they needed it - a mistake that was, naturally, fatal.

Team 8 of Series 3 found Motley attempting to have his yearly bath in an empty pool. He complained that he'd gone to the effort of borrowing some "nice smelly soap" from Mellisandre, only to find that someone had pulled the plug out.

The ever-observant Barry Thorne (Team 7 of Series 7) noticed some bars of soap on Rothberry the apothecary's stall.

A bar of soap appears as an unneeded Level 2 clue object in Can You Beat The Challenge. In the gamebook section of The Labyrinths of Fear, Merlin lights a lantern by muttering something about "a car and a bar of soap" (i.e. "Fiat Lux" - Latin for "Let there be light").

login to vote

This entry concerns Knightmare cast members and contestants who have appeared in TV soaps and continuing dramas.
Long-running ITV soap Coronation Street, set in Greater Manchester, featured John Woodnutt (Merlin) in two 1969 episodes as a police inspector during Ena Sharples' protest against the council pulling down a clubhouse. It has also guest starred Joanne Heywood (Stiletta) and Cliff Barry (Lissard) on multiple occasions; Joanne played a parachute instructor in two 1997 episodes, a drama teacher in 2008, and Phill Whittaker's friend Angela in 2022. Cliff played a barman in a 2005 episode, and has had a recurring role as PC Bob Gran since July 2011.
John Woodnutt played Beth Openshaw's father Will in three 1976 episodes of Yorkshire soap Emmerdale Farm, which later became Emmerdale. Jackie Sawiris (Majida) was in four 1998 episodes, headhunting Tony Cairns for a job in Germany. Joanne Heywood has appeared in the show five times - as Edna Birch's physiotherapist in two 2004 episodes, as a solicitor for Hazel Rhodes in two 2011 episodes, as the registrar who married Charity & Declan in two 2014 episodes, as a hospital doctor in 2016, and as a social worker who visited Chas & Paddy Dingle twice in 2020 after their baby daughter was left in a car. Knightmare make-up artist Jane Atkinson has also worked on Emmerdale.
Tom Karol (Olaf) appeared in a 1984 episode of Liverpool soap Brookside, as an MP who lent his support to the Free George Jackson campaign. Rayner Bourton (Julius Scaramonger) played Barry Grant's sidekick Dave Clark in two 1997 Christmas episodes.
A number of KM actors had guest roles in ITV police drama The Bill, some on more than one occasion: John Woodnutt in 1985 and 1991; Tom Karol in 1988 and 1991; Richard Bonehill (Knightmare pilot) in 1988; Bill Cashmore (Snapper-Jack) in 1989, 1990 and 1994; David Verrey (McGrew) in 1989 and 2007; Lawrence Werber (Cedric) in 1990; Mark Knight (Lord Fear) in 1992 and 1994; Cliff Barry in 1992, 1996, 2002 and 2010; Adrian Neil (Ridolfo) twice in 1992; Erin Geraghty (Mistress Goody) in 1993; Iona Kennedy (Sidriss) in 1994 and 1999; Alec Westwood (Folly) in 1995; Jackie Sawiris in two 1998 episodes; Natasha Pope (Velda) in 2003. See the Lexicon entry on The Bill for more information.
Guy Standeven (Troll) played the vicar who married Kath Brownlow & Stephen Fellowes in a 1985 episode of motel-based soap Crossroads.
Erin Geraghty appeared in a 1986 episode of London soap EastEnders, as nurse Sandra Marsh. Mary Miller (Lillith) played Frank Butcher's sister Joan Garwood in four 1990 episodes. Joanne Heywood played an old flame of Garry Hobbs in a 2004 episode. Cliff Barry played Jonas, who employed Bianca Jackson as a cleaner, in three 2008 episodes. Katharine Bennett-Fox (an advisor in Team 3 of Series 4) appeared in a 2022 episode as Melissa, who posed as an estate agent to help Janine Butcher defraud Zack & Nancy.
Audrey Jenkinson (Gretel) appeared in four episodes of Scottish soap Take The High Road in September 1986. Her character Nan was a summer school friend of Sheila Ramsay.
BBC hospital drama Casualty has seen guest appearances from Anthony Donovan (Grimaldine) as a jeweller in 1987, Mary Miller as Hilary Kingston in three 1993 episodes, Bill Cashmore as a philanderer in 1993 and a patient in 1998, and Cliff Barry as a policeman in 2002. Its spin-off series Holby City featured appearances by Alec Westwood as a prosthetics fitter in 2001, Katharine Bennett-Fox as Nadine Wright in 2013, and David Verrey as a patient in 2015.
From 1998 to 1999, David Verrey had a regular role as chef Dudley Starr (a.k.a. Serge Pompidou) in Channel 5 soap Family Affairs. Cliff Barry appeared in the programme as Brian Boyd in 2001.
Adrian Neil has appeared in several US soaps: a 2000 episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 and a 2011 episode of its spin-off series 90210, plus two episodes of General Hospital in 2006.
Cliff Barry has had four guest roles in BBC daytime soap Doctors: as a shopkeeper in 2002, a police officer in 2006, a patient in 2016, and a carer in 2024. Eleanor Tremain (an advisor in the unaired Knightmare pilot) played Liz Branning in a 2007 episode. Katharine Bennett-Fox played a stressed woman helped by Sid in 2015, a mistreated employee in 2021, and a patient's daughter in 2024. David Verrey played Philip Chappell in a 2018 episode, and Erin Geraghty played Al's friend's mother in 2020.

login to vote