GamesMaster

GamesMaster was a British television show, screened on Channel 4 from 1992 to 1998, and was the first ever UK television show dedicated to computer and video games.

GamesMaster (1992-1998) is a British Channel 4 factual entertainment series and the first UK television show dedicated to computer and video games. Presented by Dexter Fletcher and Dominik Diamond, with Patrick Moore as the GamesMaster character, the show runs across seven seasons and 126 episodes of roughly thirty minutes each. Its engine is simple and playful: presenters play, review and compete on consoles such as the SNES and Mega Drive, while guests from sport and entertainment, including Pat Cash, John Fashanu and Annabel Croft, drop in to test their skills. Each episode is built from game demos, challenges, tips and light banter, giving the show a brisk, cheerful energy. The tone is breezy and nostalgic, with a bright youthful sincerity that recalls early magazine-style gaming culture. Viewers who enjoy retro gaming shows, kids competition programmes and early factual entertainment will find resonance in the vein of Going Live! and Blue Peter, a time capsule of 1990s console fandom.

• Ready Steady Cookshared light tone, family-friendly competitive game show format, and presenter-led entertainment
• Gamesmaster Liveshared video game and computer culture focus with playful challenge-based presenting
• Going Live!shared kids entertainment format built around pop culture, challenges and celebrity guests
• Blue Petershared gaming-culture subject matter and youth-oriented tech enthusiasm

Release Date

1992-01-07

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

7.8 / 10 (14)

What is GamesMaster about?

A 1990s Channel 4 series that brings video games, challenges and celebrity guests to British television in its early days.

What is GamesMaster like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of GamesMaster as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is GamesMaster violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in GamesMaster.

Which shows are like GamesMaster?

Shows with a similar feel include Ready Steady Cook, Gamesmaster Live, Going Live!, and Blue Peter.

How long is GamesMaster?

GamesMaster: 7 seasons, 126 episodes.

Is GamesMaster still running?

No, GamesMaster has ended.