The BBC has announced it’s resurrecting the classic game show Robot Wars, which saw gadgeteers bring their home-made armoured machines into battle with others.
The new series will return to BBC Two, where it began its run in 1998. It was shifted to BBC Choice in 2001 and finally to Channel 5 from 2003 to 2004.
Now, for the first time in more than a decade, a brand-new series will be produced, promising battle-ready robots with a “raft of technological advances”.
There’s also a new purpose-built “bullet-proof” arena in which the recording will take place, while “state-of-the-art cameras capable of capturing every crushing, sawing and scorching moment in incredible detail.”
Related: Raspberry Pi Zero: What you need to know
There’s no word yet on when the newly commissioned series will air, or who will be hosting the show.
Match of the Day commentator Jonathan Pearce made his name on Robot Wars, but it’s unclear whether he’ll step back in the box.
During the show’s heyday it was hosted by Red Dwarf’s Craig Charles and kids TV mainstay Phillipa Forrester, where it drew in 6.5m viewers a week.
The size, power and affordability of such micro-PCs as the Raspberry Pi could – if allowed in the rulebook – see a new breed of super-smart robots, packed with sensors that will aid both attack and defence.
Will new interpretations of house robots Shunt, Matilda and Sir Killalot also return to take on the new breed?
Check out the top ten battles from Robot Wars history. Awooga!
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
