Robot Wars

Robot Wars

Home-made robots slogging it out in an arena - the aim, to destroy the opposition and land the ultimate accolade, to be the winner of Robot Wars. Let the mayhem begin!

Robot Wars was born after a failed attempt by creator Marc Thorpe to come up with a radio controlled hoover and, before it hit our screens in Blighty, was originally shown in the US. Probably stranger still was the fact that the show was originally hosted by none other than proper petrolhead Jeremy Clarkson (we're surprised he didn't insist that all the robots had to reach speeds of at least 100 miles per hour with a minimum of four jet engines each). Delicate as always, Clarkson coupled his commentary on the goings on of the robots with a fair few digs at the competitors themselves, and amusing as this no doubt was, Clarkson was eventually replaced by the somewhat jollier figure of Craig Charles. Bringing all of his super dooper spacey-like knowledge from the far away lands of Red Dwarf, Craig proved a dab hand at following the victories and defeats of the likes of the imaginatively named razor, chaos, tornado and firestorm, to name just a few.

The show might be mayhem, but there are still a few Robot War rules: fights last no longer than five minutes and no robot can weigh more than 100kg. Guns and missiles are also off limits (which, in all honestly, is probably best). To go through to the next round, the aim is to render the competition immobile for thirty continuous seconds. Easy peasy, right? Wrong. Enter into the equation that every bespectacled brainiac across the land has been working tirelessly for their entire childhood (and the majority of their adult life in many cases) to come up with the most powerful, death-defying, enemy crushing, world ruling contraption that will put all other robot war contraptions to shame, muhahaha...sorry.

Each round sees the robots take on varied challenges – from skill style tests in the gauntlet and the trial (which involve robot versions of football and tug of war) through to full on open warfare in the arena. It's a fight to the death for these robots and it's not always a pretty site, with buttons, wires and motherboards flying left right and centre. Also, lest not forget the aptly named pit of oblivion either, where many a grown man has been reduced to tears watching his prized robot fall or be pushed into. OK, we're not sure how many people (if any) have actually cried, but they were pretty bummed for at least a few seconds (and we reckon there was plenty of crying on the inside going on).

The winner is chosen not only on their ability to annihilate the opposition, but also on the basis of style, control, aggression and damage caused – essential criteria that will make or break them in the event of a draw, when the Judges have the last word. But it's not just the design that matters – though some entrants spend months perfecting their creation. To immobilise their opponents – both the other competitors and the House Robots (which notably, were not restricted by the rules as the contenders – talk about David and Goliath goes techy!) it’s tactics that turn a remote-controlled gladiator into a contender.

The series has proved so popular that even celebs have begged to be involved , with the likes of funnyman Vic Reeves, Chris Eubank and EastEnder's Natalie Cassidy and Adam Woodyatt all appearing in a celebrity addition of Robot Wars.

Just remember, when it comes to Robot Wars preparation is everything. It's a case of trash or be trashed - so let the battering begin!

When is it on?

Robot Wars Extreme is next on at 7:45 am on Sunday, 20th May on Dave.

The All-Star Grand Final

Game show in which engineers pit their home-made robots against one another. The best robots in the history of Robot Wars compete for the ultimate accolade.

  1. On at 7:45 am on Sunday, 20th May on Dave
  2. On at 8:45 am on Sunday, 20th May on Dave Ja Vu
Top 10 rules of robot fight club

Top 10 rules of robot fight club

If you love fighting, but for many reasons you are unable to indulge in it, why not build a little robot and let them bash all the pain away for you? First, though, you'll need to know the rules of robot fight club.

Latest post

  • JamesW91041 JamesW91041 | 6 Nov 11

    When is there going to be a normal series on? I've never seen series 1 and 2, and I've forgotten most of the others.

View all comments

Add a comment

Add a comment

Comments

Displaying 1 to 5 of 66

  • JamesW91041 JamesW91041 | 6 Nov 11

    When is there going to be a normal series on? I've never seen series 1 and 2, and I've forgotten most of the others.

  • Storm212 Storm212 | 5 Nov 11

    Come on, put on Robot Wars 7

  • JoshS55694 JoshS55694 | 12 Aug 11

    I think dave could put a internet link on the "about" on the dave website

  • JonathanL37093 JonathanL37093 | 29 Jun 11

    I think Dave need to recommission this show! If they can do Red Dwarf they can surely do this.

  • YvonneE13710 YvonneE13710 | 6 Jun 11

    Thank you Dave for showing Robot wars. My kids love it. Hope you put some new ones on soon.

Displaying 6 to 11 of 66

  • KonnanP51554 KonnanP51554 | 12 Apr 11

    thanks

  • JamesW91041 JamesW91041 | 12 Apr 11

    @KonnanP: episode 5.

  • KonnanP51554 KonnanP51554 | 12 Apr 11

    Hi, with the episode that was shown today (Tuesday 12), what is the episode number?? It's the one where the Army, RAF and Navy battle against each other in the Mayhem and the RAF won.

  • robertB3751 robertB3751 | 28 Feb 11

    will dave be showing the 7th series

  • JamesW91041 JamesW91041 | 30 Jan 11

    Why is Robot Wars X2 put on at such an awkward time? Can't it be shown on a weekday night at 6 or 8?

Displaying 11 to 16 of 66

  • dealdestroyers dealdestroyers | 7 Jan 11

    here is the email Thank you for your email. Unfortunately the rumour you are referring to is untrue and UKTV has no plans to make a series 8 of the programme Robot Wars

  • MichaelO44219 MichaelO44219 | 7 Jan 11

    garfie489. thats a rumor i found on lots of forums so dont get hopes up but i your right and roaming robots is involved things could get very interesting. also anyone have any idea what happened to the house robots i think they are in a museum somwhere

  • dealdestroyers dealdestroyers | 5 Jan 11

    hiya ive emailed dave and i will keep posted when an email comes back

  • Garfie489 Garfie489 | 5 Jan 11

    michael you legend. btw john findley (Ripper/ owner of roaming robots) has been talking bout some secret project for TV for some while, im not sure if it will be robot related but i hope so, btw if ur only viewing top comment look at the previous guys

  • MichaelO44219 MichaelO44219 | 5 Jan 11

    hey rumor is dave is makin a series 8 cause of the amount of hits robot sites have got since then. Dave you have answered our prayers. can you get the whole origional cast.... doubtful and iron awe or terrorhurtz will probably walk it

Displaying 16 to 21 of 66

  • Al82486 Al82486 | 31 Dec 10

    www.robotslive.co.uk they do live shows around the country, we went to one at Kidderminster in October.

  • MM73113 MM73113 | 29 Dec 10

    Does anybody know where I can take my son to watch Robot Wars live, thanks for any help

  • Al82486 Al82486 | 20 Dec 10

    great episode, nice to see some new episodes. saw some of the robots at the Robots Live event this year.

  • Garfie489 Garfie489 | 31 Oct 10

    robot wars is no longer filmed however you can make a robot and enter Roaming Robots they have an event 7th Nov at maidstone for example type Roaming Robots into google and have a look youll see alot of old competitors on there like pussycat and Dantomkiia

  • JonH13667 JonH13667 | 30 Oct 10

    how do you get on robot wars?

Displaying 21 to 26 of 66

  • MichaelO44219 MichaelO44219 | 11 Sep 10

    they showed extreme twice do a different series the extreme series sucked in comparison

  • RobL83918 RobL83918 | 9 Sep 10

    I completely agree with OBIM763, why have you stopped showing Robot Wars? I was thoroughly enjoying watching every episode of this at both 2pm and 6pm! I don't want to watch Dragon's Den, I'm quite upset that you've taken this excellent show off for that. Bring it back, please? :(

  • OBIM763 OBIM763 | 8 Sep 10

    Why have Dave stopped showing it mid way through a series - I'm so gutted - recorded it only to find it had changed to Dragons Den Grrrrr

  • CallumM45378 CallumM45378 | 8 Sep 10

    Could watch the old series all day long! But would love to see a new series over anything else on Tele!

  • MichaelO44219 MichaelO44219 | 3 Sep 10

    hurry up and make a new series

Displaying 26 to 31 of 66

  • Garfie489 Garfie489 | 3 Sep 10

    DAVE really needs to bring robot wars back it had the highest ratings on BBC 2 and now it would be better than ever with all the new robots in events such as roaming robots which is always packed the advertising Dave could bring with the new robots im sure it will become one of DAVEs highest ratings like when they brought Red Dwarf back for a new series

  • mattH23 mattH23 | 1 Sep 10

    I watched this when they started showing this on bbc2 I loved the idea of robots fighting each other and it's not in japan for once, jezza did the first series then craig took other,I agree with LaurieC11544 thanks for bring back this old horse of a show you guys should bring back the normal wars keep up the carnage

  • LaurieC11544 LaurieC11544 | 27 Aug 10

    Full marks to Dave for repeating this wonderful programme. Please show as many series as you can. I'd love to see some of the really old ones too. But also Extreme Series 2.

  • contactadam contactadam | 27 Aug 10

    I'd love a new series, but for now I really want to know why they're repeating extreme again and not moved onto series 5. I may have preferred series 4 onwards, but would still liked to have seen it from series 1. SO DAVE- WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW THE OTHER SERIES????

  • AndyB8567 AndyB8567 | 26 Aug 10

    Come on Dave, why not make a new series!

Displaying 31 to 36 of 66

  • JuneG94593 JuneG94593 | 25 Aug 10

    Robot Wars is the ultimate show not just Dave everywhere

  • dealdestroyers dealdestroyers | 22 Aug 10

    @michaelr230494 it wasent series 6 it was extreme 2 cos the pit has a tyre not a bummper cos in series 6 it had a bumpper but in extreme 2-series 7 they had a tyre

  • MichaelR230494 MichaelR230494 | 22 Aug 10

    @ BobbyW87314. The robot was Firestorm 4 and he flipped Growler, put Cassius Chrome in the pit and put Mr Psycho on his side! It took about 7 people to put him back on his tracks! Series 6, Commonwealth games, battle 3.

  • MichaelO44219 MichaelO44219 | 21 Aug 10

    yeah but upgrade it a little. mab robots like razer would cum out of retirement and would a chaos 3 appear?

  • dealdestroyers dealdestroyers | 20 Aug 10

    i think they should ask roaming robots 2 use their arena :P

Displaying 36 to 41 of 66

  • davidC84607 davidC84607 | 20 Aug 10

    please make a new series what do we have to do to get a new series on tv?

  • MichaelO44219 MichaelO44219 | 20 Aug 10

    who owns the production rights to rw now anyway and for the record the london arena was scraped house robots as well more than likely

  • StevieW84847 StevieW84847 | 20 Aug 10

    Thanks Dave for bringing my T.V. life back with Robot Wars. Show every series if you can but NOT 6 as Tornado cheated Razer out of victory. Thanks though.

  • dealdestroyers dealdestroyers | 20 Aug 10

    ripper?

  • BobbyW87314 BobbyW87314 | 19 Aug 10

    I swear there was a robot, quite late on, that took out all the robots on the arena including the house sir killalot and the ref bot but i just can't remember what the robot was called.

Displaying 41 to 46 of 66

  • MichaelR230494 MichaelR230494 | 19 Aug 10

    I think the best house robots were Dead Metal, Sir Killalot and the best one of all?.... Mr Psycho!

  • dealdestroyers dealdestroyers | 19 Aug 10

    XD yeah i hope they do :)

  • AndrewM38610 AndrewM38610 | 18 Aug 10

    thanks dave for bringing back robot wars i have't missed an episode yet! just wondering if there is any chance of making a new series that would be great:)

  • AndrewM38610 AndrewM38610 | 18 Aug 10

    thanks dave for bringing back robot wars i have't missed an episode yet! just wondering if there is any chance of making a new series that would be great:)

  • andrewM97 andrewM97 | 17 Aug 10

    i remember wen this first started wen i was born lol

Displaying 46 to 51 of 66

  • robertB3751 robertB3751 | 16 Aug 10

    is dave doing any more robot wars

  • DBS101 DBS101 | 13 Aug 10

    @Laurie: Thwey could always revert to 1 on 1 knockout as 5 only used the 4 way battle format.

  • richardH70662 richardH70662 | 12 Aug 10

    i have wacth every show excempt for series 7 jus was a grate show on bbc 2 and then on five now it on dave could put all series on from to 1 to 7 on your channel dave as this was the best series for years on bbc 2 also would dave make new series also there has not been a new series of red dwarf i would to see a series 9 and a series 8 of robot wars and series two of extreme on dave soon richard

  • LaurieC11544 LaurieC11544 | 10 Aug 10

    Dave would have two options: To buy the copyright for the current format and make it the same and that would probably cost quite a bit. Or they could do something completely new with these robots (of all weights). Apart from fighting they can make skill-based events for example. Perhaps it needs a breath of fresh air/ideas.

  • ChristianH68593 ChristianH68593 | 10 Aug 10

    I'd be surprised if Dave had the budget to make a new series. If they did I expect it would get viewers, especially given Robot Wars former popularity (attracting up to six million viewers every week, BBC 2's most popular show) and the current positive image of Dave.

Displaying 51 to 56 of 66

  • dealdestroyers dealdestroyers | 10 Aug 10

    dont have 2 make a new arena u can go to roaming robots cos that has the best robots and u can put that on tv :D

  • StuartD82748 StuartD82748 | 10 Aug 10

    ahhh we can all trust dave to bring back the classics and put good stuff on air ... cheers dave for bringing back robot wars , but please please make a new series!!! PLEASE!!! =)

  • LaurieC11544 LaurieC11544 | 10 Aug 10

    A new series is long overdue with some new robots already existing to compliment the old ones. Live events happen about once per month. So come on DAVE, why not make a new show using these live events and new robots?

  • ChristianH68593 ChristianH68593 | 10 Aug 10

    New series of Robot Wars would be amazing! Would love to see Series 4, Extreme 2, Series' 6 & 7

  • MarcusG66938 MarcusG66938 | 10 Aug 10

    A new Robot Wars series would be the most amazing thing ever!!! I reckon Series 3 was the best, but it's great that it's back on TV ... ... today's annihalator was immense!

Displaying 56 to 61 of 66

  • ChrisP64012 ChrisP64012 | 7 Aug 10

    Can we have a new series of Robot Wars please !!!!

  • Vidlina Vidlina | 3 Aug 10

    A new series would be aloved. A remember loving this as a kid. Matilda was my fave house robot

  • RyanH83029 RyanH83029 | 2 Aug 10

    great show. not seen this in years! be nice to see a series before ref-bot got introduced lol

  • dealdestroyers dealdestroyers | 1 Aug 10

    yer i agree with u

  • DBS101 DBS101 | 1 Aug 10

    Cannot begin to say how pleased i am. Would be even more amazing if you could bring back a new series! Oh please!

Displaying 61 to 66 of 66

  • Al82486 Al82486 | 1 Aug 10

    great to see it back on TV, sign up a new series Dave!

  • dealdestroyers dealdestroyers | 30 Jul 10

    yer same here :) i loved it and i still do robot wars around the uk because im a robottear :)

  • SophieGorner SophieGorner | 30 Jul 10

    I don't think people could understand just how much I squealed at reading this! Used to love the show watched it all the time and have the PS2 & somewhere have the PC game of it! Legendry programming this!

  • dealdestroyers dealdestroyers | 29 Jul 10

    i have sent a message 2 200 people on youtube to get as most views as posible :D

  • RachelC40595 RachelC40595 | 23 Jul 10

    haven't watched Robot Wars in years! Used to be the highlight of my weeknights when I was in primary!

Displaying 66 to 66 of 66

  • FlashHeart FlashHeart | 23 Jul 10

    My 11 year ols boy will be up to watch this.. He's Robot Wars mad!!!!