BBC Two to restart Robot Wars

UK pubcaster BBC Two has brought eccentric machine battle series Robot Wars back 15 years after it stopped broadcasting on the channel.

Mentorn Media Scotland, whose parent company Mentorn Media was the original UK show’s producer, will produce the new 6x60mins series.

The original BBC Two show ran between 1998 and 2001, before switching to BBC Three predecessor BBC Choice and then terrestrial Channel 5.

According to Mentorn, the show will feature “a new structure with more robots, more battles and more science than ever before”. Shot in a purpose-built fighting arena in Glasgow, the show will see battle robots competing to become champion.

The news mirrors American network ABC’s decision in February to recommission Battlebots, which was an offshoot of Robot Wars.

Interest in mechanised battle formats has piqued in the light of recent technological advances, with BBC Two stablemate CBBC and Canada’s Family CHRGD recently greenlighting drone battle show Airmaggedon. That came from Steve Carsey, the creator of the Robot Wars concept.

BBC Two channel controller Kim Shillinglaw, the BBC’s acting controller of entertainment, and commissioning editor Jo Street co-commissioned the new Robot Wars.

Mentorn Scotland produces in association with SJP Media, with Chris Brogden, creative director at Mentorn parent Tinopolis Group, Mentorn Scotland’s Andrew Robertson and the BBC’s Street executive producing.

“Robot Wars is an absolute TV classic and I’m thrilled to be updating it for the next generation of viewers,” said Shillinglaw, who also oversees arts and entertainment network BBC Four.

“With new technological advances making for an even more exciting and immersive experience this is a fantastic example of the kind of content-rich factual entertainment that BBC Two excels at.”