Robot Wars: The First Wars

Robot Wars: The First Wars was the first series of the British television game show Robot Wars. It was originally broadcast in 1998 on BBC2. The series was hosted by Jeremy Clarkson and Philippa Forrester with commentary provided by Jonathan Pearce.

Format
The series consisted of six heats, with six robots competing in each heat. The six winners from the heats moved onto the grand final. In each heat, the six robots would compete through a series of three challenges - the Gauntlet, the Trial and the Arena.

The Gauntlet
The Gauntlet was an obstacle filled maze defended by house robots. Competitor robots had to make their way as far down the course as possible in the time allowed. The robot covering the least ground was eliminated, leaving five robots to continue.

The Trial
The Trial varied from heat to heat with games like, 'Sumo', 'British Bulldog', 'Stock Car', 'Labyrinth', 'Snooker', and 'Football'. Points were awarded depending on performance and the lowest scoring robot was eliminated, leaving four robots to continue.

The Arena
This was the point at which the robots finally entered the arena to do combat. The four remaining robots paired off and fought head-to head in the enclosed arena patrolled by the house robots. The two victorious robots then fought for the heat championship. The winner of each heat then went through to the grand final.

The Grand Final
The six heat champions met in a single battle to determine the champion of the series.

Heat A
Robots competing in Heat A: Roadblock, Killertron, Barry, Shogun, Nemesis, Grunt

Gauntlet: Barry eliminated

Trial (Sumo): Grunt eliminated

Arena Semi-Final: Nemesis vs. Roadblock: Roadblock won

Arena Semi-Final: Killertron vs. Shogun: Killertron won

Arena Final: Killertron vs. Roadblock: Roadblock won