- "This is no "Waltzing Matilda", but if Matilda dances with you, it's a dance of death! Her tusks can rip and pneumatically flip, it's a breeze for 'Tildy'! Her spinning rear flywheel is twenty-seven kilos in weight, the Matriarch of Mayhem, the Mistress of Mischief, Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce introduces Matilda in Series 5
Matilda (occasionally nicknamed Tildy) was one of the original four House Robots from the UK TV game show Robot Wars.
Present in every series - including the Revival Series and all international versions - she was initially infamous for her unreliability and susceptibility to getting attacked by competitor robots. After taking severe damage from Razer at the end of the Series 4 Southern Annihilator, Matilda received upgrades to her pneumatic tusks, while her original chainsaw was replaced in most cases with a vertical flywheel. These, along with a complete rebuild for Series 8-10, enabled her to become one of the more powerful and destructive House Robots in later appearances.
In addition to her roles in the main series, Matilda also regularly appeared in numerous side competitions, notably Robotic Soccer in Series 3 and both the Series 3 and 4 Pinball tournaments. Alongside the other House Robots of that era, she would also appear at Robot Mayhem and the 2001 Live Event tour, both serving as official qualifiers for Series 4 and Series 5 respectively.[1][2]
Matilda's design was consistently based on the idea of a mutant alien boar or dinosaur. A fictional backstory, given in the Robot Wars Technical Manual and a comic in the original Robot Wars Magazine, perpetuates her to be a biomechanical creature unearthed from a lost Atlantean civilisation. Jonathan Pearce often described Matilda as the Matriarch of Mayhem across the UK Series, in recognition of her originally being the only female House Robot. Throughout the Classic run, Matilda was driven by House Roboteer James Davies, whose role was mostly assumed by Robo Challenge's Grant Cooper in the Revival Series.
Design[]
- "I thought "Well, a chainsaw's a good weapon, it won't necessarily destroy metal, but it might cut through the plastic outer casing on some robots, it'll cut through aluminium, certainly. So that would be a good robot" And I thought it would be nice to maybe stick that out the bottom of some sort of robot, because it's a bit funny, because it looked a bit like a tail. So there was the basis for Matilda really. … some sort of wild robot, sort of pig, that was probably used to go around and saw up loggings or something like that!"
- — Chris Reynolds explains the origin of Matilda on the Sir Killalot and the House Robots DVD
Matilda in Series 5-7, fitted with her flywheel
Matilda's grey flywheel from Extreme 1
In all of her appearances, Matilda’s basic design remained consistent, being based around a mutant alien dinosaur with a 12V motor and armed with front pneumatic flipping tusks and either a rear 3,000rpm chainsaw or vertical flywheel as weapons. Her body was made from fibreglass matting, and featured decorative stegosaurus-like spikes, front horns and two LED ‘eyes’ to reinforce the alien dinosaur theme.
Matilda during Series 1
Matilda gives off sparks as she flips RoboDoc in the Series 2 Joust
In Series 1, Matilda’s tusks ran on a relatively simple pneumatics system, and were mounted close to the chassis, with her chainsaw being her primary weapon. The tusks were upgraded for Series 2 to lift faster, allowing her to lift robots more easily as she raised them and pushed them across the arena. A spark shooter was also installed for Series 2, but was rarely seen in action.
Matilda in Series 3
Matilda in the Arena during Series 3
Matilda received new speed controllers and a complete rewiring for Series 3, which reportedly doubled her top speed and improved her reliability compared with earlier series. Additionally, her rubber horns were briefly swapped with metal ones for this series, but were swapped back after the metal horns tended to break off easily during battles. Even so, her tusks and chainsaw had little improvements, and the latter proved increasingly ineffective against tougher armour used by most competitor robots.
Matilda demonstrates her chainsaw on a log in Series 4
Matilda in Series 4, from the front
For Series 4, Matilda’s tusks were remounted higher above the chassis, allowing them to lift higher, more powerfully and reliably than before. Additionally, the safety catches for her rear bodyshell were improved in order to stop it from falling off when she was nudged or flipped, a problem that regularly occurred in earlier series. Still, the chainsaw received no modifications, and as in Series 3 could not cause any significant damage to competitors’ armour. She also received new speed controllers, making her twice as fast[3].
The original version of Matilda was heavily damaged by Razer at the end of the Southern Annihilator, and was replaced by a new version for Series 5 onwards.
Chris Reynolds shows the insides of Matilda, demonstrating her tusks
Matilda in Series 5 with brand new tusks
The Series 5/Extreme 1 version of Matilda featured substantial revisions to her weapons, firstly the replacement of her original tusks with brand-new ones powered by upward firing pneumatic rams and a system of air rams and dump tanks. This revised pneumatics system allowed the tusks to fire even faster and made them capable of lifting heavier weights. Most significantly, the chainsaw was made interchangeable with a 27kg (60lbs) vertical flywheel, which was attached to a thick solid steel mounting in order for the rest of Matilda to withstand its power. Initially painted grey, it was later painted pink and given larger teeth in order to be more visually recognizable and to improve its potency (the flywheel had originally intended to debut in Series 4, but was postponed as the design, construction, and completion of Refbot took up too much time). The chainsaw was never used again in the UK series, although it continued to be used in international championships, most notably Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors and Nickelodeon Robot Wars.
- "...devastating weapon! The worst weapon in Robot Wars at the moment, I think, Matilda's flywheel!"
- — Chris Reynolds on the Sir Killalot and the House Robots DVD
Official shot of Matilda in Series 4 with the chainsaw
Close-up of Matilda's flywheel
Matilda in the arena during Series 7
In earlier series, Matilda’s armament was comparatively weak to that in her later appearances, and she was often the subject of attacks from competitor robots, which often broke off her tusks (as Spin Doctor did in the Series 2 King of the Castle trial), dislodged her fibreglass shell, or flipped her over (Recyclopse, Cassius, Chaos 2). However, since her Series 5/Extreme 1 upgrades, Matilda became renowned as one of the more destructive House Robots in later series, being capable of causing significant damage to competitor robots and even throwing them out of the arena. As a result, the Series 5/Extreme 1 Matilda remained largely unchanged until the end of Series 7, and has been retired along with the other original versions of the House Robots.
- "She's three times heavier than previous series, but her tusks can now flip upwards of a ton, and if her front doesn't get you, then her rear end will. An enormous 35 kilos HARDOX flywheel which can cleave competitors in two if they don't watch their manners, turning timber into matchsticks in a blink of her demonic red eyes!"
- — Jonathan Pearce describes the upgraded Matilda in Meet the House Robots
The new Matilda head mould being sculpted
The internals of Matilda shortly before Series 8
For Series 8, a brand-new version of Matilda was made from scratch by Robo Challenge, featuring a revised design and upgraded drive systems and weaponry. She features a new bodyshell and headpiece with a more pronounced dinosaur influence, with a triceratops-like neck-frill lined with spikes and a pair of red LED ‘eyes’, and raised spikes on her rear shell resembling that of a crocodile, painted white in Series 10. Her weight was significantly increased from 116kg to 350kg, and her weapons have been upgraded, with her tusks now flipping at a force of 800psi, and her flywheel, now made from HARDOX, now weighing 35kg (77lbs in the Science Channel broadcast of Series 8) and spinning at 25 revolutions per second (1,500 RPM), with the potential of spinning faster if the drivers willed it. Her headpiece now lifts as part of the tusk assembly, with the tusks now being capable of flipping competitors out of the arena as well as the flywheel.
Matilda warms up for Series 8
Matilda in the arena in Series 8
- "Matilda's disc is certainly one of the most powerful. I would say very likely the most powerful vertical spinner by a good way. However it’s designed to spin slower to try and launch robots rather than tearing them to pieces."
- — Grant Cooper on Matilda's new flywheel
Etymology[]
- "We wanted a girl's name that sounded hard, Matilda fitted the bill - it sounded tomboy-ish. For a while we called her Sharon."
- — Robot Wars Executive Producer Steve Carsey on the inspiration for Matilda's name, interviewed in Robot Wars Magazine[4]
Matilda was given a girl's name to make her the only female House Robot
Robot History[]
Series 1[]
- "Prehistoric Matilda's next up, with hydraulic tusks and a truly lethal chainsaw tail, running at over 3000 revs per minute!"
- — Jonathan Pearce in the House Robot introduction
Matilda in the House Robot introduction in Series 1
Matilda was the second House Robot to be introduced into the series. Her tusks were relatively basic in the original series, only having a simple lifting mechanism. She usually used them to ram competitors, and she would rely more on her chainsaw to attack robots that strayed into her CPZ (as she did with Mortis).
Roadblock evades the House Robots
Matilda made her first appearance in the Gauntlet in Heat A, where she was third in the House Robot Route. Roadblock was the first competitor to run the Gauntlet, and after it passed Sergeant Bash, Matilda rushed up the course to try and block it, but Roadblock swerved to avoid her as she closed in. Roadblock avoided Dead Metal, and Matilda tried to pin Roadblock against a pyramid, but Roadblock got past and went on to complete the course.
Matilda cuts the top of Barry
The second robot to run the Gauntlet was Barry, and after it got caught on the see-saw, Matilda attacked it, the first time she ever used her chainsaw. Matilda brought the chainsaw down behind Barry's scoop, causing sparks but no real damage. As Barry continued to struggle to get free of the see-saw, Matilda tried to cut one of Barry's tyres, but couldn't before time ran out.
- "They need to get those wheelchair motors moving now, because Matilda's in, and she's hungry for rubber!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda uses her chainsaw on Barry
Matilda hits Shogun with her tusks after falling off the ramp
Nemesis pushes past Matilda to complete the Gauntlet
During Shogun's run, Shogun fell off the side of the second ramp, and Matilda rammed into it, hitting it with her tusks. Nemesis would also take the middle route, and as it crossed the second ramp, Matilda blocked the way down. Nemesis managed to get around her by driving off the side of the ramp, then driving to the end zone. Matilda tried to use her tusks to stop it as it crossed the line, but Nemesis pushed past her.
- "And Matilda waits, and that's a good dummy for Matilda, and that's a very good run, and they're through!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Nemesis gets past Matilda
Matilda squeezes Grunt into the wall
Matilda pinned Grunt against the sidewall using her tusks during its Gauntlet run, but Grunt was eventually able to push past her and reach the end zone. The only competitor that Matilda during its Gauntlet run was Killertron, which took the middle route, and although it fell off the second ramp like Shogun had, Matilda did not take advantage and attack it.
Matilda cuts into Roadblock when it is stuck on the spikes
Throughout the series, Matilda always appeared in the bottom left hand CPZ during the Arena stage battles. The first Arena stage battle was the Heat A semi-final between Roadblock and Nemesis, and during the battle, Roadblock drove into the CPZ, pushing past Matilda, but became caught on the arena spikes. This allowed Matilda to turn around and attack Roadblock with her chainsaw, but this pushed Roadblock off the Arena Spikes and it escaped the CPZ.
- "Oh, that could be a mistake by Roadblock! It's gone in with Matilda, and the spikes, and it's impaled on the spikes! Matilda's saw, and that vicious tail! This could be a tale of two saws!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda tries to cut Roadblock with her chainsaw
Matilda cuts through Nemesis' eye
Matilda gets caught on the grille whilst attacking Nemesis
Soon after, Nemesis was pushed onto the side bars, and Matilda took advantage, cutting through one of Nemesis' eyes with her chainsaw. Matilda and Sergeant Bash pushed Nemesis off the side bars, and Matilda and Nemesis span around together, but this caused Matilda to drive onto one of the arena Grilles.
- ""Eye-aye" you're in trouble!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda cuts through Nemesis' eye
Matilda out of her CPZ in the Heat Final
Matilda played no part in the other two battles in the Heat, although in the Heat Final, she left her CPZ before either competitor was immobilised, when no competitor had driven into her CPZ. She drove up to the top of the arena as Roadblock pushed Killertron into Sergeant Bash's CPZ, but did not get involved in the battle.
Matilda tries and fails to stop Leighbot completing the Gauntlet
Matilda was used in the Gauntlet again in Heat B, and just like Heat A, she was used last on the House Robot route. Leighbot took the middle route, and Matilda tried to stop in finishing as it crossed the second ramp, blocking the fence from Leighbot, but in doing so she drove into the fence, allowing Leighbot to squeeze around her and hit the fence.
Matilda tries to stop Recyclopse finishing
She also tried to stop Recyclopse from finishing, blocking the end and pinning it against the wall, but she eventually reversed, allowing Recyclopse to hit the fence and finish. Rex Garrod stated his intention to overturn one of the House Robots in the post-Gauntlet interview, which Jeremy Clarkson stated was "impossible", a statement that proved ironic.
- Jeremy Clarkson: "Well you were confident before you started, now you must be feeling even better."
- Rex Garrod: "Not really, I wanted one of them to go over."
- Jeremy Clarkson: "You wanted one of our House Robots over?"
- Rex Garrod: "Well that's the game, isn't it?"
- Jeremy Clarkson: "It's a game, but it's also impossible!"
- — Recyclopse's post-Gauntlet interview
The Trial for Heat B was British Bulldog, where all four of the House Robots were used. This was Matilda's first use in a Trial, and one of only two Trials she was used in acrss Series 1.
- "Well yes, except trying to stop them are our school bullies; Matilda, Sergeant Bash, Shunt and Dead Metal! This is a wall of steel and testosterone... well not you Matilda, but I think people know what I mean!"
- — Jeremy Clarkson before the Trial
Mortis backs into Matilda using the rear spike
Matilda is flipped
Matilda started on the right, and although she was unable to stop Mortis finishing, Matilda rammed Recyclopse, which had become immobilised after its chain slipped off. Mortis took advantage, driving behind Matilda and attacking her. Matilda went back to attack Mortis. Scrapper drove into her as she did so, but managed to turn around and finish. Matilda went back after the immobile Recyclopse, which was caught against a pyramid, but as she rammed it with her tusks, Mortis pushed her onto Recyclopse's flipper tongue and Recyclopse flipped her over.
- "But look at Matilda there. Stopping the progress of... oh! Recyclopse, Matilda, and it's flipped! Well, you got underneath Matilda and flipped her over. She will not be pleased."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Recyclopse flips Matilda over
This was the first time a House Robot was defeated in the arena (not including Shunt's defeats in the Sumo Trial).
- Jeremy Clarkson: "You! You! You hurt one of my pets!"
- Rex Garrod: "I'm pleased!"
- — The post-Trial interview
Matilda comes out of her CPZ whilst pushing Recyclopse
Matilda attacks Mortis when stuck on the arena spikes
In the Heat Final, both competitors drove into her CPZ. First, Mortis drove along the edge near the bottom of the arena. Matilda drove towards it, but Mortis turned and drove out of the CPZ. Recyclopse drove at Mortis, but as it did so, it drove through the edge of the CPZ, and Matilda pushed it out of the CPZ.
- "She can't come out of that patrol area very far, she'll have to go back in any second now, but she's chasing down on Recyclopse."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda pushes Recyclopse out of the CPZ
As Matilda pushed Recyclopse, Mortis reversed through the CPZ, but drove onto the arena spikes, which lifted it up. Matilda took advantage, using her chainsaw on Mortis as it was trapped, but she could only scratch the armour.
Matilda comes out of her CPZ to try and separate Wedgehog and Dreadnaut
In Heat C, Matilda was not used in the Gauntlet, the first time where she was not used. In the Arena stage, during the Heat semi-final between Dreadnaut and Wedgehog, she came out of her CPZ to push Wedgehog off of Dreadnaut's forks when the two competitors became caught through.
- "Don't take on the little one Matilda! You ought to see her in the disco, she does that down there too!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda tries to push Wedgehog free
Matilda and Sgt Bash slice into Wedgehog
In the Heat Final, Robot the Bruce swiftly pushed Wedgehog onto the Grille, and Matilda and Sergeant Bash attacked it together with their rear cutting weapons. Matilda actually managed to cut through the armour with her chainsaw.
Matilda returned to the Gauntlet again in Heat D, and it proved to be one of her most eventful episodes for her appearances in the Gauntlet.
- "Whatever you do, by the time you get to this end, you better watch out, because Matilda has the freedom to roam across the whole of the finish line, and her tail just happens to be a chainsaw, so you don't want to get on the wrong end of her!"
- — Philippa Forrester whilst introducing the Gauntlet
Matilda gets caught on a grille whilst chasing Cunning Plan
She was the last robot on the House Robot route as usual, and during Cunning Plan's run, she blocked Cunning Plan as it tried to get past the corkscrew lances. Cunning Plan was trapped between Matilda and the springs, but as Matilda reversed, she accidentally pushed the springs out of the way.
- "Matilda, out to splatter a small fry. She's a darling, isn't she Matilda? Modelled on my mum."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda comes over to block Cunning Plan
This helped Cunning Plan get past, despite Matilda swiping it a couple of times with her tusks. Cunning Plan drove down the course, but got caught on the arena spikes as they lifted up. Matilda drove after it, but drove too close to a Grille, and one wheel became caught on the Grille, leaving Matilda stuck, allowing Cunning Plan to finish once the spikes lowered.
- Oliver Steeples: "The spikes were a bit tricky, but the robot didn't give me any problems."
- Jeremy Clarkson: "What, the spikes are tricky, but Matilda isn't? Well I'm looking forward to you going head to head with that, should be a good laugh!"
- Oliver Steeples: "Any time!"
- — The post Gauntlet interview with Jeremy Clarkson
Smoke pours from Matilda (left) as she and Krayzee Tokyo get stuck on the springs
During Krayzee Tokyo's run, Krayzee Tokyo drove into a set of springs and became stuck. Matilda came over to the other side of the set of the springs, hitting them with her tusks, breaking off one of the springs, but her tusks became caught between the springs, leaving her stuck, and she billowing a large cloud of black smoke
- "And is Krayzee Tokyo stuck on those springs? Ooh, is Matilda stuck on those springs? You are, and so is Matilda, stuck fast! And Matilda's in trouble, look at that!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda gets stuck on the springs, then billows smoke
SAT'arn zips around Matilda
Matilda was involved in all of the competitors' Gauntlet runs throughout the Heat, apart from Vector of Armageddon, who took the middle route and got stuck. She tried to stop SAT'arn from finishing, but it was too fast for her and sped around her to finish.
The Demolisher gets past Matilda
In The Demolisher's run, Matilda blocked The Demolisher's path, and The Demolisher ran into her tusks. The televised episode showed The Demolisher driving into Matilda's tusks, then driving past her and finishing the Gauntlet. However, when Demolisher drives into the tusks, it can be seen being flipped over. The Demolisher was overturned for 20 seconds before being righted, thus explaining why it was third on the leaderboard. Later in the episode, Jeremy Clarkson mentioned how Demolisher was overturned in the Gauntlet. How Demolisher was righted in the Gauntlet was not shown.
Matilda stops Bugs
Matilda successfully stopped Bugs from finishing. As it drove towards her, Matilda swiped it with her tusks, pushing it against a pyramid. Bugs tried to get round, but drove into the spike on the pyramid, and Matilda hit Bugs with her tusks, knocking it back. Bugs drove around the pyramid, but Matilda blocked its path, and when Bugs turned around to try and get past, Matilda pushed it back against the pyramid.
- "Matilda gives it a right clout! If in doubt, clout it out Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda knocks Bugs back with her tusks
Matilda's chainsaw begins its descent
In the Arena Semi-Final between SAT'arn and The Demolisher, SAT'arn broke down, and as The Demolisher rammed into its side, Matilda pinned it against SAT'arn, and brought down her chainsaw. The chainsaw cut through SAT'arn's fibreglass shell, but stopped on contact with Demolisher's metal shell.
- "And Matilda's saw comes down! SAT'arn is being chewed, slowly - oh look at that! It's been saved by its opponent The Demolisher!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda slices into SAT'arn
Matilda was not used in the Gauntlet in Heat E, though Phillipa Forrester introduced the Gauntlet as if there were three House Robots on the course. A clip from another episode was used to show Matilda on the Gauntlet, but the only House Robots present were Sergeant Bash and Dead Metal.
Full Metal Anorak runs to the aid of REALI-T as Matilda blocks it from finishing.
Matilda was used in the Labyrinth Trials, one of only two Trials she was used in across the series. Much like in the Gauntlet, she guarded the end of the course.
- "And Matilda, who is always in a bad mood. But then wouldn't you be, if you had a chainsaw sticking out of your bottom?"
- — Jeremy Clarkson before the Labyrinth trial, listing the House Robots
REALI-T came down the left-hand route, so Matilda blocked it to prevent it reaching the end, but this left the other route to the exit unguarded, allowing Full Metal Anorak to go through the right-hand route and reach the end unobstructed. As Matilda continued to block REALI-T, Full Metal Anorak left the end zone and drove into Matilda's back. Matilda turned around and went to attack Full Metal Anorak, pushing it against the wall. This left REALI-T free to finish the course, but it couldn't reach the end zone in time
- "But look at this - he's fed up with waiting - I think he's trying to help out the others, I'm not too sure...yes he is! He's giving Matilda a shunt up the backside! Remember what's in that backside Full Metal Anorak - a vicious saw!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Full Metal Anorak takes on Matilda after finishing the Labyrinth
Matilda attacks Bodyhammer outside her CPZ in the Heat Final
After not being involved in either of the Heat semi-finals, apart from a brief attack on Torque of the Devil when it was stuck on the side bars in the top CPZs, Matilda was involved in the Heat Final, where she drove out of her CPZ, waiting outside of the square. Bodyhammer drove into her whilst driving away from REALI-T for another attack. Matilda pushed Bodyhammer as it tried to get away, and REALI-T drove between Bodyhammer and Matilda, driving into Matilda's side.
- "Matilda in on Bodyhammer. Bodyhammer spinning away from Matilda, who looks even more ugly tonight!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Bodyhammer drives into Matilda
Bodyhammer pushed REALI-T into the CPZ, and Matilda went back to her CPZ, pinning REAL-T against the wall.
- "Turning nimbly away from Matilda, who does have REALI-T. She looks grumpy! I think she's suffering from PMT! Pre-mechanical tension of course!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda rams REALI-T against the bottom fences
Bodyhammer drove out of the CPZ, but ran into Sgt. Bash, who was also out of his CPZ. Whilst avoiding Sergeant Bash and Matilda, Bodyhammer drove onto the grille and became stuck. Matilda reversed after Bodyhammer to attack with her chainsaw, but backed onto the grille, leaving her stuck, until REALI-T rammed into her side whilst attacking Bodyhammer, which pushed her free.
Matilda pushes The Blob against the pyramid. Note that a piece of tape from the arena is caught under Matilda
Matilda returned to the Gauntlet in Heat F, in her usual place at the end of the course. The first competitor to run the Gauntlet in this episode was The Blob, and when it broke down, Matilda came up the course to ram it against a pyramid.
- "Here comes Matilda around the back to join in the fun. ... Matilda's tusks are grizzly. ... A lot of crashing, a lot of bashing, and err... The Blob isn't doing any of it. Matilda certainly is!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda comes up the course and rams The Blob
She also came up the course during T.R.A.C.I.E.'s run, as it broke down, and all three House Robots attacked it.
Eubank the Mouse gets past Matilda
Eubank the Mouse managed to get past Sergeant Bash and Dead Metal, so Matilda tried to block it. Eubank the Mouse drove into the fence, and Matilda rammed into it, but Eubank the Mouse reversed. It tried to get past Matilda, but turned too far and drove into the pyramid. Matilda tried to block it as it reversed and turned for another charge, but Eubank the Mouse got past her to reach the end.
Matilda lies immobile as Skarab finishes the Gauntlet
Strangely, during Skarab's run, Matilda appeared to be immobile, not even attempting to stop Skarab crossing the line. Skarab managed to get past Sergeant Bash, and although Dead Metal blocked it, Skarab managed to get past when he turned. Despite Dead Metal trying to pin it against the wall, Skarab managed to reach the end. Whilst Dead Metal tried to pin Skarab against the wall, Matilda held back, and made no attempt to block Skarab.
Matilda tries to stop Prince of Darkness from finishing
Prince of Darkness is pinned by Matilda
Unlike the other competitors, Prince of Darkness took the middle route, driving over the see-saw and the second ramp, and Matilda was waiting for it. However, as Prince of Darkness came down off the ramp and crossed the line, Matilda was too slow to stop it, and it mostly crossed the line as she drove into it. She did manage to stop it fully crossing the line, blocking it and pushing it back against a pyramid, but Prince of Darkness managed to squeeze past and cross the line again.
- "The Prince of Darkness is going all the way! Look at that! Oh, until Matilda came across, but did it cross the line first? They think so - but the Judges say no, they've got to do it all again! It wasn't all the way over the line, and Matilda drives it against the spikes!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda rams Prince of Darkness away from the finish
Matilda tries to separate Prince of Darkness and T.R.A.C.I.E.
In the Arena stage, Matilda twice came out of her CPZ when T.R.A.C.I.E.'s spears were caught in an opponent. First, during its semi-final against Prince of Darkness, one of the spears became caught in Prince of Darkness' wheel. Sergeant Bash, Dead Metal and Matilda all came out, with Sergeant Bash blasting his flamethrower at the two, whilst Dead Metal and Matilda attempted to separate the two competitors. Dead Metal pushed Prince of Darkness with one of his claws, then Matilda nudged against Prince of Darkness with her tusks, and T.R.A.C.I.E. was able to reverse out from Prince of Darkness.
Matilda tries to push T.R.A.C.I.E. free of Skarab
Matilda cuts off Skarab's aerial
In the Heat Final, T.R.A.C.I.E. rammed into the side of Skarab, and one of its spears punctured the side, but it became caught in the side. Dead Metal and Matilda came out of the CPZ, with Matilda pushing against T.R.A.C.I.E.'s side with her tusks, whilst Dead Metal pushed Skarab. Together, the two House Robots managed to separate the two competitors. Later in the battle, whilst T.R.A.C.I.E. drove into the side of Sergeant Bash and became stuck, Matilda came out of her CPZ and attacked Skarab, despite the fact Skarab was not in the CPZ whilst T.R.A.C.I.E. was. Matilda cut into Skarab with her chainsaw tail, cutting of the aerial. Meanwhile, T.R.A.C.I.E. got free of Sergeant Bash, and charged out of the CPZ at Matilda
- "But Matilda takes on the Skarab with that saw tooth tail, and off comes the radio control mast! And that could leave it immobile!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda cuts off Skarab's aerial
She was not used in the Grand Final, the only battle in the series where she was not used, as no House Robots were used.
Series 2[]
- "Matriarchal Matilda, returning with improved titanium tusks and a reinforced chainsaw tail."
- — Jonathan Pearce in the House Robot introduction
Matilda in the Gauntlet in Heat A of Series 2
The first use of Matilda's spark shooter, in Heat H
Matilda returned, with improved weaponry. Her chainsaw was reinforced, but still proved mostly ineffective against the metal cases of competitors, though it was able to damage the plastic and wood on some competitors. Her tusk's pneumatic system was also reworked slightly to make them lift faster. A new feature was added for this series, her spark shooter, however it was rarely seen and was never seen again after this series.
Matilda lifts up Piece De Resistance with her tusks
Matilda made her first appearance in Heat A at the Gauntlet stage, where she was used in the right-hand route. However, she completely failed to stop the first competitor that took her route, Panda Monium. She appeared to be immobile as Panda Monium reached the end of the course, as she made no effort to stop it finishing. Piece De Resistance was next to run the Gauntlet, and when it failed to break through the brick wall, Sir Killalot and Matilda came up to the top of the course, surrounding it. Matilda used her improved tusks for the first time, getting under Piece de Resistance and lifting it up, then dragging it away from Sir Killalot before dropping it.
Demolition Demon passes Matilda
After failing to come to the middle route to stop Victor finishing, Matilda came to the left-hand route for Demolition Demon's run as it got past Sir Killalot. Matilda reversed into Demolition Demon, blocking it and lowering her chainsaw, but Demolition Demon pushed against Matilda. Matilda turned away, allowing Demolition Demon to get past.
- "Matilda comes in, with the chainsaw! That's a horrible sight, isn't it?"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda reverses at Demolition Demon
The Trial in Heat A was Skittles, and was Matilda used along with Sergeant Bash and Sir Killalot. The House Robots could not attack competitors once they were in the triangle, so Matilda was unable to attack Napalm or Victor, who both drove into the triangle and became stuck during their runs.
Matilda's chainsaw slices through Panda Monium's armour
Panda Monium reversed out of the triangle, and as it tried to make another charge, reversed into it and used her chainsaw, easily cutting through the polypropylene armour.
- "Oh ho! And it's losing weight! No wonder - Matilda was there!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda cuts into Panda Monium
Unseen in the televised Heat - but later mentioned by Chris Loader in Robot Wars Revealed - Panda Monium retaliated by knocking off one of Matilda's tusks. In response, the House Robot proceeded to attack it further after its run had already concluded, bending one of the front fastening bolts which Team Panda later needed to cut out with a hacksaw.
Demolition Demon is lifted over by the House Robots
Matilda and her fellow House Robots broke the rules during Demolition Demon's run. After Cease was called, Matilda got her tusks under Demolition Demon and lifted it up. She pushed it against Sergeant Bash and together the two turned Demolition Demon onto its side. Sir Killalot then used his lance to turn Demolition Demon onto its back, and Matilda attacked the base with her chainsaw.
- "Demoliton Demon, certainly ruffling the feathers of the House Robots, and they seem to have gone berserk! They're angry! They want revenge! And Demolition Demon is bearing the brunt of their anger! Come on, stop it, they've gone berserk! Well, well, well. 20 barrels - no wonder they were angry, but we've got to get them under control!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as the House Robots attack Demolition Demon
Matilda turns Piece De Resistance over
Piece de Resistance failed to knock over the barrels in its run, and as it reversed for another charge, Sir Killalot blocked it, and Matilda got under its side and turned it onto its side, the first time she used her tusks to flip a competitor over.
Matilda flips Panda Monium over
In the Arena stage battle, Panda Monium over when it missed a charge at Napalm and drove into the PPZ, and Matilda got her tusks under her and flipped it straight over, as 'Cease' was called straight away.
- "They {Napalm} never laid a glove on yeah, you got done in by the House Robots!"
- — Craig Charles to the Panda Monium team after the battle
In his Robot Wars 101 build diaries, Pete Collier believed that the House Robot's attack was 'revenge' for the damage inflicted by Panda Monium in Skittles.[5]
Leighviathan's top armour comes loose as Matilda lifts it
In Heat B, Matilda was not used in the Gauntlet, with Dead Metal being used in the right route instead. After not being used in the Tug of War trial, Matilda was used in the Arena stage battles, and was involved in all three battles. Mace pushed Leighviathan into the PPZ, and as the House Robots attacked, its chainsaw became caught on Dead Metal when Dead Metal reversed into it, causing one of its rear spikes to snag the chain. Matilda took advantage of Leighviathan being stuck, bringing her chainsaw down onto Leighviathan's top, cutting a small notch in it. Dead Metal pulled Leighviathan away, and Matilda got her tusks under the back of Leighviathan, lifting it up, and the top became dislodged.
- "They've been scalped, Leighviathan!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Leighviathan's top comes loose
Matilda and Shunt pin Wheelosaurus against the saws
In the battle between Chaos and Wheelosaurus, after Sergeant Bash immobilised Wheelosaurus with his flamethrower, Matilda attacked it, using her chainsaw on the side, and trying to cut the pram wheels. She then rammed it against the saws, where Shunt also attacked it with his axe, and Matilda tried to cut the side with her chainsaw again. Jonathan Pearce suggested this was revenge for Wheelosaurus ripping off Sergeant Bash's flamethrower off at the Gauntlet stage.
- "They're {the House Robots} after Wheelosaurus aren't they? They're trying to get to the very brains of the beast, I think they're after revenge! Don't forget Wheelosaurus caused major damage to Sergeant Bash!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Wheelosaurus is attacked by the House Robots
Mace pushes Chaos into Matilda
Matilda flips Chaos back over
In the Heat Final, Mace won the battle by ramming Chaos into Matilda, and Matilda lifted it with her tusks, ramming it away from Mace and turning it onto its back, from which it could not self-right. After being attacked by the House Robots, Chaos was righted after Mace pushed it against Shunt, but Matilda turned it back over.
Matilda cuts into Challenger with her chainsaw
Matilda returned to the Gauntlet in Heat C, where she and Shunt started on the left-hand route. Matilda would be involved in the runs of all six competitors in the Heat. First, Challenger got stuck on the side of the ramp after making a wrong turn whilst trying to drive up the see-saw, and Shunt pushed it, leaving it beached. Matilda came in and cut into the top with her chainsaw, cutting a hole in the armour.
- "And in major trouble here, Challenger for Steve Dove! Dove? "When Doves Cry"? A Prince of a performance? I don't think so! And with Matilda about to come in and shake those tail feathers!!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda comes in to cut into Challenger
Before Mortis' run, Rob Knight announced his intention to take on a House Robot.
- Phillipa Forrester: "What's going to be your tactic for the Gauntlet?"
- Rob Knight: "I'm gonna pile straight into either Shunt or Matilda and hammer them as hard as I can with the axe until one of them falls over!"
- Phillipa Forrester: "That's great and simple. We like it!"
- — Pre Gauntlet interview
Mortis axes Matilda. Note that the front lens has fallen off her camera
After crossing the see-saw, Matilda came over to the middle route to try and stop Mortis finishing, but Mortis was pushing two bricks from the wall as it drove over the see-saw, and as Matilda drove at Mortis, she drove onto one of them, which lifted one of her wheels off the floor, stopping her from properly attacking Mortis. Matilda tried reversing to get off the brick, but she was unable to get off of the brick. Matilda turned around to try and use her chainsaw, but Mortis battered her with its axe, knocking the chain off of her chainsaw and the front off her camera. Matilda turned away from Mortis, still on top of the brick, and Mortis drove into her, knocking her off the brick. Matilda tried to block Mortis from finishing, but as Mortis attacked her with its axe, she reversed away, allowing Mortis to reach the end zone.
- "Matilda, blocks the way through to the finishing line. Oh, but taking punishment! Look at that tanto blade we warned you about! Matilda, beaten... Still Matilda taking punishment! This time on the tusks!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
The House Robots bully Mortis into the Pit after it completes its run
Mortis was not satisfied with just finishing, however, and drove into the left-hand route to take on Matilda, but Matilda and Shunt were ready for it, and pushed it into the Pit together.
- "He's over the finishing line. Now this is an arrogance of power, taking on the House Robots and they don't like it! He's finished, they've over the line, they're through, but Matilda and Bash have long memories and they don't like you!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda and Shunt push Mortis into the Pit
Matilda tips Oblivion into the Pit
Matilda managed to stop Oblivion's run. After Oblivion got past Shunt, Matilda reversed into it, and brought her chainsaw onto its top. The chainsaw managed to cut into metal, but it became caught when it cut through. Oblivion reversed for another charge, and as it tried to drive around Matilda, it drove over the edge of the Pit, leaving one wheel hanging over the Pit. Matilda used her tusks to tip Oblivion into the Pit.
- "Tottering, teetering, 'Tilda's tusks - ta ta!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda tips Oblivion into the Pit
Dreadnaut gets past Matilda
During Dreadnaut's run, Matilda tried to block it as it approached the end. She initially drove into Dreadnaut head-on, blocking it, but as Dreadnaut reversed for another charge, she turned to try and use her chainsaw, which allowed Dreadnaut to drive around her. managed to get past her
- "Ken Feltwell, a permanent clay modeller, he plays the trombone, he's showing a lot of brass here to take on Matilda! ... Dreadnaut powering beyond Matilda, and through!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Matilda's chainsaw, with the chain having slipped off after cutting into Rameses II
Matilda switched to the middle route for Rameses 2's run, waiting for it beyond the see-saw. As Rameses 2 drove over the see-saw, Matilda reversed at it with her chainsaw, and ripped into the polyethylene armour. However, the chain fell off her chainsaw after a hit from Rameses II's steel bar. Rameses II reversed for another attempt, and Matilda turned around to block it, this time front-on. Matilda got her tusks under Rameses II's front and lifted it up, managing to stop it from getting past her.
Griffon is trapped by Matilda
With help from Shunt, Matilda was responsible for the elimination of Griffon. After Griffon drove into the arena fence, Shunt and Matilda surrounded it, with Matilda blocking its path down the course. Matilda got under Griffon with her tusks, lifting its wheels off the ground. She eventually dropped it, but Shunt pinned it against the fence, and Matilda turned around and reversed into Griffon, blocking it from getting away until time ran out. She brought her chainsaw onto the top of Griffon, but could not do any damage.
Oblivion, having been pushed off platform by Matilda
The Trial for Heat C was Joust, and Matilda was the House Robot used. According to Robot Wars Magazine, she was chosen because she was the only one of the House Robots that could be relied on to drive in a straight line.[6] Matilda was able to easily defeat Oblivion, who drove into the centre, only to be flipped over and pushed off by Matilda.
Mortis is lifted by Matilda
However, despite getting her forks under Mortis, hooking onto the exposed base and lifting it up, she was not able to defeat it, as she pushed Mortis against the side fence, and Mortis used the edge of its tracks to push back at Matilda, nearly pushing her off. Matilda pushed back and tried pushing Mortis off, but Mortis held on and pushed back until time ran out.
Challenger is battered backwards
Challenger drove onto the side fence, and though it was able to line itself up, Matilda merely got its forks under it and pushed it back to the starting area, leaving it with a negative distance. Dreadnaut charged into the centre, and tried hooking onto the small side fence as Matilda drove at it. This tactic initially worked, but Matilda then reversed, drove back at Dreadnaut and pushed it straight off.
Rameses II ends up on its side
Rameses II slowly edged forwards, meeting Matilda just on the level section. Rameses II, now sporting an extra Mace on a flail on the axe head, fired the weapon onto Matilda's top. Matilda tried to push Rameses II back, flipping it up, but Rameses II was caught on the wall, meaning Matilda had to reverse. Stuck on its side, Rameses II started firing the axe to try and keep Matilda at bay until cease was called. Matilda did give Rameses II another push after 'Cease' was called, but this was not counted as it was out of time.
- "Matilda, cease when you're told to!"
- — Craig Charles scolds Matilda
Despite being present for all three Arena stage battles, her only involvement was dragging Dreadnaut off of the Flame Pit
The immobile Razer is overturned by Matilda
In Heat D, Matilda was not used in the Gauntlet, nor the Football Trial, but she did get involved with the Arena stage battles. She used her tusks to topple Razer onto its side after it broke down in its battle with Inquisitor.
Elvis is pushed onto the Flame Pit by Matilda
In the other Arena semi-final between Behemoth and Elvis, Behemoth pushed Elvis into the PPZ, and the House Robots swarmed Elvis, with Matilda pinning it in the corner, attacking it with her chainsaw, then getting her tusks under it and dragging it across the arena, where she pushed it onto the Flame Pit.
- "They really rocking and rolling! Fancy dancing with Matilda? No accounting for taste!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda drags Elvis to the Flame Pit
Matilda drops ORAC off the edge
After not being used in the Gauntlet again in Heat E, Matilda was one of the House Robots used in the King of the Castle Trial, along with Shunt. Originally, Dead Metal was used along with Shunt, but after Killertron used its axe to hook onto Dead Metal's frame, Matilda took his place for the rest of the runs. The first competitor to take on Matilda and Shunt was ORAC. Shunt drove off the side of the ramp as the House Robots drove at ORAC, leaving Matilda to fight ORAC alone. Matilda got straight at ORAC's side, getting underneath with her tusks and lifting it up on one side, hooking inside the wheel hub. Matilda spun around with ORAC.
- "'Tilda tusks ORAC! Spins him around, some dreadful dance by Matilda! What goes through her brain?"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda gets under ORAC and spins it around
After a little struggle to push ORAC, Matilda pushed ORAC to the edge and dropped it over the side, but ORAC was caught on her tusks, so Matilda had to pull ORAC against the wall to get it off the tusk.
Matilda pins Schumey against Shunt in King of the Castle
During Schumey's run, Matilda drove at it, and Schumey drove at Shunt as he drove up the ramp. Matilda got behind Schumey and pushed it against Shunt. Matilda turned to try and push Schumey off, nearly driving off the edge of the platform, but managed to stop herself in time. She drove at Schumey, and Schumey tried driving away, but drove off the edge of the platform.
Matilda's tusk is ripped off by Spin Doctor
Spin Doctor spun on the spot, and Matilda held back from approaching. When Matilda drove at Spin Doctor, she was knocked aside and one of her tusks was ripped loose. Meanwhile, Shunt also drove up the ramp, but as he turned to line up an attack, he drove close to the edge, then turned off the edge, leaving Matilda to fight Spin Doctor alone. Matilda reversed for another charge, then cautiously approached Spin Doctor as it continued to spin on the spot, stopping short of it. Matilda reversed again, then drove at Spin Doctor, but its spinning deflected Matilda's charge, and caused her tusk, which had previously been ripped loose, to fall off.
- "OH, and look at Matilda! The tusks raised in anger, in frustration! In for ANOTHER BATTERING AND... MATILDA'S LOST A TUSK! SHE'S TOOTHLESS! History is made! The titanium tusk... is battered AND BROKEN AND OFF! A visit to the dentist needed!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Spin Doctor breaks Matilda's tusk
Matilda turned around and reversed into Spin Doctor, managing to stop it spinning, but Spin Doctor turned around Matilda, meaning it had survived the full minute.
Matilda and Technophobic having both fallen off the ring
After initial good driving, Matilda got her tusks under Technophobic and pushed it to the edge, but as Shunt helped her to push Technophobic off, she fell off as well.
- "Oh but look at Matilda, I almost feel sorry for her! Do I see a glycerine tear from that eye?"
- — Jonathan Pearce looks at Matilda, having fallen off the edge
Matilda was not involved in any of Heat E's Arena stage battles, and in the next Heat, she was not used in the Gauntlet nor Trial.
Matilda attacks Panic Attack after it attacks Sergeant Bash
During the battle between Panic Attack and Whirling Dervish, Panic Attack attacked Sergeant Bash, and Matilda came in to defend her fellow House Robot. Having defeated Whirling Dervish, Panic Attack turned on Sergeant Bash, ramming him against the arena fence and repeatedly slamming into him, knocking his rear saw loose. Matilda came in to protect Panic Attack, blocking Sergeant Bash as Panic Attack reversed for another charge. Panic Attack drove around Matilda, and Matilda got her tusks behind Panic Attack. However, Panic Attack reversed against Matilda, then drove across the arena. Panic Attack then drove at Matilda, but Matilda pushed Panic Attack against the arena fence.
- "Oh, look at that damage caused to Sergeant Bash! His fan club do not look amused, and Matilda may want revenge on the House Robots!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Panic Attack rams Sergeant Bash, and the camera shows a group of young boys holding a Sergeant Bash banner in the audience
Corporal Punishment is attacked by the House Robots
In the other Arena stage semi-final, between Corporal Punishment and Disruptor, Corporal Punishment reversed into the PPZ, and found itself surrounded by House Robots. Matilda brought her chainsaw down onto Corporal Punishment's top, carving into the metal, but could not cut through it.
Heat G was a quiet Heat for Matilda, as for the fourth Heat in a row, she was not used in the Gauntlet, and she was not used in the Trial either, which for this Heat was Skittles. Although she had been used in the Skittles Trial in Heat A, Dead Metal took her place for this Heat.
Matilda lifts Roadblock up onto the arena fence
After not being used for either of the Arena Stage Semi-Finals, Matilda appeared in the PPZ in the Heat Final. Onslaught was immobile from the start of the battle, so Roadblock drove into the PPZ to attack Sergeant Bash, and Matilda rushed in to protect her fellow House Robot. Matilda got her tusks under Roadblock's side and lifted its front end up against the fence. Dead Metal came in behind Roadblock and pushed it so it was caught on the fence.
Heat H was much more eventful for Matilda, as she was used in the Arena stage battles, Trial and also returned to the Gauntlet for the first time since Heat C. In this episode, she guarded the end of the middle route. However, in the Gauntlet, she was not seen in any of the competitors' runs, as 5 of 6 of them went down the left route, and the only competitor that took the middle route, GroundHog, was stopped and lifted up by Sir Killalot before it could reach the end.
The Trial for Heat H was Football, where Matilda was used as the defender, taking Dead Metal's place from Heat D.
- "In Defence, the mighty Matilda, giving hope to women footballers the world over!"
- — Craig Charles whilst introducing the Football Trial
Matilda lifts Cassius, leaving the ball exposed for Loco to reach
In Round 1, Matilda blocked the ball after Cassius got to the centre first and pushed it away, but as she got her tusks under Cassius' side and lifted it up, this left the ball open for Loco to take and push into the goal to go through.
- "A goalkeeper with a flamethrower, and a full-back with tusks? You wouldn't want to fall back on Matilda, would you, at any stage!"
- — Jonathan Pearce during the first round of the Football Trial
Cassius gets the ball as Matilda lifts up Wizard
In Round 2, Matilda went straight for Wizard, getting behind it and lifting it with her tusks as it tried to get hold of the ball. Cassius took control of the ball, pushing it to the top of the arena. As Cassius tried to regain control of the ball, Matilda rushed up and blocked Cassius from the ball. Matilda reversed, and Cassius pushed the ball, but Matilda got under Cassius' front and lifted it up with her tusks.
- "Matilda in there, surely that's a foul tackle of the word foul!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda lifts Cassius up
Matilda reversed, but Cassius slid off her tusks. Cassius knocked the ball towards the goal, but Matilda reversed into it and pushed it back, only for Cassius to drive around her and push the ball into the Goal.
Matilda turns GroundHog over against the side rails
In Round 3, all three competitors were immobile from the start, with only GroundHog spinning around on the spot. Matilda pushed around the immobile Sting and Wizard, and cut through Wizard's hat with her chainsaw. GroundHog spun around, and nearly hit the ball, but Matilda pushed it to the side of the arena and turned it over with her tusks. The Judges ruled that Sting had been immobile first.
- "Well, the game's been abandoned, there was too much violence on the pitch, not on the terraces, but on the pitch!"
- — Craig Charles as the Judges' decision is announced
Matilda pushes GroundHog into the Pit
In the Arena Stage semi-final between GroundHog and Loco, Loco pushed GroundHog into the PPZ, where it was attacked by Shunt, and it drove deeper into the PPZ, where Dead Metal attacked it. GroundHog tried to get away, but drove into Matilda. Despite the fact GroundHog was not immobile, Matilda pushed it into the Pit. The chain had slipped off her chainsaw.
Cassius is surrounded by the House Robots
Cassius took on the House Robots after defeating Loco in the Heat Final, getting underneath Dead Metal. Matilda abandoned her attack on the overturned Loco to chase after Cassius, getting under its side, lifting it up and pushing it against the arena wall. Cassius slid off as Matilda reversed, but was not discouraged from attacking the House Robots, and went back after Dead Metal, trying to get underneath. Matilda got under its side and lifted up, and fired her spark shooter, the first time it was ever seen.
- "Oh, look at the sparks flying here! What's happened with the sparks flying?"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda uses her spark shooter
Cassius flips Matilda over
Matilda hooked her tusks under one of Cassius' wheels and pushed it away from Dead Metal, then dropped it. Cassius drove to the bottom of the arena, and Dead Metal and Matilda charged after it. Cassius drove under Matilda and flipped her onto her side, the second time Rex Garrod had flipped her over, with Recyclopse having flipped her over in Series 1. Shunt and Sergeant Bash were then able to push Cassius into the Pit.
- Craig Charles: "You took on them all!"
- Rex Garrod: "Well, yeah, you've gotta try! You must try!"
- Craig Charles: "You ended up in the pit, but look at Matilda!"
- Rex Garrod: "Looks dead!"
- Craig Charles: "You bashed her! You bashed them all!"
- — Post-battle interview
Having been absent from the Gauntlet between Heat D and Heat G, Matilda would be used for the Gauntlet in the next four Heats. In Heat I, she was used in the middle route again, and more use was seen of her spark shooter throughout the Heat. Unlike Heat H, Matilda was involved in the runs of 5 of the 6 competitors, the only exception being Prometheus, who abandoned its run down the middle route, and went for the left-hand route.
Matilda pins King Buxton against the fence
King Buxton was the first competitor to run the Gauntlet, and after it drove off the side of the ramp, Matilda drove around the sphere to try and block King Buxton, pushing it against the side of the ramp. King Buxton reversed, and with a quick burst of speed, managed to drive over Matilda's tusks and get past her. Matilda fired her spark shooter as she turned after King Buxton, who was caught by Sir Killalot's lance before it could reach the end. Sir Killalot pushed it against the fence, pinning it down with his lance, and Matilda turned around to use her chainsaw. Matilda brought her chainsaw down onto King Buxton's top and scratched it, but could not damage it. King Buxton tried to get to the end, but Sir Killalot blocked it, and as it drove away from Sir Killalot, Matilda got her tusks under King Buxton's side and held it up, pushing it against the fence.
Matilda gets under RoboDoc in the Gauntlet
During RoboDoc's run, Matilda drove up to the top of the middle route as RoboDoc entered the middle route. Matilda blocked RoboDoc from reaching the ramp, getting her tusks under the side and lifting RoboDoc up, but RoboDoc slipped off, and got around Matilda to drive up the ramp. However, Sir Killalot was blocking the way down, so RoboDoc drove off the side, but drove into Sergeant Bash, and Sir Killalot also blocked the way. Matilda came in behind RoboDoc, and as Sir Killalot picked RoboDoc up, Matilda tried using her chainsaw. As RoboDoc's run came to an end, Matilda fired her spark shooter.
Matilda gets stuck on the side of the ramp
Rottweiler suffered from steering problems, and drove into the fence as it tried to drive over the ramp. Matilda drove over the ramp, getting her tusks underneath and lifting it, but she then reversed, falling off the side of the ramp, getting stuck. She tried to reverse off, but her front was left hanging on the front, leaving her beached. She was eventually freed as Sir Killalot pushed past her as it drove over the ramp to attack Rottweiler, pushing her front off the side of the ramp. Dominic Rott happily pointed out how he had got Matilda stuck in the post-Gauntlet interview with Craig Charles.
- "We thought that 50 millimetre ground clearance might be a problem if Matilda could get in there! Also the Sergeant's circular saw, Matilda seems to be having a problem of her own here! Wedged against the ramp."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda gets under Rottweiler, but then backs over the side of the ramp
Cruella caught between Matilda and Sir Killalot
Cruella originally tried driving down the right hand route, but couldn't get through the ramrig and Sergeant Bash blocked its route, so it went back to the middle route, but Matilda and Sir Killalot were waiting for it, and blocked it from going down the route. Matilda attacked Cruella with her chainsaw, and though Cruella span on the spot, hitting Matilda, Sir Killalot pushed it against the ramrig, pinning it there, leading to its elimination.
All Torque is attacked by the House Robots
All Torque tried to drive over the ramp, but Sir Killalot was blocking the way down, so All Torque drove off the side. However, as it did so, it knocked some of the barrels off the ramp, and fell onto one of them, leaving it beached. Matilda, Sir Killalot and Sergeant Bash all blocked the exit, with Sir Killalot getting his lance underneath, and Matilda ramming it with her tusks and firing her spark shooter at it. After its underside was torched by Sergeant Bash, Sir Killalot dropped All Torque, and it drove up the middle route to take another charge for the end, but as it charged towards the end, Sir Killalot blocked it, and Matilda got her tusks underneath, lifting its wheels off the floor.
Matilda pushes Prometheus and fires the spark shooter
The Joust Trial was used again in Heat I, with Matilda again being the House Robot the competitors had to face. Matilda used her spark shooter throughout the runs; first when she got underneath King Buxton and quickly turned it off the platform, then as she overturned RoboDoc with her tusks, when All Torque charged into her, as she pushed Prometheus back, and as she got her tusks under Rottweiler.
Matilda lifts Rottweiler into the fence
Matilda managed to defeat three of the five competitors, pushing King Buxton off the middle section, and pushing Prometheus and Rottweiler backwards, as they both failed to drive up the ramp. Rottweiler was pushed back all the way to the arena door. RoboDoc managed to survive, as Matilda flipped it over, which did not badly affect RoboDoc as it was invertible, then Matilda pushed RoboDoc against the fence.
Matilda is shoved back to the edge
All Torque was the only competitor to defeat Matilda in the Joust. As the two charged at each other, All Torque was much faster, and hit Matilda before she could reach the middle section, slamming into her side so she couldn't get her tusks underneath. All Torque then got under Matilda and pushed her back a little, and though Matilda struggled against All Torque, she could not get a pushing advantage. Matilda reversed a little, but this allowed All Torque to get at her side, pushing against her side so she was facing sideways. With a series of pushes, All Torque was able to push Matilda back to the end zone.
- "The sparks fly from Matilda's nostrils, and All Torque pushes the House Robot back! She tries to block the ramp route. This is a tremendous run! Go on All Torque! One push, one ram! Oh, something's come off! It's the cuddly toy Matilda! Matilda pushed away, yes! All Torque victorious!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as All Torque defeats Matilda
RoboDoc is forced towards the Pit
In the Arena stage battles, Matilda came out of the PPZ when RoboDoc backed close to the Pit, and with her tusks raised, pushed RoboDoc towards the pit. King Buxton got behind her and pushed the two together, nearly pushing RoboDoc into the Pit, but RoboDoc pushed back, and Matilda turned away as King Buxton reversed up the arena. RoboDoc drove up Matilda's side, and Matilda pushed it onto the Flame Pit with the help of King Buxton.
- "Oh my goodness me! RoboDoc nearly went into the Pit of Oblivion, and Matilda's going to push him back there! Time is running out! RoboDoc heaves back at Matilda, again is turned up onto its head! Over the flaming Pit! Chargrilled RoboDoc."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Robo-Doc fights with Matilda
Matilda and Shunt attack the pitted Talos
Matilda was used in the Gauntlet again in Heat J, this time being used on the left-hand route. However, in all but one of the competitors' runs, she would leave the left-hand route to block the competitors. Talos was first to run, and as it drove through the barrels, it drove onto an arena spike, and Matilda drove up the course to block it. With her tusks raised, Matilda pushed Talos back, but Talos turned around and got past Matilda and Dead Metal.
- "Oh tusk tusk Matilda, you've let Talos get away! But only into the barrels."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Talos gets past Matilda
However, Shunt would push it into the Pit further down the course, and Matilda cut into Talos with her chainsaw, carving a large gash in the armour. Matilda continued to attack after cease was called, getting her tusks under the back of Talos and lifting it up.
- Craig Charles: "Well, Shunt and Matilda did not like you putting their mate down the Pit, did they?"
- Talos guy: "Not at all, no!"
- Craig Charles: "I mean, I think Matilda's living proof that robot's get PMT - Post Mechanical Tension!"
- — Post Gauntlet interview
Matilda pushes Ivanhoe off the see-saw
Ivanhoe beached itself as it failed to line itself up properly whilst driving onto the see-saw, driving at the side, leaving one of its wheels hanging off the edge. Matilda came around from the left-hand route to the middle route and pushed Ivanhoe off the side of the see-saw, pushing it past the pyramid, allowing it to avoid the see-saw altogether. Matilda then drove over the see-saw as Sergeant Bash and Shunt blocked Ivanhoe, but Ivanhoe managed to get to the end.
Matilda cuts into Broot's wheels
Matilda also came around from the left route to the middle in Broot's run, after it failed to get past the bricks. Matilda first pushed Broot against the bricks with her tusks, then turned around to use her chainsaw, easily cutting through the wooden wheels. Matilda then pushed Broot back to the start, pinning it against the fence, though her chainsaw could not cut into the shell of Broot. When Broot tried to get away as time ran out, Matilda kept close after it, and pushed it against the ramrig.
- "Oh, and Matilda smells wood and goes in! And there's the immediate danger of having wooden wheels! A "tyred" challenge from Broot! Matilda won't "re-tyre" on this, that's for certain! And Broot stuck! The teeth can't cut into metal, ooh, but those wheels look very flimsy!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda attacks Broot
Matilda cuts into Kill Dozer with her chainsaw
Penetrator struggled to push past the bricks after breaking through the brick wall, and Matilda came round to the top of the middle route, but Penetrator was able to get up onto the see-saw before she could attack. Kill Dozer however was not so lucky, as after breaking through the brick walls, it pushed two of the bricks onto the see-saw, which prevented it from driving up. Dead Metal and Matilda closed in, and as Kill Dozer reversed for another try, it drove onto the side of the ramp, leaving itself beached. Matilda got behind it and cut through the armour with her chainsaw.
- "Paul Hart, Steve Scotcher, who's got a very short fuse apparently, and Howard Andrews in the team. We know she's got a short fuse, and long tusks!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Kill Dozer becomes stuck on the see-saw
Dead Metal and Matilda try to stop G.B.H. finishing
G.B.H. was the final competitor to run, and Matilda came around to the middle route, but this time, instead of driving to the top of the course as the competitors tried to get through the bricks and up the see-saw, Matilda came around the back of the course after G.B.H. drove over the see-saw, to help Dead Metal and Shunt block G.B.H. from finishing. As Dead Metal grabbed G.B.H.'s front, Matilda pushed against G.B.H.'s side, forcing it against the fence, though G.B.H. was eventually able to push against Dead Metal and cross the line.
Matilda in the Tug of War Trial, with her chainsaw removed and chain attached
Heat J's Trial was Tug of War, and Matilda was used, taking the place of Dead Metal from Heat B. For this trial, her chainsaw was removed and the chain was attached under her rear shell. Matilda was able to defeat all but one of the competitors. Kill Dozer was the only robot to survive, as its spiked scoop was able to dig into the Tug of War platform, preventing Matilda from pulling it in. This prompted a little girl in the audience holding a Matilda banner to turn her banner around to reveal a banner for Kill Dozer.
- Craig Charles: "I thought you were gonna actually get her into the Pit at one stage!"
- Paul Hart: "Yeah, unfortunately though we can't, because the rear wheels were off the ground because of the slope. We'd have had her in but the rear wheels are just off the ground!"
- — Post-Trial interview
The G.B.H team added a couple of spikes on the base of G.B.H to try and dig into the floor, and whilst this did help, Matilda was eventually able to pull them into the Pit.
- "Holding in, digging in against Matilda. Using her weight now! Craig told us that Pavarotti's heavy but can't pull, well Matilda can't sing - she can pull! She pulled G.B.H. in the 'bot disco last night, and again tonight!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda pulls G.B.H. into the Pit
Ivanhoe resists Matilda's pulling
Comparing her results to Dead Metal, Matilda did better overall, as only one robot managed to survive the Tug of War, compared to three when Dead Metal was used, and Matilda was not defeated, whereas Chaos was able to defeat Dead Metal. Matilda's quickest defeat of a competitor was Penetrator, at 9.75 seconds, compared to Dead Metal's best of 16.15 against Tantrum.
Matilda was present for all three of the Arena stage battles, but was not involved in any of them.
Matilda nearly pushes Demon into the Pit
Heat K saw Matilda used in the left route of the Gauntlet again. Demon was first to run the Gauntlet, and she tried to stop Demon by pinning it against the Sentinel, then turned around to use her chainsaw. Although Matilda cut a hole in Demon's front wedge, Demon was able to push Matilda down towards the end zone. Matilda pushed back, forcing Demon to the edge of the Pit, but Demon turned away as Matilda tried to push it in. Sir Killalot came over to try and help Matilda stop Demon, but as he pushed Demon with his lance, Demon was able to get around to reach the end zone.
Enzyme falls in the second Pit
In Enzyme's run, Matilda waited for it as it passed The Sentinel, and when it tried to get past her, Matilda drove around to Enzyme's front to block it, then pushed it into the Pit. She fired her spark shooter after pitting Enzyme.
- "There's the sparks of celebration from Matilda, and that's enough for Enzyme!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda pushes Enzyme into the Pit
Matilda and Sir Killalot block Mega Hurts from finishing the Gauntlet
Matilda would come over from the left route to the centre route during Phoenix's run as Sir Killalot pinned it against the ramp. Matilda also came over to the end of the right route to try and help Sir Killalot prevent Mega Hurts from finishing. Matilda waited in the end zone as Sir Killalot pinned Mega Hurts against the fence, leaving Mega Hurts cornered. Matilda turned around to try and attack Mega Hurts with it, but as Sir Killalot reversed, Mega Hurts was able to get around Matilda and finish.
The Mule gets past Matilda to reach the end zone
Matilda drove up to the top of the left route during The Mule's run, driving by the first pit, and raising her tusks to block The Mule. The Mule reversed back up the course, and Matilda reversed down the course as The Sentinel swung around. When the arm swung around, The Mule charged down the course, and as it drove at Matilda, Matilda drove forwards, which allowed The Mule get past her and finish.
- Craig Charles: "It looked like Matilda was scared of you there, didn't it?"
- Roger Plant: "I should think so too! I'll kick the ... wotsit out of Matilda!"
- Craig Charles: ""Kick the wotsit" will 'ya? Mind your language too, sir! Those legs, those kicky legs, how powerful are they, then?"
- Roger Plant: "Well they can chuck a Land Rover wheel about 20 feet!"
- Craig Charles: "Wow! No wonder Matilda got out of the way then, eh?"
- Roger Plant: "The Forklift'll turn her over, no problem."
- — Post-Gauntlet interview
Plunderbird 2 drives into the Pit to avoid Matilda
Plunderbird 2 would also drive down the left route, and Matilda was waiting for it beyond The Sentinel. As she drove at Plunderbird 2, the team intentionally drove the competitor into the Pit, prompting the other competitors to make chicken noises at them.
- Craig Charles: "What was all that about?"
- Mike Onslow: "Well, we've heard that the House Robots were getting a bit hard and a bit cheesed off with people going down that lane, so we just had to go for a bit of violence really, and unfortunately I drove into the Pit before we could actually get them!"
- Craig Charles: "You just drove straight into the Pit! It was like you were scared of the robots!"
- Mike Onslow: "We're not scared of the robots, we're gonna trash the House Robots! We're not scared of you, we just want some violence! VIOLENCE!"
- Craig Charles: "Plunderbird, all mouth and no trousers!"
- — Post-Gauntlet interview
The King of the Castle Trial was used again, but unlike Heat E, Matilda was not used, with Dead Metal and Sgt. Bash being used instead. She was also not used in either of the Arena stage semi-finals, and though she was used in the Heat Final, she was not involved in the battle.
Heat L proved to be Matilda's quietest episode of the whole series, as she was not used in the Gauntlet for the first time since Heat G, nor was she used in the Trial, which was Sumo, whilst her only involvement in the Arena stage battles was a brief attack on Haardvark in the Heat Final when it drove into her in the PPZ. Matilda got behind Haardvark, getting her tusks under the rear skirt and lifted the wheels off the ground, but then dropped the competitor and let it drive out of the PPZ.
Napalm is flipped in the end zone
Matilda returned to the Gauntlet, starting in the left lane again. However, none of the competitors chose the left route, and in all of the competitors' runs, she would come into the lane the competitors chose to help the other House Robots. First, Napalm sped over the see-saw, and got around Shunt, so Matilda came over to the end zone at the end of the middle route to try and prevent Napalm finishing, getting under it with her tusks and tipping it on its side, but Napalm had already crossed the line
- "Nippy Napalm, napping House Robots! Where were the House Robots?"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda turns Napalm over after it had already finished
Shunt and Matilda block Behemoth
During Behemoth's run, Matilda came over to the middle lane as Behemoth crossed the see-saw, and Shunt was ready for it, blocking the exit to the see-saw. Behemoth got under the side of Shunt, so Matilda drove around to Behemoth's side, pinning it against the fence. She reversed, and Behemoth tried to get around Shunt, Matilda raised her tusks and pushed Behemoth against Shunt, and Shunt tipped Behemoth over.
Shunt and Matilda keep Mortis against the fence
As Mortis crossed the see-saw, Matilda waited at the End Zone in the middle lane. Shunt held up the end of the see-saw, causing Mortis to drive onto the fence and fall onto its top. As Mortis tried to right itself, Matilda used her tusks on Mortis to topple it onto its side. Shunt axed it, then dragged it away from the wall, and Matilda pushed it back upright with her tusks, but as she did so, she drove onto one of the arena spikes, and her raised tusks became caught on the spike, leaving Matilda stuck, and Mortis was able to reverse to the End Zone. Matilda was able to get free of the spike, and drove at Mortis, but Mortis axed her, hitting her camera.
Matilda came over from the middle lane to the centre lane again in Mace's run, but strangely, rather than driving around the back of the course to help block the competitor, Matilda drove around to the top of the course as Mace crossed the see-saw, watching on the other side of the pit as Shunt pushed Mace in.
Killertron gets past Matilda
Matilda came over to the middle lane to help Shunt during Killertron's run. Killertron crossed the see-saw, and Shunt pinned it against the fence. When Shunt let Killertron go, Matilda pinned Killertron against the fence and lifted it up with her tusks. She dropped Killertron as Shunt got behind the competitor and axed it, turning around to use her chainsaw, but as she reversed, Killertron got past her and Shunt and finished.
Matilda pushes the sphere over Panic Attack
Panic Attack was the only competitor in the episode to take the right route, and when Panic Attack became caught in the ramrig, Matilda came over to the left lane. She pushed the sphere against Panic Attack, causing it to roll over its top. Panic Attack turned and tried to get out of the ramrig, but Matilda blocked its escape, and Panic Attack drove back into the side of the ramrig.
The House Robots block Panic Attack as Mace is pitted
In the Race-Off between Panic Attack and Mace, Shunt and Sgt. Bash started in the middle lane, and blocked Panic Attack together, and Matilda came over to the middle lane as Panic Attack nearly got past Sgt. Bash.
Matilda gets under Panic Attack in the Pinball
Matilda was used in the Pinball Trial, guarding the left-hand 50 pt target. Only one competitor went for her target, that being Panic Attack. As it tried to get around her, Matilda got under its side and lifted it up, then pushed it against the wall. Panic Attack slipped off the tusks, but Sir Killalot came over, and together he and Matilda blocked Panic Attack from the 50 point target. Panic Attack tried to get around the House Robots, but Matilda blocked its path, and Panic Attack drove into the bottom arena wall trying to get away from her.
Matilda helps Panic Attack pit Mortis
In the Arena stage, Matilda was involved in one of the biggest shocks of the series. Panic Attack pushed Mortis into the PPZ between Shunt and Matilda and Matilda lifted it up with her tusks, allowing Panic Attack to push it into the Pit
In the second Semi-Final, Matilda was used in the left lane of the Gauntlet again. Roadblock went down the left route, with Matilda waiting beyond The Sentinel, but Roadblock couldn't get past The Sentinel. Matilda came into the middle lane to help block the other House Robots block Cassius, but Cassius couldn't get past Dead Metal. Matilda also came over to the middle lane during G.B.H.'s run, waiting beyond the pit, but G.B.H. drove into the pit before Matilda had a chance to block it.
Matilda pins King Buxton against the fence
During King Buxton's run, Matilda came into the middle lane after Shunt drove into the pit to block King Buxton. Matilda pushed King Buxton against a pyramid and lifted it up with her tusks, but King Buxton was able to use its rear wheels to push back against Matilda and drive up side, then slide off as Matilda turned, allowing it to get past.
Shunt pins Plunderbird 2 against the top fence, and Matilda attacks Plunderbird 2's aerial
In Plunderbird 2's run, Matilda waited at the end of the middle route. Shunt blocked Plunderbird 2 after it broke through the brick wall, and as Shunt forced Plunderbird 2 back, Matilda drove over the ramp to help Shunt push Plunderbird 2 back to the start. As Shunt got his scoop under Plunderbird 2's side, Matilda turned around and got behind Plunderbird 2 and cut its aerial off with her chainsaw.
- "There's the pickaxe of Shunt, the circular saw {sic} of Matilda, and they're going nowhere, Mike Onslow, Bryan Kilburn and Ken Burt!"
- — Jonathan Pearce incorrectly refers to Matilda's chainsaw as a circular saw as Shunt and Matilda keep Plunderbird 2 trapped
Haardvark is lifted by Matilda
Haardvark started by taking the middle lane, and Matilda was waiting for it as it broke through the brick wall, having driven over the ramp. Finding its way blocked by House Robots, Haardvark turned around and drove over the left route. Despite initially struggling to get past the bricks, Matilda chased it round to the left route. Haardvark was blocked by The Sentinel, and Matilda got her tusks under the back of Haardvark and dragged Haardvark back, but not enough to eliminate Plunderbird 2.
- Philippa Forrester: "Matilda's now dragging Haardvark back up the course!"
- Ken Burt: "Come on Matilda! Come on, you can do it!"
- Bryan Kilburn: "We promise not to kill you if you get us through!"
- — The Plunderbird team watch hopefully as Matilda pulls Haardvark back
Matilda reverses into the Pit
Like the first Semi-Final, Matilda was used in the Pinball Trial, where she again guarded the left 50 point target. Roadblock pushed the sphere over to the left side of the arena, and as it rolled towards Matilda, Matilda pushed it away, into the Pit. Roadblock drove at her target, and managed to get around Matilda. Matilda tried to stop Roadblock by pinning against the wall, but couldn't stop Roadblock. Matilda reversed, but backed over the edge of the Pit and fell in.
- "Can they get beyond Matilda and hit that 50 point marker! Hahaha! Matilda's gone! Brilliant stuff! Get out of there Matilda"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda backs into the Pit
Matilda gets under Cassius in the Pinball
During Cassius' run, Cassius found itself in the corner, with bricks caught on its front and a chain having fallen off. Matilda got behind it and lifted its wheels off the ground with her tusks until time ran out.
Matilda stops King Buxton reaching her target
King Buxton was the only other competitor to go for her target, making a late dash in the last few seconds of its run, but Matilda was ready for it, getting her tusks underneath it as it drove at her, lifting it up and pushing it backwards. Roadblock was the only robot to hit her target out of the 10 Semi-Finalists that did the Pinball Trial.
However, Matilda was not used in either of the Arena Stage battles. The Grand Final would be a quiet episode for Matilda, not being used in the battle between Panic Attack and Killertron and Panic Attack, and whilst she was used in the other three battles, she was only involved in a few brief attacks.
Matilda and Sgt. Bash pressure Demon Duck and Bottweiler
Matilda shoves Siren into the Pit
Matilda was also seen regularly in the Grudge Match Special. In the Super Heavyweight Championship, Matilda ripped the front of Demon Duck during the qualifiers, and in the Super Showdown, she used her chainsaw on Siren when it got one wheel stuck over the edge of the Pit, then backed it into the Pit, although she nearly fell in as well, as one of her wheels went over the edge, though she managed to get free.
- "Siren nearly going down into the Pit- Matilda comes in! Rear-end! There's the chainsaw of Matilda. Didn't seem to do too much damage - and nearly tippling and toppling Siren into the pit! Matilda doing all the damage with her backside! Eurgh... That's a grisly thought! And out goes the Siren."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Siren is attacked and pitted
Killerhurtz knocks the chain off of Matilda's chainsaw
Griffon is attacked by Shunt and Matilda
During the Internet Insurrection, the competitors all decided to take on the House Robots. Killerhurtz broke down at the start of the battle, and Matilda went over to attack it, but Killerhurtz's axe was still working, and it hit Matilda's chainsaw with its axe, knocking off the chain[7]. Griffon flipped Sergeant Bash over, and Matilda unsuccessfully tried to right him with her tusks. Corporal Punishment rammed into her side, so Matilda drove out of the PPZ, but Bodyhammer drove into her rear, getting its wedge under her back and lifting her wheels off the floor. Bodyhammer soon let go, and Matilda went back after the competitors, first attacking the immobile Killerhurtz, using her tusks to push it into the PPZ. However, Griffon was fighting with Dead Metal and became caught under his grabbing arms whilst being lifted up and down by an arena spike. Matilda came in, and Griffon managed to get out from under Dead Metal. Matilda drove after it and fired her spark shooter (the last time it was seen on television) as she got her tusks under its front and lifted it up.
- "Matilda's sparks fly, she senses victory could be hers!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda lifts up Griffon and uses her spark shooter
With the help of Shunt, she pushed it against Bodyhammer, which had driven under Dead Metal.
Slippery Strana is flipped up by Matilda
Matilda was also seen during the highlights of the Featherweights, Lightweights and Middleweights. Notably, she used her tusks to flip Slippery Strana over against Shunt's scoop, but Slippery Strana bounced back down. Unseen on television, as only brief highlights were shown, after being flipped and righted,
- "Oh, revenge is sweet ! and it was good to hear some of the audience giggle at his cheekiness. It didn't last long though, as Charlie knew the odds were against him, especially when Dead Metal came lumbering over."
- — Slippery Strana website[8]
Mortis axes Matilda, breaking off one of her tusks
Matilda's final notable moment came at the end of the last battle of the series, the Judgement Day battle between Mortis and Napalm. After Napalm backed into the Pit, Mortis charged at her in the PPZ, hitting her front with its axe, breaking off one of her tusks. Matilda lifted Mortis onto its side using her tusks, with help from Sir Killalot, but her tusks became caught underneath. Matilda spun around with Mortis stuck on the tusks, until Sir Killalot used his lance to lift Mortis off of the tusks.
Series 3[]
Shunt, Matilda, Sgt. Bash and Dead Metal at the beginning of Heat A of Series 3
- "Entering our theatre of war, the matriarch of mayhem, Matilda! With tusks of steel and a chainsaw capable of piercing the toughest of armour plating, and destroying all opponents!"
- — Jonathan Pearce introduces Matilda in the House Robot introduction in Heat A
Matilda received new speed controllers and was completely rewired for Series 3, reportedly doubling her top speed and "to avoid and embarrassing smoking circuitry like in Series 2". Her tusks were also made more controllable[9]. Her soft rubber horns were also swapped in favour of metal ones. This would be her only year with metal horns though, as they frequently snapped off[10].
Matilda attacks the immobile Brimhur, ripping off the side
Matilda made her first appearance in the first battle of the series, Mace 2 vs Stinger, and she would be used in all 4 Round 1 battles. After not being used in either of the Round 2 battles, she would be used in the Heat Final. The first time she got involved was in the third Round 1 battle, between Brimhur and Weeliwako, where after Brimhur was immobilised, Matilda came out of her CPZ to attack it, lifting it up and down with her tusks, ripping off Brimhur's side.
Matilda tries to cut into Robocow with her chainsaw
Matilda's chainsaw was making even less impact on competitors, as there were even fewer robots with armour the chainsaw could damage, so her chainsaw was becoming her secondary weapon in favour of the unchanged tusks. She first used it in Heat B on Robocow, but was only able to scratch the armour.
Matilda cuts into Rattus Rattus with her chainsaw
When Matilda tried using her chainsaw to cut into competitors metal armour, it did sometimes to cut a small gash, but would quickly lock up. In Heat B, Matilda's chainsaw cut through the side of Shark Attack after it was turned over by Behemoth. In Heat F, Matilda was able to cut a small hole in the top of Vector with her chainsaw. In Heat P, Matilda brought her chainsaw down onto the back of Rattus Rattus, cutting a gash in the top, but the chainsaw quickly locked, so she raised the chainsaw. After choosing another spot, she brought her chainsaw down onto Rattus Rattus, cutting a larger gash, but again, the chainsaw soon locked, unable to cut any further into the metal. According to Gary Pike, the driver of Matilda apologised to the team after it was heavily damaged by the House Robots.[11]
Matilda and Dead Metal cut into the pitted Max Damage
Matilda cuts into Judge Shred's fibreglass top
Despite this, Matilda's chainsaw was still effective at cutting through the fibreglass coverings of some competitors, such as Max Damage, Judge Shred and Twn Trwn. Matilda attacked Max Damage and Judge Shred after they were pitted, and managed to cut the ear off of one of Twn Trwn's decorative heads.
- "Ooh, listen to the circular saw {sic}! That is just like going to the dentist and having the old drill in your mouth! Ooh, That sent shivers down my spine!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda cuts through Judge Shred's fibreglass top
Matilda lifts and nearly turns over Agent Orange
Matilda's tusks were also useful in lifting robots up. In Heat C, Blade pushed Agent Orange into her CPZ, and Matilda flicked Agent Orange up and down with her tusks, which buckled Agent Orange's stainless steel baseplate, lifting the robot's wheels off the floor and leaving it struggling to drive[12].
- "Ooh, "tusk tusk" Matilda, you should have finished it off!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda lifts Agent Orange up and down with her tusks
Matilda was the victim of a number of attacks by competitors in this series, more than any of the other House Robots, and she often came off second best.
Aggrobot knocks Matilda's shell off
Matilda loses her shell
The first time was in Heat C, when after defeating Binky, Aggrobot rammed into her side as she and the other House Robots were attacking Binky, dislodging the shell. As Matilda reversed, Aggrobot pushed against her again, pulling the shell off the back, leaving her internals exposed.
- "And now the cricket fans trying to bowl a maiden over! Look! They've ripped the shell off Matilda! They've body-popped Matilda - she's nude! Oh, horrible! That's a nightmare that'll stay in my memory forever! Naked Matilda - shocking!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Aggrobot dislodges Matilda's shell
Razer gets into the face of Matilda
Notably, before this battle, the Razer team had tried to attack Matilda after defeating Backstabber, driving at her front and trying to get underneath, but couldn't get underneath, so Razer reversed away. Matilda appeared to be immobile, as she did not fight back against Razer.
- "Matilda, doesn't want to know. Out on the tiles last night with Dead Metal."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Razer attacks Matilda
In their post-battle interview, the team announced their intention to rip the shell off Matilda, which Aggrobot achieved in the very next battle, a fact that was brought up before their battle together in Round 2
- "Bit of a grudge match here, Aggrobot and Razer. Aggrobot, first to rip the shell of Matilda, though Razer, and the team of Simon, Vincent and Ian, had wanted to get there first!"
- — Jonathan Pearce at the start of the Round 2 battle between Razer and Aggrobot
Ultor axes Matilda
In Heat D, Ultor attacked her after Flipper broke down. As the House Robots attacked Flipper, Ultor drove into Matilda's side and fired the axe. Matilda turned to push Ultor back as it fired the axe a couple of times on her front, then pushed past Ultor and went back to continue attacking Flipper. Ultor was not discouraged however and drove around to Matilda's rear to try and attack again. Ultor missed with the axe, and Matilda turned around, hitting Ultor with her tusks, then ramming into the front and lifting it up with her tusks. Matilda reversed, and Ultor tried to drive after her, but was flipped over by an Arena Spike, and pushing it back.
- Philippa Forrester: "You had a good old joust with Matilda though, didn't you?"
- Barnaby Golder: "Yeah, why not?"
- Roger Golder: "Well, we thought "If we can't have a go at one, we'll have a go at the others!""
- — The Ultor team explain their attack on Matilda in the post-battle interview
Chaos 2 flips Matilda after defeating Crocodilotron
Matilda with the chain hanging loose from her chainsaw after being flipped by Chaos 2
Chaos 2 swiftly defeated Crocodilotron in Round 1 of Heat E, turning it over and flipping it into Matilda's CPZ, and as Matilda tried to use her chainsaw on the upturned Crocodilotron, Chaos 2 tried to get under her side and flip her over. It only flicked her up a little, due to not having the flipper properly underneath the side, but the impact caused the chain to slip off of Matilda's chainsaw.
- "Ooh, and now look, Chaos 2 takes on Matilda, who spins in rage, and I think has lost part of her chainsaw there! Look, you can see the actual chain just trailing away like some disgusting Matilda entrail!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Chaos 2 flips Matilda
Matilda pushes Gravedigger after it dislodges her rear shell
After defeating Mortis in Heat F, Gravedigger took on Matilda, dislodging her rear shell. Matilda got her tusks into Gravedigger's side, lifted it up and pushed it into the arena centre, and Shunt also came out to attack, puncturing it with his axe.
- "And it looks to me as if Gravedigger's had a go at Matilda, look at Matilda's shell! Her eyes are burning bright with lustre and desire from revenge! And Shunt's coming out to help a lady in distress - some lady!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Gravedigger fights with Matilda
Panic Attack overturns Matilda
Panic Attack also chose to celebrate its victory by attacking Matilda in Heat K. After overturning Axios, Panic Attack tried to get its forks under Matilda's side, hooking the shell, and as Panic Attack raised the forks, it ripped the shell off Matilda's back. Before Matilda could get away, Panic Attack managed to push against Matilda's side with its raised forks and roll her onto her side.
- Philippa Forrester: "What were you doing to Matilda? It's outrageous! You had her kit off and everything!"
- Kim Davies: "Yep, well if we manage to deal with a contender, we're always going to go for a House Robot!"
- — Post-battle interview
KillCam witnesses Facet flipping Matilda
Heat O saw two competitors attack Matilda. In Round 1, having flipped Terminal Ferocity over, Facet also flipped Matilda over when she drove up the arena.
- Philippa Forrester: "We obviously saw what you did, not only to the competitor but to our very own Matilda!"
- Mike Rickard: "Yes, of course!"
- Philippa Forrester: "Which wasn't very nice!"
- Mike Rickard: "Well she just parked her bottom there and we just couldn't resist her!"
- — Post battle interview
Shunt used his scoop to turn Matilda back over, but Matilda appeared to be immobile.
- "Couldn't resist her? Urgh, I've seen Matilda in the showers!"
- — Jonathan Pearce after Facet's post-battle interview
Matilda fights back against Fire Storm, getting her tusks underneath
In Round 2, Fire Storm defeated Facet, Fire Storm took on Matilda, charging into her CPZ and trying to get at her side, but Matilda got her tusks under Fire Storm's side, lifted its wheels off the floor, and dragged it out of her CPZ. Matilda let Facet go, and Fire Storm was chased up the arena by Shunt and Sergeant Bash.
Chaos 2 celebrates its win by flipping Matilda
The most notable attack on Matilda came in the Grand Final, where Chaos 2 celebrated winning the title by attacking Matilda, managing to do what it failed to in Round 1. After an unseen attack which caused the chain to slip off her chainsaw, like in Round 1, Chaos 2 drove to an empty CPZ. Matilda chased after it, but Chaos 2 turned around, got under her side and flipped her against the wall, causing her back shell to fall off.
- "George Francis will try to keep Chaos 2 away from Matilda, and attacks Matilda now! We can see the chainsaw has come off the back of Matilda! What an untidy and ghastly sight she makes!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Chaos 2 flips Matilda over
According to the Robot Wars Magazine, unseen on television, Hypno-Disc sheared both of Matilda's tusks off during Series 3[13].
- "Chaos 2 wants more toying with the House Robots and destroying them! This is great fun! But they will be back, of course, and revenge will be in their hearts for the champions in the next series!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Shunt helps out Matilda in Heat O
When she was attacked, the other House Robots would often come in to help her. When Chaos 2 tried to flip her over in Round 1 of Heat E, Shunt and Sergeant Bash came out of CPZ's to help her, chasing after Chaos 2, and eventually, Sergeant Bash managed to pin it against the wall when Chaos 2 drove too close to the wall. Shunt and Sergeant Bash also pinned Facet against the wall after it flipped Facet over.
Mortis attacks Matilda but is grabbed by Dead Metal
Mortis tried attacking Matilda in Round 1 after defeating Ming, driving at her front and axing her, but Dead Metal came out of his CPZ and grabbed Mortis from behind, and Shunt came up the arena and axed Shunt. Together, Dead Metal and Shunt pushed Matilda into the Pit. Dead Metal and Shunt intervened when Mortis tried attacking her.
- "And look at this for confidence, the Mortis boys taking on the House Robots! Taking on Matilda first of all, there's Dead Metal and Shunt as well. Well, if you're confident enough to take on the House Robots boys, you've got to take what comes to you!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Mortis takes on Matilda, then Dead Metal and Shunt fight back
Dreadnaut rams the back of Matilda
In Round 2 of Heat P, Dreadnaut rammed into her back as the House Robots attacked the immobile Rattus Rattus, so Shunt rushed over, driving into Dreadnaut to force it to stop attacking Matilda. Dreadnaut drove into a corner, and Shunt followed it, pinning it against the wall, before Dreadnaut escaped up the arena.
- "Chaos 2 wants more toying with the House Robots and destroying them! This is great fun! But they will be back, of course, and revenge will be in their {the House Robot's} hearts for the champions in the next series!"
- — Jonathan Pearce after Chaos 2 flipped Shunt and Matilda over
In the Grand Final, Shunt tried to stop Chaos 2 after it flipped Matilda. Shunt intervened, axing Chaos 2's back and dragging it away, only for Chaos 2 to flip him over as well.
- "Oh, Matilda's lost a tusk! Goodness me, toothless Matilda! Imagine being gummed to death by Matilda! Fascinating thought! Lurid and somewhat disturbing!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Matilda loses a tusk in the Heat Final of Heat I
Inverterbrat dislodges Matilda's rear shell
Attacks from competitors were not the only problems Matilda suffered from this series. One of her tusks broke off in the Heat Final of Heat I. Matilda had lifted up Beast of Bodmin after it went into her CPZ, then later in the battle, she pushed Invertabrat away from her CPZ when Beast of Bodmin pushed it by the top arena wall by her CPZ. She lifted Invertabrat a little, but her right tusk was snapped, leaving it loosely hanging on. Matilda reversed back into her CPZ, but soon after, Invertabrat turned into her CPZ whilst trying to avoid Beast of Bodmin. Invertabrat hit Matilda's front, knocking off the loose tusk. Matilda reversed, spun around, then pushed back against Invertabrat, at which point her shell fell back into place.
- "Matilda, almost losing her body shell! Matilda's doing some sort of dreadful striptease out there at the moment! Pirouetting around, showing off basically, bit of an exhibitionist. Tusk-less and shell-less."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Sgt. Bash grabs hold of Robocow while Matilda breaks the tail and gets stuck on Bash
Matilda actually became caught on the side of her fellow House Robot Sgt. Bash in Heat B, during the battle between General Carnage and Robocow. General Carnage pushed Robocow into Sgt. Bash's CPZ, and as Sgt. Bash gripped the front spikes, Matilda came up the arena, ramming into Robocow, knocking off its tail. However, as she pushed against Robocow, she slipped past it and rammed into Sgt. Bash's side, and as she lowered her tusks, she became caught on Sgt. Bash's side. Sgt. Bash had to reverse to let Matilda slide off
Matilda becomes beached after driving up Hard Cheese's wedge
In the next Heat, Matilda also became beached, this time on competitor Hard Cheese. After being immobilised, Hard Cheese was pushed towards the arena wall by Sir Killalot. In doing so, Sir Killalot pushed Hard Cheese against Tentoumushi, and pushed the two together against the arena wall. With Tentoumushi unable to get free, Matilda pushed the two apart, but as she drove against Hard Cheese, she drove up its wedge. Matilda drove up Hard Cheese's side, but instead of falling off the top, she became caught on the corner. Sir Killalot had to come in to push her off, but after this, Matilda appeared to be immobile, and her rear shell was dislodged.
Sir Chromalot is nudged into the Pit
Matilda was involved in some of the more controversial moments of the series. In Round 1 of Heat D, Sir Chromalot was fighting Shell Shock, and it became stuck on Shell Shock's axe head, which had broken off during their fight. Smoke began to rise from Sir Chromalot, and though it was able to lift its shell and get off the axe head, the House Robots rushed out from their CPZ's to attack. Matilda got under Sir Chromalot with her tusks, lifting it up and nearly pushing it into the Pit. Sir Chromalot slowly tried to get away, but Matilda whacked it with her tusks, and Sir Killalot pushed it into the Pit. The Judges intervened however, ruling that the House Robots should not have got involved as Sir Chromalot had not been deemed immobile. Judging the battle up to the point the House Robots intervened, they controversially chose to put Sir Chromalot through.
- "But there's still movement, they're not immobilised, and Matilda shouldn't be doing that and they {the Sir Chromalot team} know it! The House Robots can't come in there, there's still life in Sir Chromalot! Oh gad, The House Robots! Goodness me, the high rollers are rolled out! But should the House Robots have got involved there?"
- — Jonathan Pearce as the House Robots pit the limping Sir Chromalot
Matilda pits Wild Willy
Another controversial battle involving Matilda was the Round 1 battle between Wild Willy and Flip Flop Fly in Heat L. Flip Flop Fly had a punctured tyre and was barely moving, and after failing to push it into the Pit, Flip Flop Fly reversed onto the arena spike. In its haste to get off, Flip Flop Fly drove onto the edge of the Pit, and in trying to get free, ended up stranded over the side of the Pit. As Wild Willy tried to shake itself free using its axe, Matilda came out of her CPZ and pushed Wild Willy fully into the Pit. The Judges were consulted, and they ruled that Flip Flop Fly would go through, despite appearing to have been immobilised first.
- "They're teetering, they're tottering, but this is clever, they're trying to use the pickaxe to bounce them away from the Pit! Can they do it? Can they get away? No! Matilda says no, and now in comes Dead Metal! Oh, that is silly, silly billy, Wild Willy! The Judges will make the decision, but you're immobilised, that's clear!"
- — Jonathan Pearce on Wild Willy's pitting
Matilda finishes Miss Ile off
Similarly, Matilda came out of her CPZ in Heat E, during the battle between Anorakaphobia and Miss Ile when Miss Ile was stranded on the edge of the Pit, though this instance was not controversial as Miss Ile had been pushed there by Anorakophobia, who was still mobile, and Miss Ile was not able to try and struggle free.
Matilda, Dead Metal and Shunt attack the victorious Trident
In the Heat Final of Heat P, Dreadnaut broke down by the arena wall, and Trident rammed it against the saws, but then broke down as well. The House Robots pushed the two apart, and despite the fact that Dreadnaut had stopped moving first, they attacked Trident, with Shunt axing it, Dead Metal cutting into the back, and Matilda using her chainsaw on the side.
- "House Robots come from dark and dingy places. They do not like sleek and shiny machines, Stephen Benn! ... You see, we admire all your work, we really do! Splendid effort, lovely design, beautiful machinery, and then we like to gnash and break it and bend it and tear it and tatter it, oh, destroy it! Ooh lovely! And Matilda now coming in, with her chainsaw! This is a party for us you see on Robot Wars! Trident the winner, we don't care! Take some of that! Poor old Dreadnaut long, long, long ago dead."
- — Jonathan Pearce as the House Robots attack Trident
Matilda rights Blade
Matilda also controversially righted two robots when they were flipped over. First, in the Heat C battle between Blade and Agent Orange, Blade was flipped onto its side by an Arena Spike, and Matilda knocked it back onto its wheels.
- "Again had the cutter working (we've since switched to electric for the cutter, much better) not pushed then towards Matilda when they where on their side and then I'd hopefully still be running at the end and have won (lousy judges)."
- — Pete Duncanson reflects on what he would have done differently in the battle with Blade[14]
Steg-O-Saw-Us is flipped up again by Gravedigger, before Matilda rights it
Then, in the second Semi-Final, Steg-O-Saw-Us was flipped onto its side just outside her CPZ by Gravedigger, but Matilda came over the edge of her CPZ, pushing past Steg-O-Saw-Us and ramming Gravedigger. As she did so, she knocked Steg-O-Saw-Us back onto its wheels. In both cases, the robot Matilda knocked back over would go on to win the battle.
Matilda comes out of her CPZ
Matilda and the other House Robots would come out of their CPZ's to help robots when they were stuck together or in the arena. One of the most notable examples of this was the Round 1 battle in Heat B between Technophobic and Abaddon, where Matilda and the other House Robots came out multiple times. First, Abaddon's rear castor wheel fell over the edge of the Pit, and Matilda came out of her CPZ to try and help, but before she could, Abaddon pulled its rear wheel free, so gave Technophobic a little push then returned to her CPZ. Later, after Abaddon's castor wheel fell off, Technophobic pushed its tail onto the Flame Pit, causing it to become caught on the grille. Shunt tried pushing Abaddon free with his plough, and Matilda came over, trying to lift the tail with her tusks, but Abaddon was still caught, until Shunt used his scoop to free it. Matilda would come out of her CPZ again as Technophobic pinned Abaddon against the wall, as Abaddon's blades were snagged in Technophobic's front. Matilda pushed Technophobic, but this did not free Abaddon, and Sgt. Bash and Sir Killalot also came out to help, with Sir Killalot lifting Abaddon with his lance, and Sgt. Bash pushing it free.
Matilda gets stuck on the competing machines
In Round 1 of Heat C, Matilda came out of her CPZ when Spike had Blade pinned against the arena wall, as competitors are not allowed to pin robots in place for too long. Matilda pushed Blade from behind, then got her tusks under the side and lifted Blade up to help push it away from the wall. However, as she pushed, she drove into Spike, and when she lowered her tusks, she brought them down onto Spike's pneumatic spike, lifting her wheels off the ground. Sgt. Bash came out of his CPZ to push Spike and free Matilda.
- "And they seem to have ground to a halt on the front of Spike! In comes Matilda, with a little shunt from the rear, with those horns and spikes, flicking Blade up on its side! A bit of an impasse at the moment, so in comes Sgt. Bash. The House Robots can do that if the competing robots get stuck together."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda and Sgt. Bash come out of their CPZs
Matilda pushes Henry's spike free of the arena floor
Henry's front spike became caught in the floor twice in its Round 1 battle against Haardvark, and the House Robots had to keep coming out of their CPZ to push the spike free. First, Matilda came out of her CPZ when Henry's spike was caught in the floor, and used her tusks to push Henry free of the floor, pushing against Henry's side and lifting the spike free. It drove away, but very soon after, the spike caught on the arena floor again, so Shunt and Matilda to help. Shunt pushed against Henry's front to get the spike loose, then Matilda pushed against Henry's side to free it.
Matilda intercepts as Ally Gator edges Corporal Punishment towards the Pit
Matilda had to come out of her CPZ multiple times during the fight between Ally Gator and Corporal Punishment in Heat H. On its initial charge at Corporal Punishment, Ally Gator got underneath its opponent, but Corporal Punishment became caught on the top. Ally Gator reversed, trying to get out from under Corporal Punishment, but Corporal Punishment was still hooked on top, and Ally Gator could not shake Corporal Punishment loose, so Matilda came out of her CPZ to try and push the two apart. Matilda pushed at the back of Ally Gator with her tusks, but this failed to separate the two, so Matilda returned to her CPZ. Ally Gator pushed Corporal Punishment down the arena, and Matilda came out of her CPZ again, pushing against the side of Ally Gator, but failed to separate the two again. As Ally Gator tried and failed to get enough traction to push Corporal Punishment into the Pit, Matilda drove around the two, driving dangerously close to the edge of the Pit, and pushed against Corporal Punishment. Ally Gator tried to help by reversing up the arena, but Corporal Punishment was still caught on the spikes on top of Ally Gator. Matilda gave up trying to separate the two, and Sir Killalot and Dead Metal came out to separate the two, with Sir Killalot using his lance to lift Corporal Punishment off of Ally Gator's top.
Matilda uses her tusks to free Armour Geddon from the Pit
During its battle with Onslaught in Heat I, Armour Geddon drove near the Pit, and swung its spiked arm over, but this caused one of the spikes to become hooked on the side of the Pit, so Matilda come out of her CPZ to push Armour Geddon free, pushing its body to pull the spiked arm free of the Pit.
Matilda tries to right Prizephita
In Round 1 of Heat N, Thing 2 tipped Prizephita onto its side, then pushed it into Sergeant Bash's CPZ. Sergeant Bash pushed Prizephita against the arena wall, and Prizephita's top srimech became caught under the fence. Matilda pushed against Prizephita's front, but the srimech was still caught under the fence, so Shunt came in, and used his axe to pull it down.
Matilda pushes Rattus Rattus away from the arena wall
When Rattus Rattus failed to start in its Round 2 battle in Heat P, Matilda came out of her CPZ to push Rattus Rattus away from the wall to see if it would move, but it was clear that it was totally immobile, so the House Robots came in to attack.
Incidents such as these were the main reason behind the introduction of Refbot in the following series.
- "It had been highlighted, there was a need for a robot that was seen as being unbiased, so when robots were tied together, or got stuck together, which happens quite often when they get stuck together, or stuck on the side barriers, they get wedged on the floor, or they get wedged together. And in the past the House Robots had gone in to free these robots. Now that was seen by viewers at home as being a bit confusing "Well, why is that robot being nice?", so we built Refbot."
- — Chris Reynolds on the creation of Refbot, a direct response to Shunt's actions
Matilda was also involved in the Pinball side event, where guarded the 50 point target at the bottom of the arena. However, she was only used in 2 of the 10 runs, with Dead Metal being used to guard the bottom target in the majority of runs. Matilda was used in Six Pac's run, and Inquisitor's.
Matilda prevents Six Pac hitting the 75 point target
In Six Pac's run, Matilda was ready for Six Pac as it crossed the see-saw, pushing it back, but in doing so, it drove out of her zone, leaving the target unguarded. Six Pac swerved around her and tried to hit her target, but suffered a loss of control, and failed to hit the target. Matilda rushed in between Six Pac and the target, and used her tusks to flip the target out of the arena.
- "Points here on the target, go on, go on! Oh, what an opportunity missed! The 75 point target was there to be had! And now Matilda comes in, and that's a glaring opportunity missed!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda flips the 75 point target out of the arena
Matilda pushed Six Pac against the car door frame, getting underneath with her tusks. Six Pac went up her side and was nearly toppled over, but managed to reverse off Matilda and fall back on its wheels. After hitting the 50 point target, and driving through the car doors, Six Pac reversed into Matilda, who appeared to be immobile. Sir Killalot came over, pushing Six Pac against Matilda and pinned the two against the wall.
- "This is tremendous stuff, very impressive, and Killalot knows it and comes in for revenge! Crashing Six Pac onto the shell of Matilda. Talk about between a rock and a hard place, between Matilda and Killalot!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Sir Killalot pins Six Pac against Matilda
Inquisitor Mk 2 overturns Matilda
In Inquisitor's run, Inquisitor drove underneath Matilda in the last few seconds, and used its lifter to topple Matilda onto her side. As it did so, Sir Killalot rushed over, and tried to prevent Matilda from being overturned using by using his lance to try and block it, but was too late. He tried to lift Matilda back over by getting his tusks under her spines, but Matilda slid off the lance as it raised.
- "Time is ticking away, Matilda... ooh this looks like fun! In underneath Matilda, after the cease was called! Is that a pleasant experience? Well, I'm not too sure."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Inquisitor Mk 2 gets under Matilda and turns her over
Matilda was more prominently featured in the Robotic Soccer tournament, where she was used as a defender in all the matches, with Dead Metal in goal, just like Series 2.
- "Except defending the goal are a couple of players that make Peter Beardsley look like Pamela Anderson - two very ugly House Robots!"
- — Craig Charles whilst introducing the Robotic Soccer
Matilda blocks Velocirippa
In the first match, between Velocirippa and Demolition Demon 2, Matilda blocked Velocirippa as it got hold of the ball and pushed it towards the goal, hitting Velocirippa with her tusks and pushing the ball away from it, then getting between Velocirippa and the ball and blocking Velocirippa.
- "Matilda, good solid chunky full back. Don't think you'd see many pin-up pictures of Matilda in soccer strips, would you?"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda blocks the ball
Matilda accidentally gives the ball away
Matilda pushed the ball to the side of the arena, but then pushed the ball back into play, and Velocirippa intercepted the ball, rushing down the arena, reaching the ball and pushing it into the goal to score the first goal.
- "Watch for this dreadful defending by Matilda, and in nips Velocirippa! Route 1 through the middle, but never pass the ball square along your back four! You should know that from the football coaching manual!"
- — Jonathan Pearce whilst watching the replay of Velocirippa's goal before the Final
In the second match, between Gnasher and Malfunktion, Gnasher got to the ball first, and started pushing the ball towards the goal, but Matilda drove around the two competitors and drove into Gnasher's side, causing it to lose control of the ball, and Dead Matilda came off his line to push the ball away to the side of the arena, although Gnasher managed to get to the ball before the House Robots and pushed it into the goal.
Alien clashes with Matilda, in a moment not shown on television
Matilda blocks Evil Weevil's shot on goal
In the match between Evil Weevil and Alien, Matilda helped prevent either competitor scoring. When Evil Weevil pushed the ball up the arena along the wall, Matilda used her tusks to flick the ball away from the wall, towards the goal, then rushed over to block the ball before Evil Weevil could reach it. As Evil Weevil tried reversing into the ball, Matilda got in Evil Weevil's path to block it, sending the ball bouncing away.
Matilda blocks The General
In the final Round 1 match, between The General and Spectre, Matilda managed to push the ball away from The General, pushing it to the top corner, so The General rammed into her rear, trying to push past her. The General nearly got past, but Matilda reversed to get to the ball, before driving up to the top of the arena. The General pushed the ball to the top of the arena, pushing it along the side wall, and Matilda came over to block it. However, as Matilda hit The General with her tusks, the ball slipped past her. Matilda turned to keep the ball away from The General, but Dead Metal failed to stop the ball, and this counted as a goal for The General.
Gnasher and Matilda block Evil Weevil
Matilda was paired with Sergeant Bash in defence for the Final. She started by driving into the arena centre near the ball, getting under the side of The General and lifting it up a little, which allowed Gnasher to get to the ball first. However, as Gnasher pushed the ball, Matilda came around to block it, then pushed against Gnasher with her tusks and knocked the ball away. Gnasher went after the ball and regained possession, but Matilda blocked it again, and as Gnasher tried to get to the ball again, she pushed it away up the arena. Matilda blocked the ball as Gnasher drove after it, and tried to flick the ball away with her tusks, but Evil Weevil was waiting. Matilda span around, defending the ball from Evil Weevil and The General, and blocked Evil Weevil as it gained the ball and tried to push it up the arena. The ball bounced back down the arena, and The General got to it and started pushing, but Matilda intercepted the ball, flicking it back to the bottom of the arena with her tusks. Gnasher went after the ball, but Matilda quickly drove down to prevent it getting hold of the ball, and as she pushed the ball away, Evil Weevil flipped Gnasher over. After defending the ball from Evil Weevil, she pushed the ball into the arena centre so Sergeant Bash could set it of fire. Matilda then pushed it back up the arena, behind the overturned Gnasher. As the match ended, she had prevented any of the competitors from scoring, so Evil Weevil was declared the winner based on possession.
Matilda made only a few appearances in the two international events filmed as part of Series 3.
- "The world might be one great big onion, but with hydraulic tusks and a chainsaw tail, matriarchal Matilda isn't going to shed any tears over these championships!"
- — Jonathan Pearce introduces Matilda in The First World Championship
Razer crushes the back of Matilda
In the International League Championship, after a couple of battles in which she appeared but was not involved in the battle, Razer attacked Matilda after defeating Techno-Lease. Razer got under her front and rammed her against the arena wall. Matilda pushed back, and Razer let go. However, as Matilda returned to her CPZ, Razer tried to get behind Matilda, so Matilda drove away, and Shunt drove at Razer. However, Razer crushed Shunt's front scoop, so Matilda came in, using her tusks to lift Razer. Shunt reversed away and Matilda dropped Razer, but soon after Razer got behind Matilda and tried to grab her chainsaw with its crusher.
- "The English team will go on now to attack Matilda! Trying to immobilise Matilda's chainsaw for later on! Prodding where no robot has gone before - or would ever like to go again! That truly is a hideous thought!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Razer attacks Matilda
Shunt pinned Razer against the wall as it got its crusher around Matilda's chainsaw, and lifted Razer up against the fence, so Razer grabbed the fence with its crusher.
However, despite being involved in 6 different battles, her only other involvement in the episode was helping to put Terror Australis on the Floor Flipper.
Matilda comes out of her CPZ to push Razer free of Behemoth
Matilda was even less involved in the First World Championship, where she was only used in the Final, where she pushed Razer away from Behemoth, as Behemoth had been pinning it down too long.
At the end of Series 3, it was decided that Matilda was in need of improvement for later series due to the repeated attacks from competitors, and the ineffectiveness of her chainsaw. A new rear weapon was planned, but this would not be implemented until Extreme 1.
- "The competition this year was superb, Matilda's been taking quite a battering - she was outclassed."
- — Chris Reynolds in Robot Wars Magazine[15]
Series 4[]
- ""Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing..." So what, the Aussie Shelia can dance a bit? But does she have a chainsaw tail turning at over 3000 rpm and hydraulic tusks operated by super pneumatic power? Our Tildy dances - the Cha Cha Ta Ta!"
- — Jonathan Pearce introduces Matilda during the House Robot introduction in Heat A
Matilda in the House Robot Introduction
The original version of Matilda was due to be retired at the end of Series 4, so Series 4 saw her have less involvement compared to previous series. Her new flywheel was due to be used first in this series, but was not finished in time, so it would not be until the next series it was seen. In the meantime, she kept her chainsaw, but with almost all of the competitors being armoured in metal, it was able to do very little damage. Matilda did have some improvements for Series 4. Safety catches were added, to keep her rear shell on even if she was flipped. Her tusks were also given a makeover. The mountings for her tusks, originally close to her chassis, were moved up, therefore making the tusks lift higher.
Matilda tries to cut into the top of Maverick
The House Robots gang up on Plunderbird 4
In Round 1 of Heat H, Suicidal Tendencies pushed Maverick into Matilda, who turned around and tried using her chainsaw on Maverick's top, but did no damage, so turned around and pushed Maverick away. Similarly, in Round 2 of Heat L, after Plunderbird 4 was beaten by Knightmare, the House Robots attacked, but Matilda only tentatively approached Plunderbird 4 with her chainsaw. She started by using her tusks to tip Plunderbird 4 from its side to its back, then as Shunt attacked it with his axe, Matilda turned around to use her chainsaw. However, she slowly approached Plunderbird 4 with her chainsaw, but then backed off as Shunt axed it. Dead Metal grabbed Plunderbird 4 and pulled it back, cutting into the top with his saw. Matilda approached again with her chainsaw, but as she lowered the chainsaw, she found it difficult to attack, as Dead Metal was pushing Plunderbird 4 around. When she did manage to use her chainsaw on the top, she did no damage, so drove away, leaving the other House Robots to finish it off.
Matilda slices into Dreadnaut XP1
Matilda cuts into Killertron's top
Matilda's chainsaw did however do some notable damage on some competitors not armoured in metal. The first notable example came in Heat G, after Thermidor 2 defeated Dreadnaut XP1 by flipping it over. Matilda reversed at it with her chainsaw, slicing through the fibreglass armour, effortlessly cutting through the tyre, and digging into the wooden baseplate. Matilda cut a couple more gashes in the baseplate, before Dead Metal dragged in onto the Floor Flipper.
- "It's a question here of damage limitation for poor old Dreadnaut! Will any of the wheels, will the castor wheels at the top of your picture be left on there? Under power from Matilda."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda cuts into the base of Dreadnaut
Matilda chops through Oblivion 2's aerial
Matilda cuts into The Mangulator's tyre
Matilda was also able to cut into Killertron's plastic top after it was flipped over by Wheely Big Cheese in Heat H, where she cut three large gashes in the top. In Heat O, Matilda cut through Oblivion 2's aerial after it was immobilised by Saw Point, and she was also cut into The Mangulator's tyre in Round 1 of the War of Independence, cutting two large gashes in it after one of its wheels fell off. However, when she tried into the plastic barrel of Major Tom, her chainsaw locked on contact.
- "The chainsaw of Matilda... this really is, it's making me weep - with joy!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda cuts into the top of Killertron
The Steel Avenger on the arena wall, under pressure from Matilda
Matilda flips Little Fly
With her chainsaw unable to do much damage, her tusks became her main weapon for this series. In the Heat Final of Heat K, MouseTrap pushed Little Fly into her CPZ, and Matilda stopped it from escaping by getting her tusks under the side and flicking it up, then using her raised tusks to pin Little Fly down and push it against the arena wall. In the Heat Final of Heat L, she used her tusks to flip the immobile Knightmare onto its side. In Round 1 of Heat M, Wild Thing pushed The Steel Avenger into her, and Matilda flipped The Steel Avenger with her tusks, which threw The Steel Avenger up over Wild Thing and onto the arena wall. Matilda then used her tusks to push it off of the wall, which caused it to fall onto its top, and tipped it back up right when its self-righting spikes failed to right it. In the same battle, she also lifted up Wild Thing a little when it drove by her CPZ, and flicked Humphrey with her tusks after it was thrown by the Floor Flipper.
Matilda flips Wheely Big Cheese after being slammed in by Tornado
Matilda nearly lifts Pussycat out of the arena
Tornado pushed Wheely Big Cheese into her in their Semi-Final battle, and Matilda flicked Wheely Big Cheese up, then turned it around to force it deeper into the CPZ. As Wheely Big Cheese tried to get out, Matilda flipped it over with her tusks. In the same episode, Dominator 2 pushed Pussycat into her, and Matilda lifted it with her tusks. With Dominator 2 also pushing, they nearly lifted Pussycat over the arena fence.
Matilda flips up Dominator 2
Matilda flips Onslaught onto its side
In the Northern Annihilator, Matilda flipped Dominator 2 over. In the Southern Annihilator, Matilda flipped Onslaught onto its side twice, first in Round 3, then again in the Final. In Round 3, Razer was chasing Onslaught towards the end of the battle, and Matilda came well out of her CPZ, despite the fact that none of the competitors were immobile. As Onslaught drove away from Razer, Matilda got her tusks under the back of Onslaught and used them to tip Onslaught onto its side. Razer grabbed the side, but time ran out before Onslaught could be deemed immobile. However, in the Final, Onslaught made the mistake of driving into Matilda's CPZ, and Matilda turned it over onto its side, resting on its side, from which it could not self-right, so Onslaught was deemed immobile and Razer was declared the winner.
Major Tom is finished off by Matilda
Tiberius is flicked into the Pit by Matilda
Perhaps realising her diminished effectiveness at attacking competitors, Matilda was used less when the House Robots pushed beaten competitors onto the arena hazards. The first time she was used to pit a beaten competitor was in Heat E, where she helped Sir Killalot push Major Tom into the Pit, after Sir Killalot pushed Major Tom so it was hanging on the edge. In the other Round 2 battle, she also nudged Shadow of Napalm into the Pit, with the help of Sir Killalot, after Dominator 2 pushed it onto the edge. In Heat K, Sir Killalot put Tiberius hanging over the Pit, and Matilda finished it off by pushing it in. In the War of Independence, she and Shunt pushed The Mangulator into the Pit together, with Shunt pushing the hammer, and Matilda on the other side, pushing the body.
- "Almost like stretcher-bearers of doom, Matilda and Shunt, and in they go!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Shunt and Matilda pit The Mangulator
Matilda attacks the immobile and upturned Atomic
Matilda made her first appearance of the series in the first battle of the series, the Round 1 melee between Chaos 2, Indefatigable and Atomic, where she attacked the immobile Atomic after it was flipped on its back. However, Matilda was not used in the second Round 1 melee, or either of the Round 2 battles, though she was used in the Heat Final. Matilda went on to appear in every episode of the series. Between Heats F and H, she appeared in all of the battles, and the Pinball Warrior. She appeared in every battle bar one in Heat M, the first Semi-Final, the Grand Final, the Southern Annihilator, the Celebrity Special and the War of Independence.
However, she only appeared in one of the four battles of the Tag Team Terror, and in Heats N through P, she was only used in the Eliminators and Pinball Warrior runs.
Matilda guarding the 50-point target
Throughout Pinball Warrior Tournament, Matilda was used to defend the 50 point target at the left side of the arena. Unlike Series 3, where she was only used in a couple of Pinball runs, in this series she was consistently used across the series, in all 16 runs. Of the 16 competitors, 6 of them (101, Hypno-Disc, Stinger, Attila the Drum, Banshee and Diotoir) did not go for her target. The first competitor to attempt to hit her target was Spikasaurus in Heat C. In the last few seconds, Spikasaurus reversed into her semi-circle, and drove into Matilda's side. Matilda pushed Spikasaurus out of her zone, flicking Spikasaurus with her tusks. Spikasaurus drove back into Matilda's side, and as Matilda reversed, Spikasaurus turned around her to get a clear run at her target. However, due to control issues, caused by its aerial being hit by a barrel earlier in the Pinball run, Spikasaurus couldn't drive at the target before time ran out.
Spawn of Scutter gets past Matilda and hits her target
Matilda tries to stop Bigger Brother reaching her target
Matilda was mostly unsuccessful at guarding her target, as of the other 9 competitors after Spikasaurus that went for her target, she only managed to stop S.M.I.D.S.Y. hitting the target. Spawn of Scutter charged straight at her, pushing her back, and Matilda tried to flick it up with her tusks, but only managed to lift a tiny bit as her tusks were not properly under the front, and Spawn of Scutter got past her to hit her target. Similarly, Matilda lifted Bigger Brother up with her tusks as it tried to get around her, but then turned, causing Bigger Brother to slip off her tusks, and Bigger Brother got around her and hit the target.
Matilda blocks S.M.I.D.S.Y.
She did manage to prevent S.M.I.D.S.Y. hitting the target, as S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove into her side, and Matilda pushed against it, blocking the target with her tusks, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. was unable to push past her, so reversed away. However, King B3 managed to get past her, as she left too much of a gap between her and the wall, allowing King B3 to get around and hit the target, despite initially blocking it.
Razer gets past Matilda and hits her target
Matilda also failed to stop Razer hitting the target. As Razer drove towards the target, Matilda tried to get her tusks under Razer's side and lift it, but failed to get the tusks underneath. Razer nearly hit the target, but turned too early and drove into the arena wall. Matilda pushed Razer against the arena wall with her tusks raised to try and pin it there, but had to reverse, which allowed Razer to hit the target. One half of Gemini managed to hit her target, in a moment edited out of the televised show.
Firestorm 2 tries to reach Matilda's target
Firestorm 2 charged into Matilda's side, pushing her against her target. It tried to drive under her and hit the target, but could only just reach it with the front tip, so it turned away. As the edge of Firestorm 2's flipper touched the button, the points were given at the filming, but they were discounted from the final score in the televised version.
Inverterbrat gets past Matilda to hit her target
Matilda was too slow to block Inverterbrat, as she was on the edge of her zone as it approached, and as Inverterbrat drove into the semi-circle, Matilda reacted too late to block it, allowing Inverterbrat to drive past her and hit the target. In retaliation, Matilda got her tusks underneath Inverterbrat and pushed it against the wall. Killerhurtz was also too fast for Matilda, speeding around her and hitting the target. Sir Killalot blocked its escape with his claw, and Matilda got behind it and flicked it up with her tusks.
Matilda pushes Tiberius free of the arena spike
Despite the introduction of Refbot, Matilda was occasionally used to help competitors that were stuck on the arena or the House Robots. In Heat K, Tiberius became stuck in forward drive during its battle with Little Fly, and became caught on an arena spike. Shunt got behind Tiberius and axed it, then pulled it free, only for it to drive back into the spike, so Matilda got the other side of the spike and pushed Tiberius along the arena wall, and turned it away from the spike, so it could drive away from the wall, and Sir Killalot could lift it up with his lance.
Matilda separates Sgt. Bash and Killerhurtz
In the Northern Annihilator, Matilda tried to free Killerhurtz twice. First, in Round 3, Killerhurtz attacked Sgt. Bash, getting its axe in his side and pushing him onto the Flame Pit. Matilda came out of her CPZ to protect her fellow House Robot, lifting the back of Killerhurtz and helping Sgt. Bash turn it around onto the Flame Pit. Killerhurtz dug its axe back into Sgt. Bash's side, so Matilda got under Killerhurtz's side, lifted it up and pushed it, but Killerhurtz held onto Sgt. Bash. Matilda reversed, then pushed the two off of the Flame Pit, then used her tusks to turn Killerhurtz onto its side, freeing the axe from Sgt. Bash's side.
Matilda tries to free Spikasaurus
Then, in Round 4, Spikasaurus punctured the back with its front spikes and rammed it into the bottom arena wall, but could not pull the spikes free. Matilda came out of her CPZ, pushing against Spikasaurus' side and pushing it away from the bottom arena wall. However, this failed to push the spikes free, so Sir Killalot had to separate the two with his claw. However, it soon became clear that Killerhurtz was stuck in forwards drive, as it drove up the arena into the top entry gate.
Matilda frees frenZy's axe
In Round 1 of the War of Independence, frenZy was hammering away at Detonator, but as it pulled the hammer back, the spike on the back of frenZy's hammer became caught in the arena floor, so Matilda came out of her CPZ and used her tusks on the handle of frenZy's hammer, lifting it free.
- "Poor old Detonator will not thank Matilda for that!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda helps out frenZy
Matilda knocks off The Steel Avenger's feather duster
There were some humorous moments across the series involving the decorations on the competitors. In Heat M, after righting The Steel Avenger, Matilda ripped off its feather duster with her tusks as it drove away.
- "The old feather duster looks a little flimsy doesn't it? And oh, I think Matilda has shaken her tail feathers! And off comes the duster! Yeah, there, look at that! Well they have this little sort of peacock plume at the back - no longer!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda flicks off The Steel Avenger's feather duster
Matilda cuts into Killertron's boxing glove
In the first Semi-Final, the decapitated body of 'InverterRat', Inverterbrat's mascot, was placed on top of Matilda. It can be seen in the three Round 1 battles she was used in (Chaos 2 vs Steg 2, Tornado vs Wheely Big Cheese and Pussycat vs Thermidor 2), but is not present in either of the Round 2 battles.
In the Celebrity Special, Matilda used her chainsaw to rip up Killertron's boxing glove.
Matilda pits Prizephita MK2
Despite her diminished effectiveness in damaging competitors, Matilda still had a number of notable battles across the series. In the Round 1 battle between Wheely Big Cheese, Prizephita Mach 2 and Wheelosaurus, Shunt came out of his CPZ to attack Prizephita, which was only moving on one wheel, and Wheely Big Cheese drove under Sir Killalot to try and flip him, which prompted the other two House Robots to come out of the CPZ's. Whilst Dead Metal grabbed the back of Wheely Big Cheese and cut into it with his saw, Matilda drove after Wheelosaurus, and eventually pushed it against Shunt, who was pushing Prizephita to the Pit. Sir Killalot pushed Wheely Big Cheese against Wheelosaurus, and all three competitors were pitted, with Matilda pushing Prizephita into the Pit after Shunt left it stranded on the edge.
Matilda rights Killertron
In Round 2 of the same Heat, during the battle between Wheely Big Cheese and Killertron, Matilda came out of her CPZ to right Killertron after Wheely Big Cheese flipped it over for a second time, and used her tusks to flip it back upright. Despite this unfair reprieve, Killertron lost anyway, as Wheely Big Cheese flipped it back over, by Matilda's CPZ. Matilda used her chainsaw on Killertron's tyres, and Sir Killalot dragged it to the centre of the arena, where it managed to turn itself over, but was still in Sir Killalot's claw, and Matilda cut into the top with her chainsaw, carving out large gashes.
Sir Killalot removes Matilda's wheel
In Heat O, Oblivion 2 was immobilised early on, and the House Robots surrounded it and attacked, with Matilda slicing through its aerial. However, bizarrely, Sir Killalot grabbed Matilda's wheel and pulled it clean off, leaving Matilda only able to move back and forth on one wheel. Despite this, she managed to turn her way down the arena as Sgt. Bash pushed Oblivion 2 towards the Pit, and actually helped Sgt. Bash pit the beaten competitor.
Matilda flips Wild Thing
In the Celebrity Special, the House Robots were given an unusual amount of freedom, frequently being allowed to come out of their CPZ and attack the competitors without repercussion from the Refbot. In Round 1, all four House Robots came out of their CPZs whilst both competitors were still mobile. First, Sgt. Bash came out and set Diotoir's fur and Wild Thing's decorations alight with his flamethrower. Wild Thing drove into the arena wall, and Dead Metal pushed it free, before Matilda got under the side of Wild Thing, lifting it with her tusks and pushing it against the arena wall. Wild Thing went back after Diotoir, but Matilda chased after it. As Sir Killalot grabbed Wild Thing, Matilda got behind it and tried to flip it with her tusks, but Sir Killalot picked Wild Thing up and pitted it.
Matilda charges in and flips Killertron over, freeing the Gemini cluster
The next battle also saw a lot of involvement from the House Robots. One half of Gemini tried to flip Killertron, but as it did so, Killertron hit it with its axe, causing it to overbalance and fall onto its side . Matilda rushed out of her CPZ, pushing the Gemini half back upright, and as she drove into Killertron, she flipped it over. However, she flipped Killertron back over with her tusks straight away.
Matilda gets her tusks caught on the arena wall
In Round 2, Sir Chromalot became stuck on the flame pit, and Matilda charged in to push it free. As she did so, she flicked it up with her tusks, but whilst this did push Sir Chromalot free, Matilda drove straight into the arena wall, and as her tusks were still raised, she became caught on the wall, with her tusks hooking onto the wall. She was freed off screen.
Firestorm 2, pinned against the arena wall by Matilda
During the Tag Team Terror, the House Robots were allowed to come out of their CPZs if the competitors broke the rules and came out without being tagged. When Bigger Brother and Plunderbird 4 were attacking Firestorm 2 together, pinning it against the wall, Matilda intervened, getting behind Firestorm 2, pushing it from Plunderbird 4 with her tusks, allowing Firestorm 2 to drive away. However, Firestorm 2 and Scorpion were also breaking the rules by both being out together, and as Firestorm 2 flipped Bigger Brother against the arena wall and pinned it there, Matilda got behind Firestorm 2 and flicked it up on its side with her tusks, then turned between it and Bigger Brother, allowing it to get away. As the rules broke down, with Firestorm 2 righting its partner after Bigger Brother flipped it over, Matilda chased Firestorm 2 up the arena and flipped it up against the arena wall.
Steg 2 flips Matilda over
Although she was not attacked by competitors as much as she had been in Series 3, she was still flipped over twice. The first instance was in Round 2 of Heat D, during the battle between Steg 2 and Iron-Awe. As the House Robots attacked the immobile Iron-Awe, Steg 2 got its flipper under Matilda's side and turned her onto her side.
- "Steg 2 getting in underneath and showing us Matilda's underbelly! Do we really want to see it? I don't think so! ...Children, don't have nightmares, with what you're going to see of Matilda's underbelly, please."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Gemini overturns Matilda
Gemini also managed to flip her over in Round 1 of the Celebrity Special. Whilst Matilda was distracted, cutting into the boxing glove of Killertron, one half of Gemini got at Matilda's side and flipped her onto her side. Matilda was turned back onto her wheels by Sir Killalot, who used his lance to tip it back upright.
Razer dislodges the chain from Matilda's chainsaw
Razer attacked Matilda twice in the series. In Heat B, after defeating Milly-Ann Bug, Razer chased after her, getting behind her and trying to get underneath and crush. Although Razer failed to get under Matilda, Razer did manage to dislodge the chain from her chainsaw when the chain hit one of its wings.
- "What's Razer doing to Matilda? I really dread to think!"
- — Jonathan Pearce after Razer dislodges the chain from Matilda's chainsaw
Onslaught lifts Matilda
Matilda flips Onslaught
Matilda's most notable moment of the series however came in the final of the Southern Annihilator. After Matilda flipped Onslaught onto its side, leaving Razer as the winner, Razer turned on Matilda. At first, it tried to get under her front, but couldn't because of her tusks, which she raised and pushed Razer back. But as Razer reversed, Matilda turned back to Onslaught, leaving her back exposed to Razer. Razer got under her back, crushing into the armour, ripping through the fibreglass armour. Razer dragged Matilda back onto the flame jet, and crushed into the armour on the other side of her chainsaw. Matilda caught fire internally, and could not move away from the Flame Pit, and Razer crushed into her side. Razer let go, and as it went in for another attack, Sir Killalot intervened, driving between the two to protect his fellow House Robot.
- "The rear of Matilda has never been seen quite like this before and I have to say, thank goodness - Matilda is on fire!! Razer is destroying Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Razer turns on Matilda
Razer destroys Matilda
Matilda flips in fury as flames erupt inside her while Razer crushes into her
However, Razer just drove around Sir Killalot and went back after Matilda, this time trying to grab her chainsaw. Sir Killalot tried to block Razer from attacking Matilda, but actually pushed Matilda across the arena to the Flame Pit as Razer crushed into her front. Sgt. Bash also intervened, but Sir Killalot and Sgt. Bash actually helped Razer push Matilda onto the Flame Pit. After Matilda caught light again, Sgt. Bash pushed her off, and after Dead Metal pitted Onslaught, Sir Killalot pushed Razer up the arena, whilst Refbot put out Matilda's fire.
- "Tildy, what's happened to you dear?! Call on all your friends, the House Robots! Killalot, do the gallant thing, take on Razer! Onslaught's long been forgotten! Matilda, Killalot! You're a knight of the realm sir! Get in sir, and protect your Tildy! "No sir! No such fear" We'll let bear the brunt of the attack of Razer! Killalot, was Killalot pushing Matilda towards the Pit there everyone? I'm not too sure! The House Robots seem to be teaming up with Razer against poor old Matilda! What's going on?"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Razer crushes Matilda and Sir Killalot fails to intervene, then helps push Matilda onto the flame pit
The damaged Matilda after her run-in with Razer
Matilda bandaged up after being badly damaged by Razer
After Dead Metal pushed Onslaught into the pit, Razer went after Sir Killalot, leaving Matilda immobilised. The damage was so severe that a funeral was held at the end of the episode.
- "Matilda, created at the dawn of Robot Wars. R.I.P. Rust in peace. D.I.A. Destroyed in action. D.Y.W.B? Do you wanna bet!?"
- — Jonathan Pearce provides Matilda's last rites whilst funeral music plays. It comes to an abrupt stop at his last statement
However, Matilda returned to the arena, active, albeit heavily bandaged, at the end of the episode.
- "Oh yes, the matriarch of mayhem, the sister of slice-and-dice, the grandmother of grinding metal, will be back!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda reappears, heavily bandaged
According to Simon Scott, the producers were planning on rebuilding Matilda, so they let Razer destroy her.
- "We knew if we got through the final, we could actually have a go at Matilda!"
- — Simon Scott on the Ultimate Warrior - Razer
Extreme 1[]
- "And Matilda, with a new weapon this time around: a twenty-seven kilo flywheel, that can rip opponents to shreds!"
- — Jonathan Pearce introduces Matilda's new weapon for the first time
Matilda lifts Golem free of Shunt
Matilda was completely overhauled to keep her competitive in the new 100kg weight limit - her chainsaw would not have been very useful because of its design and the strength of competitors' armour. Her tusks were new and larger, and the pneumatic system was gone altogether - instead, a complex system of air rams and dumps were fitted. This new system enabled the tusks to lift far heavier weights than before. The power of these new tusks was demonstrated in the German Melee, where Golem got caught on one of the spikes on top of Shunt's scoop, so Matilda lifted it free. She then used her tusks to lift Golem up on its side, then pushed it over.
Matilda takes out Pussycat's drive
Her rear chainsaw "tail" was abandoned in favour of a huge 27kg vertical flywheel, now capable of destroying robots. Because the disc was so heavy and powerful, the mounting was solid steel, itself fairly hefty in weight. The flywheel was capable of doing much more damage than the chainsaw ever did, and was actually effective on robots with metal armour. In the International Inferno, she buckled the back of MaxiMill, and in the Challenge Belt battle between Tornado and Pussycat, she ripped off one of the tyres of Pussycat when Tornado pushed it into her CPZ, leaving it unable to drive, so Tornado pushed it straight back into her flywheel.
Doom is destroyed by Matilda's flywheel
Matilda throws Flensburger Power over
The flywheel was also powerful enough to flip robots over completely, which she did to robots such as Flensburger Power in The Second World Championship, and Doom in the Middleweight Championship, which she hit with her flywheel, flipping it over and nearly ripping off the shell.
Disc-O-Inferno is immobilised by Matilda
Matilda's flywheel managed to immobilise the eventual winners of the second Annihilator, Disc-O-Inferno, in the first round of the tournament. Spirit of Knightmare got under Disc-O-Inferno's side and pushed it into Matilda's flywheel, which flipped Disc-O-Inferno over, leaving the robot immobile and the disc not working. Fortunately for Disc-O-Inferno, Fighting Torque was immobilised before the House Robot landed her devastating blow.
- "Spirit of Knightmare shoving away against Disc-O-Inferno, which looked invincible coming into this Annihilator for me, but the blade has stopped spinning it looks like! That's the way to do it, in underneath, turning it onto Matilda and the great flywheel, spun Disc-O-Inferno into the air!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Spirit of Knightmare pushes Disc-O-Inferno into Matilda's flywheel
In the same battle, she tore a large chunk of Napalm 2's side, and Kim Davies also mentioned that Panic Attack took a lot of damage from Matilda before the next round.
- Julia Reed: "She's good at that, isn't she?"
- David Crosby: "She's very good at that!"
- — David Crosby shows the damage done to Napalm 2 by Matilda
The flywheel was initially silver in the Tomorrow's World filming, but it was painted pink for Series 5, which would be kept for the rest of the series, and used for the new Matilda in the rebooted series. The official photo used on the statistics board throughout the series, was from the earlier filming, with the silver flywheel.
Matilda pushes Sumpthing free of Sgt. Bash
Matilda's first appearance of the series came in the second battle of the series, the Mayhem battle between Pussycat, S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Sumpthing. During the battle, Sumpthing drove into the side of Sgt Bash, and the spikes punctured it, so Matilda used her tusks to free Sumpthing from Sgt. Bash's side. Matilda lifted Sumpthing up and down with her tusks, then pushed Sumpthing free.
X-Terminator is damaged by Matilda's new weapon
Matilda reverses accidentally into Shunt
The first use of her flywheel came in the All-Stars first round battle between Chaos 2 and X-Terminator 2, where the House Robot buckled X-Terminator's axe and sent shards of its shell flying after Chaos 2 had flipped the beaten machine onto the House Robot's rear weapon. In the same battle, she accidentally reversed into Shunt, as it had been aiming for X-Terminator whilst Shunt was pushing it.
- "And look at the pieces literally being ripped away from the frame of X-Terminator, there - torn apart!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda rips into Matilda
From Extreme 1 onwards, the number of House Robots used in each battle (apart from Refbot) was reduced from four to two. This, combined with the events in Extreme 1 not being filmed in broadcast order, meant that Matilda's appearances were limited throughout the series; most episodes had Matilda in one or two battles. The episode that featured her in the most battles was Episode 11, which featured Matilda in every single battle, and was the only episode which featured Matilda in more than 3 battles. In contrast, Matilda did not feature in any battles in Episode 5, making it the first episode ever that she was absent from. Matilda was only used in one battles in episodes 3, 6, 8, 10 and 13, and was only used in 2 of the 7 battles in the Second World Championship. Between Episodes 4 and 8, Matilda was not involved in any battles, despite being used in two battles in Episode 4 and three in 7.
Matilda buckles the back of MaxiMill
Matilda fights with Panic Attack
Despite this, Matilda still had a number of notable battles throughout Extreme 1. One was the International Inferno, the main event of Episode 3, and the only battle of the episode she was used in. Matilda was involved in a lot of the action in the battle; first, Manta rammed MaxiMill into an empty CPZ, and Matilda rushed over to block it from escaping, reversing into it and pinning it against the wall. Shunt also came over to block its escape, and Matilda allowed Shunt to push MaxiMill a little, then backed into the rear of MaxiMill with her flywheel, which buckled the rear open, leaving MaxiMill immobilised.
- "MaxiMill into the CPZ, which means that Matilda can come in with its own flywheel now! Very heavy, very destructive! And also Shunt comes down with the diamond-edged axe, and MaxiMill in real problems in there now!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda and Shunt trap MaxiMill in the CPZ and attack it
Panic Attack keeps Manta on its forks while Matilda presses the Pit release button
Matilda herds together the broken German and Dutch robots
Later in the battle, Matilda was seen well out of her CPZ, fighting with Panic Attack, despite it still being mobile. After Flensburger Power and MaxiMill were counted out, Panic Attack got its tusks under Manta and held it up over the Pit, so Matilda went over to the Pit release button, opening the Pit and allowing Panic Attack to drop Manta in, leaving Panic Attack as the winner. Meanwhile, Flensburger Power was thrown by the Floor Flipper, and landed leaning against MaxiMill, so Matilda pushed them apart.
- "We get our little bit of revenge on Flensburger Power. Matilda wants a slice!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Matilda enters the arena in the House Robot Rebellion
Matilda and Shunt attack Stinger together
Matilda was also involved in three notable scraps with competitor robots across the series, the first of which being the House Robot Rebellion, where Matilda appeared through the entry gate late on into the battle to join Shunt and Dead Metal as they fought Stinger and Scorpion, having already disposed of Plunderbird 5.
- "Oh! And we forgot to give you another little item of news - we can bring on a substitute, like Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda joins the fray in the House Robot Rebellion
Shunt pitted Scorpion soon after Matilda entered the arena, and Dead Metal grabbed hold of Stinger. Shunt also axed Stinger, then pushed it to Matilda as Dead Metal let go, but Shunt then pushed it away just before the battle ended.
Refbot and Matilda attempt to intervene after 'cease' is called a second time
In the Mayhem battle between Panic Attack, Diotoir and Shear Khan, broadcast in the same episode, Panic Attack took on Shunt after defeating Shear Khan and Diotoir, and Matilda came in to help Shunt. Panic Attack got its forks under Shunt's side and lifted him up. Matilda rushed over and pushed Panic Attack, then tried to push Shunt free of Panic Attack's forks, but in doing so, she drove too close to the pit, leaving one of her wheels hanging over the side. Panic Attack was given a yellow card for attacking the House Robots, and for not stopping when 'cease' was called.
Matilda knocks out Wheely Big Cheese
Matilda throws Chaos 2 back with her flywheel
She also appeared in the Flipper Frenzy, which was supposed to be a battle between the strongest flippers in Robot Wars, but the competitors used it as an excuse to attack the House Robots. Wheely Big Cheese drove at Matilda, whilst Chaos 2, Thermidor 2 and Bigger Brother went for Sgt. Bash. Sgt. Bash was soon flipped over by Bigger Brother, but Matilda hit Wheely Big Cheese with her flywheel a couple of times, immobilising it. Theridor 2 drove down the arena and tried to get behind Matilda and flip her, but fired the flipper before getting underneath, so missed. Thermidor 2 and Chaos 2 drove back up the arena, to try and help Bigger Brother in its attempt to flip Sgt. Bash out of the arena. However, after Sgt. Bash was flipped against the wall, flipped over, then flipped back again, Matilda charged up the arena with her flywheel, slamming into Chaos 2 to push it away from Sgt. Bash. Thermidor 2 charged at Matilda, but fired the flipper too early before getting under Matilda, so missed, and Matilda pushed it aside. Thermidor 2 reversed, and turned around to try and get its flipper under Matilda's side, but turned too far and missed, so quickly drove away.
- "Matilda wants a little bit of revenge! Thermidor gets out of the way, Matilda... oh, is there a tear? I think there's a tear for Bash. Is there something going on between Matilda and Bash that we need to know about?"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda pushes the overturned Sgt. Bash
Thermidor 2 attacks Matilda as Cease is called
Chaos 2 tried to flip Refbot, but didn't get the flipper properly underneath and turned itself over, and Matilda slammed into it with her flywheel, tipping it on its side against the arena wall, immobilising it. Bigger Brother had also broken down after a flip on Sgt. Bash, leaving Thermidor 2 as the only mobile competitor. Thermidor 2 drove behind Matilda and tried again to flip, but didn't line up its flipper properly, so missed. Matilda turned, getting her tusks under Thermidor 2's front and blocking it as it tried to get away. Thermidor 2 reversed, and Matilda drove to the side of the arena. Thermidor 2 followed her, and tried to get its flipper under her back, but Matilda turned, causing Thermidor 2 to miss. Thermidor 2 drove around Matilda, who turned so her flywheel was facing Thermidor 2. Thermidor 2 tried to get her flipper under Matilda's rear, but turned to avoid the flywheel, causing it to miss with the flipper again, and time ran out.
- "Now dodge that flywheel of Matilda! Thermidor 2, taking on Matilda's tusks, that's better. ... Thermidor is the winner of this. Matilda, left alone for the House Robots."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Thermidor 2 fights Matilda, then the battle ends
Chris Reynolds described this as his proudest moment in an interview Robot Wars: The Ultimate Guide.
- "We'd heard a rumour that there was going to be a rebellion in Robot Wars Extreme's Flipper Frenzy. I was concerned that Sgt. Bash and Matilda wouldn't be able to stand up to an attack from four of the biggest flippers in the game, especially if they ganged up together. Sure enough, Sgt. Bash was soon over on his side, but Matilda amazed us all. She singlehandedly immobilized Wheely Big Cheese, Chaos 2 and Bigger Brother. Thermidor 2 didn't win - Matilda did!"
- — Chris Reynolds, interviewed in Robot Wars: The Ultimate Guide
Spawn Again is pitted by Matilda
Like in Series 4, Matilda was very rarely used to dispose of beaten competitors. There were only three occasions where she put competitors on the arena hazards; in the Mayhem battle in Episode 10, where she put the immobile Tornado into the Pit, the Tag Team Semi-Final in Episode 11, where she pitted Spawn Again, and in the Armed Forces Special, where she lined Rhino up on the Floor Flipper after it was immobilised in its Round 1 battle.
- "Matilda gave them a helpful little shove and a push, from behind. You really don't want anywhere behind you, let me tell you. I've been in the pits with her, it isn't too pleasant!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda pits Tornado
Matilda hits The Steel Avenger with her flywheel
Matilda had a very controversial moment in a Mayhem battle between The Steel Avenger, Tornado and King B Powerworks, the first time she caused controversy with her flywheel, but there would be more in later series. The Steel Avenger missed a charge at King B Powerworks, driving around and driving onot the edge of the CPZ. As The Steel Avenger tried to reverse away, Matilda attacked it illegally, reversing into it with her flywheel, throwing it over and cutting a large gash in the front.
- "The clock ticking down, and certainly for me The Steel Avenger has won this one…oh! But look at that right at the end! Well surely Matilda should not have been able to do that anyway! I don't think The Steel Avenger goes into the CPZ and I don't think Matilda can go on the attack. Let's have a look. Red warning line, but not into the CPZ! Matilda, you should not have thrown The Avenger!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda unfairly hits The Steel Avenger with her flywheel
Matilda was red carded for this attack, and the Judges disregarded her attack on The Steel Avenger when they made their decision. The Steel Avenger won the battle, but Matilda's attack had done a lot of damage, needing 10 hours of work to fix.
Matilda hits the top arena wall with her flywheel, nearly lifting it out of its support
She also buckled part of the arena wall out of place in an All-Stars semi-final battle between Razer and Firestorm 3 in 12. Razer grabbed onto Firestorm 3 and pushed it into Matilda's CPZ. Matilda pushed against Firestorm 3's side, but Razer kept hold of Firestorm 3. Matilda reversed for another attack, and as she did so, she hit the top arena wall, lifting one end of it almost out of the support.
Matilda missing half of her rear shell in The Second World Championship
Matilda, having had part of her front ripped off by Typhoon
Towards the end of the Round 1 melee in the Second World Championship between Flensburger Power, Razer, Diotoir and The Revolutionist, one half of Matilda's rear shell fell off. How it fell off was not shown, but the half of the shell can be seen shaking as Matilda hits Flensburger Power with her flywheel, then in the last few seconds, Matilda can be seen missing half of her rear shell at the bottom of the arena. Diotoir starts pushing the shell, but Matilda pushes it away from Diotoir.
Not shown on television, Typhoon also ripped away one of Matilda's fibreglass tusks[16].
Series 5[]
- "Watch for the tusks and the twenty-seven kilo deadly flywheel!"
- — Jonathan Pearce before the first battle of Series 5
Matilda during her introduction
Matilda flips a brick with her tusks during the House Robot introduction
Having made a strong impression in its first series, Matilda's new flywheel continued to be her main weapon, as it caused a lot of damage throughout Series 5.
Chaos 2 flips Storm Force into Matilda's flywheel
Storm Force (left) survives a run-in with Matilda
Matilda's first appearance came in the first battle of the series, between Chaos 2 and Storm Force, and Matilda quickly made an impression by causing damage to the reigning champion. Chaos 2 was flipping Storm Force around the arena, and having flipped it to the top arena wall, rolled it over to Matilda. Matilda reversed at Storm Force, rolling it back upright. Chaos 2 flipped Storm Force again, but Matilda reversed out of her CPZ, pushing past Storm Force and hit Chaos 2, hitting the underside of its flipper and knocking it back.
- "And I just wonder...OH YES! Whether Matilda could cause some damage to Chaos 2, because George Francis, you were lingering too long in there. Didn't reverse away from peril and you got yourself stung!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Chaos 2 takes a hit from Matilda
Matilda flips up Atomic 2 with her flywheel
Little was seen of Matilda's tusks throughout the series, as her flywheel became her main weapon. As well as doing lots of damage throughout the series, it was powerful to flip robots over. The first time she did this in this series was in Heat B, in the Round 2 battle between Hypno-Disc and Atomic 2. Hypno-Disc immobilised Atomic 2, and after it was counted out, Sir Killalot picked it up, spun it around, and dropped it upside down near the Pit. Matilda reversed into the back of Atomic 2, knocking it upright, then with another couple of hits, knocked it back onto its wheels.
Matilda carves into Trouble 'n' Strife
Matilda also did significant damage to Trouble 'n' Strife in its Round 1 battle with Wild Thing in Round 1 of Heat E. Wild Thing pushed Trouble 'n' Strife straight into Matilda's flywheel, which ripped a large gash in the back. Wild Thing then pushed Trouble 'n' Strife across the arena into Shunt's CPZ, and Shunt hit Trouble 'n' Strife's top with his axe, pinning it down, and pulled it out of the CPZ. Matilda rushed over, hitting Trouble 'n' Strife's as Shunt dragged it around, flipping Trouble 'n' Strife up and doing more damage to the back.
Matilda rips off Tetanus' wheel guard
In Round 2 of Heat I, Matilda ripped the wheel guard clean off Tetanus. During the Round 2 battle between Tetanus and 3 Stegs to Heaven, Tetanus broke down, and Matilda reversed into Tetanus' side with her flywheel spinning, and with one hit, she ripped the whole wheel guard clean off.
Matilda mutilates Widow's Revenge
One of the most spectacular attacks by Matilda in this series was against Widow's Revenge in its battle with Razer in Round 2 of Heat K. Razer crushed into Widow's Revenge, and it quickly broke down. Razer pushed it up the arena and continued to crush into the top as Refbot counted it out, leaving the top panels loosely hanging on. Matilda reversed into Widow's Revenge, flipping it up and sending a top panel flying off.
- "Matilda, what are you doing! Sisters of mercy? The Widows are infuriated! Girl power? That certainly was from our Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda wrecks Widow's Revenge
Widow's Revenge was tossed by the Floor Flipper, and Razer and Sgt. Bash grabbed it, so Matilda reversed into it, the impact of the flywheel breaking the side of its front wedge and breaking the top frame
The Execution with its claw having been ripped off by Matilda
Matilda's flywheel ripped off the claw of The Executioner off in one blow in Round 1 of Heat L. The Executioner drove into the arena wall near Matilda's CPZ whilst being chased by Pussycat. It turned away from the wall, but Matilda reversed at it with her flywheel, first hitting the side, then hitting the claw, and with one hit, the flywheel ripped the claw clean off.
Matilda carves into Obsidian
Matilda was particularly brutal in her treatment of some of the Round 1 losers. In Heat A, after S.M.I.D.S.Y. immobilised Obsidian, Matilda ripped into its carbon fibre and Kevlar armour, causing a large gash in the back, then tearing into the side.
- "Look at the damage there! Smash, rip, tear! And let's face it roboteers, we love it! Matilda with a side attack! Slicing through that armour of Obsidian, as if it is mere paper or cardboard!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda exerts her punishment onto Obsidian
Matilda tried to break Obsidian's axe arm, but the handle was too hard, being made of Titanium
- "At one point she even tried to slice through our titanium axe arm...titanium is pretty hard stuff and we still have one of the teeth off your disc to prove it Matilda !!!"
- — Obsidian website[17]
Matilda nearly rips off Rohog's shell
Rohog also broke down in its battle against Sir Chromalot in Round 1 of Heat D, and Matilda backed into its rear, shredding the fibreglass armour. After it was thrown by the Floor Flipper, Matilda backed into its side at speed, ripping the whole cover up and nearly tearing it off.
- "Well they say don't crush a beetle: if you crush a beetle, it'll rain and rain and rain. In Robot Wars, we're gonna have a downpour for centuries then."
- — Jonathan Pearce
- "But I'll tell you what I think's happening here the robots, the House Robots do mind that Rohog was immobilised so soon, and therefore they've been punishing in their attacks on that machine. You can't bring in a feeble robot, not to Robot Wars, and expect to get away with it."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Sir Killalot and Matilda attack Rohog
Matilda shatters the back-end of Kliptonite
Matila also ripped up the armour of Kliptonite after it broke down in its Round 1 battle with Major Tom. As soon as Refbot finished his count, Matilda reversed into Kliptonite's side, cutting a large gash in the armour. Matilda moved away to get her flywheel back up to speed, then backed into Kliptonite's side again, shredding the armour and leaving a panel hanging off loosely. Sir Killalot picked up Kliptonite, slotting his claw into the tear Matilda had cut into its armour, and held it up for Matilda to do more damage to it, before spinning it and tossing it aside.
- "The House robots, Sir Killalot and Matilda, to punish Kliptonite for bringing in a sub-standard machine! Bring in a heap of junk, and we'll turn it into proper rubbish, says Killalot!"
- — Jonathan Pearce, as the House Robots demolish Kliptonite
Matilda and Sir Killalot attack Hydra
One Round 1 dropout was able to withstand attacks from Matilda's flywheel. Hydra broke down after repeated flips from Spawn Again, and Spawn Again rammed it against the arena wall outside Matilda's CPZ. Matilda hit the back of Hydra with her flywheel, but did not damage it. She moved away to allow Spawn Again to attack, then backed into the side, but only scratched the armour. Spawn Again flipped Hydra over, and Matilda reversed into the side, but still couldn't break the armour. Spawn Again flipped Hydra back over, and Sir Killalot and Matilda surrounded Hydra. Matilda attacked the side again, but couldn't damage the armour. Refbot counted Hydra out, and Sir Killalot picked Hydra up with his claw, and Matilda hit it with her flywheel again, and this time, though she didn't damage the top armour, she did manage to shake loose the CO2 bottle, causing gas to vent from Hydra.
Firestorm 3 sees its flipper arm buckled
Matilda had a number of notable battles across the series. In Round 1 of Heat D, Firestorm 3 pushed Bee-Capitator against Matilda's flywheel, but the flywheel pushed Bee-Capitator up Firestorm 3's flipper, and when Firestorm 3 fired the flipper, Bee-Capitator fell off the flipper, and Firestorm 3's flipper hit the flywheel, nearly ripping it off.
- "Oh look at the damage though caused to Firestorm! Went on the attack, look at the buckled flipper! They attacked Bee-Captitator, I think here it was Matilda that caused the damage - and it was! I know the bee flew, but then the flywheel caught Firestorm! ... what damage now lingers for Firestorm for later on in the competition?"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda nearly rips off Firestorm 3's flipper
Matilda flips over Bee-Capitator
After Refbot counted Bee-Capitator out, Sir Killalot picked it up with his claw, held it over the Flame Pit and spun it around, then dropped it, and Matilda reversed into Bee-Capitator with her flywheel, flipping it over.
- "Bee-autiful! We love to see damage like that, Killalot does, and Matilda does!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda and Sir Killalot demolish Bee-Capitator
Matilda attacks the immobile Diotoir
In the Heat Final of Heat G, Team Scutterbots revealed before the battle that they had a gentleman's agreement with Team Nemesis that whichever robot was immobilised first, the winner would push them into the Pit as soon as Refbot counted them out. Spawn Again swiftly flipped over Diotoir, from which it could not self-right, but after Refbot counted it out, Spawn Again broke down whilst pushing it to the Pit, leaving it unable to pit Diotoir. Sgt. Bash torched Diotoir with his flamethrower, and Matilda flicked Diotoir with her tusks, trying to push it free of Spawn Again. This failed, so hit Diotoir with her flywheel, grinding against the exposed armour, causing sparks and ripping some of the remaining fur. Spawn Again regained mobility, but then broke down again before it could pit Diotoir, so Matilda reversed into Diotoir with her flywheel, flipping it up on its side.
Supernova's top armour is ripped away
During the battle between Behemoth and Supernova in Round 1 of Heat H, Matilda's flywheel caused major damage, leading to Supernova's immobilisation. Behemoth pushed Supernova over to her CPZ, and as Supernova tried to get away, it drove straight into Matilda's flywheel, which ripped Supernova's top clean off. This appeared not to affect Supernova's drive, but as Supernova tried to reverse out of the CPZ, Matilda hit the side with her flywheel, flipping Supernova up, buckling a wheel guard and knocking out the cover to Supernova's electronics.
- "Supernova turned into that CPZ, and damaged by Matilda! They left themselves open to attack! Matilda coming in, something flew of there!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Supernova was not immobile, but the drive was affected, and as the electronics were exposed, Behemoth was able to hit them with its axe. Supernova was soon immobilised, and Behemoth pitted it.
- "This is good work by Behemoth. Ant driving it {Supernova} into the CPZ, then Matilda could come in, and following it up with attack, after attack, after attack!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
However, Matilda then reversed out of her CPZ, hitting the back of Behemoth with her flywheel as she pushed Behemoth against an angle grinder. As Matilda backed off, Behemoth reversed against her side, pushing her back.
Ming 3's crumpled rear end after the interference from Matilda
Matilda also had a very controversial moment in Round 1 of Heat L. During the battle between Ming 3 and Terrorhurtz, Ming 3 grabbed Terrorhurtz and pulled it back to the flame jet, when suddenly Matilda reversed out of her CPZ, hitting the back of Ming 3, despite the fact Ming 3 was nowhere near the CPZ. The damage immobilised Ming 3, and Refbot had to push Terrorhurtz free of its immobile opponent. Just before the battle ended, Matilda reversed into the back of Ming 3 again.
- "Matilda's gone in on the attack! That is way out of order, and Matilda's hit Ming 3 from behind, when he was nowhere near the CPZ! ... Well Terrorhurtz got a couple of blows in, and was on top, until Ming 3 got the grapple, and fought back, and could have won it here, until Matilda did that! And again!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda knocks out Ming 3
The Judges ignored Matilda's attack, judging the battle up to the point she intervened, but Ming 3 was still eliminated on the subsequent decision.
- "The reason we were knocked out in Series 5 was down to Matilda being a little over Zealous! ... Apologies from the driver etc don’t really go very far when you’ve been knocked out because of it but then I guess it’s all in the game!"
- — The Ming website on their Series 5 defeat[18]
Dead Metal and Matilda attack Twister
Despite Craig Charles assuring Team Ming that Matilda had been given a red card, Matilda would be used in the very next battle, between Clawed Hopper and Twister, where after Twister broke down, Dead Metal pushed it into her flywheel, and after reversing into Twister with her flywheel a couple more times, she lined it up by the Pit so that Clawed Hopper could push it in.
- "Someone needs to give Matilda a good smack on the backside! Not me, I'm going nowhere near it!"
- — Jonathan Pearce after the Ming 3 vs Terrorhurtz battle
Matilda pushes Hydra into the Pit
Throughout the series, little was seen of Matilda's tusks, and she didn't carry out the arena duties on many beaten competitors. The only exceptions were in Heat A, where she pushed Obsidian onto the Floor Flipper, and in Heat G, where she pushed Hydra into the Pit with her tusks.
Matilda was not used in any battles in Heat C and Heat F, and both of the Semi-Finals. In Heats H and J, she was involved in 4 battles, but in each episode, she was only involved in one battle per episode. In the Grand Final, she was used in 2 of the four battles, but was not involved in either of them. She was also incorrectly listed as one of the House Robots in the Razer vs Firestorm 3 battle, when it was actually Shunt and Sgt. Bash being used.
As in Extreme 1, Matilda's flywheel was silver in some battles, but pink in others. The flywheel was silver in the House Robot introduction, and across the Round 1 battles, but is pink from Round 2 onwards, though in some Round 2 battles, it is still silver. The pink colour would be kept for the flywheel for the rest of the series, and would be kept for the reboot.
Series 6[]
- "Of course, Matilda's back, with her hydraulic tusks and fearsome flywheel."
- — Jonathan Pearce introduces Matilda during the House Robot introduction in Heat A
Matilda in the House Robot introduction
Matilda was upgraded for The Sixth Wars, both externally and internally. Externally, two large hoops resembling wings at the top of her head were added and her fibreglass shell was reinforced, and internally, her flywheel's speed was improved and her batteries were changed.
- "Matilda's flywheel has been enhanced and now spins up to top RPM in 3.5 seconds (It used to take 20 seconds), her fibreglass shell has been reinforced, amd, along with all the other House Robots, she has new faster-charging Hawker batteries, which allow her to fight harder and longer."
- — The Series 6 programme on the upgrades to Matilda[19]
Series 6 proved to be a very quiet year for Matilda, as she never appeared in more than two battles per episode, was absent from three episodes, and only had a few notable moments across the series, often not being involved in the battles she used in.
Matilda shreds Raging Reality's side
Most of her notable moments involved the use of her flywheel, which continued to inflict devastating damage. The first such instance came in Matilda's first battle of the series, the Heat Final of Heat A between Razer and Raging Reality, where Razer grabbed onto Raging Reality and forced it into her flywheel, which ripped a large gash in the side armour, ripped off a top panel, and left part of the frame hanging off.
- "There's Matilda's flywheel AND LOOK THE GREAT SPLIT IN THE SIDE OF RAGING REALITY! Matilda's flywheel, wrecking havoc! Razer pushing them to the flywheel, that was crucial, and look at that! Metal shards, ripped off, tossed out of the arena!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Razer pushes Raging Reality into Matilda's flywheel
Edge Hog is hit by Matilda's flywheel (background)
Matilda crashes into Inshredable
One of the most notable battles for Matilda in this series was the Round 1 melee in Heat G between Tornado, Terror-Bull, Inshredable and Edge Hog. Tornado rammed Edge Hog and Inshredable into Matilda's CPZ, and though Inshredable managed to drive out without being attacked, but Edge Hog accidentally turned into Matilda's side whilst trying to drive out of the CPZ, and Matilda hit the back of Edge Hog with her flywheel, ripping the back panel loose and causing Edge Hog to become stuck in reverse drive. Later in the battle, Tornado and Terror-Bull pushed Inshredable into an empty CPZ at the top of the arena together, and Dead Metal rushed over to attack Inshredable. Whilst Dead Metal had Inshredable pinned up against the arena wall, Matilda reversed up the arena into the CPZ, hitting Inshredable's side and ripping off a panel.
- "Matilda comes revving in! Inshredable, I think your hopes are in tatters!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda hits Inshredable with her flywheel
The damage caused to Panic Attack by Matilda
Matilda made a big impact in her only appearance of Heat I, the Heat Final. Panic Attack broke down after a barrage of attacks from Terrorhurtz, and was pushed against the wall in the CPZ. The House Robots came in to attack, and after Shunt axed Panic Attack, Matilda reversed into it with her flywheel, and ripped the top armour clean off with one hit, and it hit the camera.
- "Well Panic Attack...OH! Off comes the top armour, and now the electronics, the electric motors exposed! Matilda's flywheel causing all the damage there after Terrorhurtz had initially prised that lid loose!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda rips of Panic Attack's top
Shunt backs into the immobile Matilda whilst dragging Panic Attack
However, after this memorable attack, Matilda broke down, leaving Shunt to drag Panic Attack up the arena to the Floor Flipper and Drop Zone. Matilda was immobile as Refbot counted Panic Attack out, and as Shunt tried to pull Panic Attack out of the CPZ, it backed into the immobile Matilda, and Refbot had to push her free.
Matilda throws Tornado into the air
In the second Semi-Final, Tornado rammed Dominator 2 into Matilda's CPZ, but when it tried to block Dominator 2 from escaping the CPZ before Matilda could attack, it drove into Matilda's flywheel. The flywheel tossed Tornado against Dominator 2, and Tornado bounced towards the Pit, but was fortunate to land on the arena floor by the Pit. Dominator 2 managed to drive out of the CPZ before Matilda could attack it, but drove too fast and turned itself into the Pit.
- "Dominator 2 is on the end of a Tornado push. Matilda awaits. Dominator 2 is teetering... Oh, goodness me, I thought Tornado was going down... down the Pit, but Dominator 2 ends up in there instead! Oh dear, oh dear! They [Team Dominator] look actually shattered, and why not? I thought here, Tornado were gonna go straight down. They landed right on the edge and Dominator 2 drove themselves in. Fantastic stuff. The sparks flew. They [Tornado] bounced just on the right side of the Pit, but Dominator 2 didn't."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Matilda pushes Aggrobot 3 to the Pit
Unusually, Matilda did almost no arena duties to beaten competitors across the series. The only exceptions were in Round 2 of Heat E, where Matilda opened the Pit after Aggrobot 3 was immobilised by Vader, whilst Dead Metal cut into Aggrobot 3. Matilda pushed Aggrobot 3 towards the Pit, and Dead Metal gave Aggrobot the final push.
Matilda pushes the immobile Fluffy towards the Floor Flipper
The other exception came in Round 2 of Heat F, where after Fluffy broke down in its battle against Stinger, Matilda pushed it towards the Floor Flipper, though again, it was her fellow House Robot, this time Mr. Psycho, that gave it the final push.
- "And Matilda just has a little look, and a feel, and a grope. What devilish design is going through that mechanical brain?"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda pushes Fluffy to the Floor Flipper
In other instances, Matilda did not attack beaten competitors, and left the arena duties to her fellow House Robots. Examples include the battle between Supernova and Ming 3 in Round 2 of Heat H, where Shunt pushed Ming 3 onto the Floor Flipper, and pushed it into the Pit after it was thrown, but Matilda did not get involved, and the Heat Final of Heat K, where Shunt gave the immobile Barber-Ous 2 the final nudge into the Pit after it was immobilised by Hypno-Disc, and Matilda waited nearby, not attacking the beaten competitor at all.
Of the 16 episodes of the series, Matilda was absent from three of them, Heat C the Grand Final, and the UK vs Germany Special. She was only used in one battle in 9 other episodes, and of those, she was not involved in the lone battle she was used in across 6 of them
Extreme 2[]
- "With her recently upgraded flywheel and hydraulic tusks, makes mince-metal out of her opponents. Her fibreglass shell has been reinforced, and her flywheel now spins up to top RPM in 3.5 seconds"
- — The Extreme 2 programme on Matilda[20]
Extreme 2 was very similar to Series 6 for Matilda, with a few notable moments, mixed in with many episodes where she was not involved in battles in a major way, or not used in any battles.
Matilda throws Dominator 2 over, causing damage
Matilda had to wait until the 9th battle of the series, having not been used in Heat A of the All-Stars. Her first appearance of the series was in the All-Stars Heat B Round 2 battle between Dominator 2 and 13 Black. 13 Black strayed into the CPZ whilst dodging Dominator 2 and received a glancing blow on its rear disc from Matilda's flywheel. Dominator 2 blocked 13 Black's escape as it tried to drive out of the CPZ, then pushed 13 Black against the bottom arena wall, but 13 Black turned away from the wall, leaving Dominator 2 in the CPZ, and Matilda turned and hit Dominator 2 with her flywheel, flipping Dominator 2 on its side. Although Dominator 2 was righted by 13 Black, Matilda's attack had rendered Dominator 2's right-hand drive immobile, leaving it unable to drive forwards for the remainder of the battle, and it ultimately lost on a Judges' decision.
- "Not great driving initially by 13 Black, but Dominator 2 followed through into there and got caught!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda attacks Dominator 2
Matilda wrecks the front of Major Tom
The obliterated remains of Major Tom
Matilda's flywheel continued to be her main weapon, with her tusks seeing little use. One of the most notable uses of her flywheel came in Round 4 of the Annihilator. As Kan-Opener pushed it into the bottom arena wall, leaving it only spinning on one wheel, Mr. Psycho and Matilda came out, with Mr. Psycho hammering it and buckling the rollcage, and Matilda reversing into it with her flywheel, ripping into the front, then the side, and breaking off part of the rollcage. After Refbot counted Major Tom out, Mr. Psycho hammered Major Tom, crushing the head, and Matilda continued to attack with the flywheel, ripping open the front and cutting a large gash in the side. Matilda cut into the other side, then Mr. Psycho picked Major Tom up with his claw, then carried it to the Drop Zone. A washing machine was dropped on Major Tom, and Matilda slammed into it with her flywheel, hitting the side, then she attacked again, the flywheel flipping Major Tom's lifeless body over. as she reversed into it, ripping into the front of its fibreglass shell as Mr. Psycho hammered and crushed it, with subsequent attacks leaving Major Tom dilapidated.
- "The crown's come off, it's a sorry sight! Matilda came in, and part of the actual shell was simply ripped away there! Comes from a 1970's fairground bumper car, that shell. In comes Matilda! Shards flying across the arena, look at that! Ripped open, and a merciful release, about to be counted out second by second by the Refbot, and your can hear the crowd counting along. Look at that! The dust settling on what was once upon a time, proud major!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda rips into Major Tom
Barbaric Response flips Mighty Mouse into Matilda's flywheel
The House Robots attack Barbaric Response
Matilda also had a couple of notable battles in both of the two battles she was used in during the Tag Team Terror. First, in the battle between Barbaric Response and Hydra against Mighty Mouse and Velocirippa in Round 1, Barbaric Response pushed Mighty Mouse into her flywheel, which ripped off one of the ears then flipped the whole robot over. After immobilising Mighty Mouse, Barbaric Response tried to flip Shunt, but only managed to lift it a little, and Matilda attacked Barbaric Response as it was doing so, hitting the rear of Barbaric Response with her flywheel, smashing two polycarbonate panels and broke part of the wheel guard[21].
- "Caught between a rock and a hard place, or Shunt and Matilda if you like. A little bit more wisdom necessary, but Hydra and Barbaric Response safely through!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda comes in to defend Shunt
Matilda smashes into Diotoir
In the Round 1 battle between Bulldog Breed and Robochicken against Pussycat and Diotoir, after Diotoir was flipped over by Bulldog Breed and counted out, Matilda used her flywheel on it, throwing it against the arena wall and turning the robot over.
- "Look at the punishing power of the flywheel!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda hits Diotoir with her flywheel
Matilda had a number of notable moments across the New Blood Championship, where she and the other House Robots were allowed to do more damage than usual to immobilised competitors.
- "A real baptism of fire - none of the "Mercy Clauses" that the usual competitors get to sign, if you lost in this your machine was going to be thoroughly trashed by the House Robots, there was even a briefing given before the competition explaining what was in store."
- — Team Storm Website[22]
Matilda tears through Piranha's front armour
Matilda used her flywheel to cut a large gash in the front wedge of Niterider in Heat A, and in Heat D, she tossed over Doctor Fist a couple of times, ripping a large hole in the side, then in Round 2, Pressure pushed Piranha into her flywheel, which ripped open the front.
Chopper's weapon and armour are shredded by Matilda
Her most notable battle of the New Blood, and her most eventful of the series, came in Round 1 of Heat C, in the melee between Mad Dog, Chopper and ICU. First, Chopper accidentally drove into her CPZ whilst turning away from ICU. Matilda blocked its escape, using her flywheel on the side, ripping off a piece of the armour, then hit the spinning bar, buckling it.
- "Chopper has run straight into Matilda's spinning rear flywheel, and a bit of the Chopper blade came off, and another bit is bent and buckled, and that's the Chopper weaponry finished, and look at the side armour! Ripped apart there by Matilda! Bang, off it flew, the armament of Chopper! Then the blade was buckled, and Chopper is in real trouble! Grounded, I would suggest!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda rips into Chopper
Matilda rips open the back of Mad Dog
Later in the battle, after Mad Dog was immobilised, Matilda reversed into the back of Mad Dog, ripping open the rear armour. She then drove away for another attack, and reversed into the side, cutting through the armour. Sir Killalot grabbed Mad Dog and put it on the Floor Flipper, and Matilda drove down to the bottom of the arena. Mad Dog was thrown down the arena, and as it landed, it rolled into Matilda's flywheel and over her top.
- "Ooh, Matilda won't be very happy! Say pardon! Mad Dog, through the air, hit Matilda fair and square on the bottom! And it wasn't a playful pat!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Mad Dog is thrown into Matilda
Matilda also waited at the bottom of the arena when Niterider was put on the Floor Flipper, but as it was thrown down the arena, it bounced, first on its side, then on its front "disemboweler", and narrowly missed Matilda's flywheel, rolling over her top.
Matilda shatters the TV
There were also a couple of comedic moments involving Matilda in the New Blood Championship. In Heat A, Niterider was put on the Drop Zone, where a television was dropped on it. However, instead of smashing down on Niterider's top, it landed perfectly on the "disenbowler", which had been bent upwards when the robot was thrown by the floor flipper. Matilda came over and reversed her flywheel into the television, breaking it apart.
- "Look at that! She obviously thinks there's too many replays on TV! Didn't like the repeats, cut it out!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda smashes the television
Mr. Psycho accidentally hammers Matilda
During the battle between Doctor Fist, Fatal Traction and Piranha in Heat D. Doctor Fist was immobilised after being pushed onto the flame pit, and Matilda reversed into it with her flywheel, flipping it over, but as she did so, Mr. Psycho had also been trying to hammer Doctor Fist, but Matilda's flywheel knocked Doctor Fist out of the way as he fired the hammer, so the hammer accidentally hit an angle grinder and Matilda as it came down, with one of Matilda's top horns being knocked off by the hammer.
- "Look at this, he's lining up another bash of the hammer, Matilda nearly copped it! I think he just missed the spinning rear flywheel of Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Mr. Psycho accidentally hammers Matilda
Matilda throws Sir Chromalot out of the arena
Matilda flipped two immobile competitors out of the arena, the first time she achieved this in the UK series. Both of these instances came in Round 1 of the Challenge Belt. First, during the battle between Hypno-Disc, Dantomkia, Sir Chromalot and S.M.I.D.S.Y., Dantomkia flipped the limping Sir Chromalot over in an empty CPZ, where it could not self-right. Matilda hit it with her flywheel, turning it back upright, but Sir Chromalot was immobile. Without waiting for Refbot to count it out, Matilda reversed into Sir Chromalot, tossing it over the arena entry gate and out of the arena.
- "Matilda caught them with her flywheel bottom, which is rather a grisly thought for anyone! In they go, and Sir Chromalot, tossed away like some leaf in the autumn fall."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda throws Sir Chromalot out of the arena
Matilda just before spinning Vader out of the arena
She also tossed Vader out of the arena in the second Round 1 battle between Iron-Awe 2, Barber-Ous 2, Terrorhurtz and Vader. Vader broke down after being pushed into the CPZ and receiving lots of axe blows from Shunt and Terrorhurtz, and after it was counted out, Matilda reversed into it with her flywheel, tossing it over the arena fence.
- "One of the most spectacular things I've ever seen on Robot Wars actually! Somebody getting butt-ed out of the arena by Matilda!"
- — Philippa Forrester to Team Vader after the battle
Matilda has part of her shell ripped away by Corkscrew
The only competitor that attacked Matilda across the series was Corkscrew. In Round 1 of the Commonwealth Carnage. At the end of the battle, Corkscrew got its spinning body up to speed and charged at Matilda's side, slicing through the fibreglass front, ripping a large chunk of it loose. Corkscrew then hit Matilda, sending the part it had cut off flying away.
- "Massive power in those blades! Look at the damage caused to Matilda! They've hardly made a silk purse out of a sow's ear!"
- — Jonathan Pearce after Corkscrew rips off part of Matilda's front
Matilda was absent from five episodes across the series; Heat A of the All-Stars, the Minor Meltdown, Heat B and the Grand Final of the New Blood Championship, the European Championship, and most notably, the Robot Rampage, where she did not appear in the Featherweight, Lightweight or Middleweight championships. In a further 5 episodes, Matilda was only used in one battle, and in some episodes, she was not involved in the battles she was used in, such as the Iron Maidens, where she was used in both Round 2 battles, and the University Challenge, where she was only used in the Round 2 battle between Tiberius 3 and C.V. The Annihilator was the only episode of the series where she was used in more than 2 battles, but she was not involved in 2 of the 3 she was used in.
The Matilda horn presented to JJ Frizell
Philippa Forrester actually presented JJ Frizell of Team Terror Turtle one of Matilda's horns after Terror Turtle was eliminated in Round 1 of the New Blood Championship. Terror Turtle had been flipped over very quickly in the battle, but was later flipped back over by Roobarb, but its spinning bar was hanging over the arena wall, leaving it unable to drive away. Mute drove into the Pit, but the Judges ruled that Terror Turtle had been immobile first, despite not being counted out, much to the surprise as dissapointment of the team. As a consolation prize, Philippa Forrester gave JJ Frizell the Matilda horn.
- "A genuine Matilda horn! I risked life and limb to get that!"
- — Philippa Forrester on the Matilda horn
Series 7[]
- "Tusks get flipping while her saw gets ripping - Matilda is one metal mother you don't want to waltz with! Her flywheel now spins up to full rpm in only 3.5 seconds, not enough time for even the speediest 'bot to dodge out of the way."
- — The Series 7 Programme on Matilda[23]
The final series of the original run of Robot Wars, this series was the last use of the original design of Matilda, as she was redesigned for the reboot.
Matilda had to wait until Heat E to make her appearance of the series, as she was used in the first Round 1 melee of the Heat. Having been absent from four episodes, this is her longest series of episodes she was absent from, although as originally filmed, Heat E was originally intended to be Heat A, with the first Round 1 melee being the first battle filmed for the series, but the two Heats were swapped around in broadcast order. Had "Heat E" been used to open the series, then Matilda would have been absent from Heats Heat B until Heat G, as she was not used in Heat F either.
Devastator is pushed into Matilda's CPZ by Tornado
Devastator is caught between Mr. Psycho and Matilda
In her first battle of the series, Tornado pushed Devastator into her side, and Matilda turned to try and prevent Devastator escaping the CPZ, but as she reversed to try and use her flywheel, Devestator drove out of the CPZ.
- "...slammed back into the CPZ, and that tail blade of Matilda. Pink, lurid awful!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Tornado rams Devastator into the CPZ
Later in the battle, Sawpoint 2 was fighting with Devastator close by Matilda's CPZ, and Tornado rammed Sawpoint 2 into the CPZ, and Matilda hit Sawpoint 2's saws with her flywheels, causing a shower of sparks. However, Mr. Psycho drove up the arena, trapping Devastator in the CPZ, which pinned Matilda between the arena wall and Devastator, allowing Sawpoint 2 to escape.
St. Agro limps along after suffering damage from Matilda
After being absent from Heat F, and only used in one battle in Heat G, the Round 2 battle between Atomic and Hellbent, Matilda had another notable battle in the Heat Final of Heat H, the only battle of that episode she was used in. St. Agro and Ceros were fighting between the pit and Matilda's CPZ, and St. Agro drove along the edge of her CPZ whilst driving at Ceros, so Matilda reversed at St. Agro, hitting its left wheel and ripping off a large part.
- "Matilda's flywheel comes in, and look at the wheel of St. Agro! Ripped, broken! Operating now, really only on one wheel, limping, St. Agro!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda breaks St. Agro's left wheel
Matilda shatters Ceros out of the arena
Despite this damage, St. Agro kept going for the rest of the battle, limping back at Ceros, and managing to flip it over, from which Ceros could not self-right. After Matilda counted it out, Matilda reversed into Ceros, tossing it out of the arena, whilst also shattering the baseplate.
- "Good old Matilda! You can count on her rear end in any sort of ... catastrophe! Matilda's pink bottom, once again rises to the top!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda smashes Ceros out of the arena
Rhino survives as Matilda smashes the arena wall
Her next notable battle was the next battle, in the first Round 1 melee of Heat I, between Storm 2, Rhino, Mayhem and Supernova. Storm 2 rammed Rhino into her CPZ, and as Matilda turned around to use her flywheel, she accidentally reversed around Rhino and drove straight into the arena wall. ripping free the plexiglass and lifting the whole support loose.
- "Rhino, again shoved by Storm 2, into the CPZ, that means he's Matilda's to play with! Look at that, the side of the arena itself buckling and torn away!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda hits the arena wheel
Matilda punishes the immobile Mayhem
Meanwhile, Mayhem was counted out after Supernova ripped its tyres off. It was placed on the floor flipper and tossed down the arena, where Matilda was waiting for it. Matilda reversed into it with her flywheel, sending it spinning into the arena wall. Matilda then reversed into the back of Mayhem, flipping it over and loosening the top panel.
- "Poor old Mayhem's getting terrible punishment out there. ... They are relentless, the House Robots! Terrifying!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda attacks Mayhem
Shortly after, Storm 2 rammed Supernova into the arena wall, leaving it stranded against the wall. Matilda reversed into Supernova, clipping it with her flywheel. This knocked Supernova back down from the wall, but Supernova was immobile, so it was counted out.
Matilda tries to get Behemoth off the arena wall
Matilda hits Behemoth with her flywheel
Matilda was absent from Heat J, and whilst she was used in both Round 2 battles in Heat K, she was not involved in either of them, so her next notable battle came in Round 2 of Heat L, in the battle between Behemoth and Mute. Behemoth became stuck in forward drive after Mute self-righted and landed on top of it, and it careened down the arena, then into Matilda's CPZ, where it could not get away from the arena wall. Matilda got at its side and tried to lift it free, but Behemoth was still stuck in forward drive, so Matilda reversed out of the CPZ, and Mr Psycho came over. Mr. Psycho pushed Behemoth free of the arena wall, but it couldn't do anything but charge up the arena, then after slamming into the arena wall, sped back down the arena, back into Matilda's CPZ. Matilda hit it with her flywheel, ripping off parts of the back. Matilda backed off, then reversed back into the rear of Behemoth with her flywheel, flipping it up a little.
Micro Mute sustains damage from Matilda's flywheel
The counted out Micro Mute is flipped by Matilda
Matilda and Sir Killalot caused a lot of controversy in the Featherweight Melee, held as the Special Event in Heat M. Micro Mute was only working on one wheel, and it drove into Matilda's CPZ, and actually managed to get under one of Matilda's wheels and push Matilda. However, when it turned out from under the wheel, Matilda hit it with her flywheel, immobilising it.
- "Micro Mute underneath Matilda's tail! You really don't wanna be... OOH! You don't wanna be there, that's for certain!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda immobilises Micro Mute
The House Robots show no mercy to Micro Mute
The damage inflicted to Micro Mute
Matilda hit the back, buckling some of the armour, and Refbot came over to count it out. Matilda turned around and flipped Micro-Mute with her tusks, flipping it against Refbot's counter. Sir Killalot grabbed it with his claw and pushed it against the top wall. Having ripped off part of the armour, Sir Killalot then picked up Micro Mute again and took it to Matilda, forcing it into her flywheel repeatedly, ripping up the back end. Adam Emmett was disgusted by the excessive amount of damage, walking out of the control booth. Sir Killalot carried it down the arena, Matilda opened the Pit for him, and Sir Killalot dropped Micro Mute into the Pit.
- "House Robots, teaming up to toy with Micro Mute, and dangles it, ooh, awfully on Matilda's tail! Well it is a beaten machine, it is in the arena, and once it is beaten the House Robots can cause damage, and Adam looks most upset. Terrible damage sustained by Micro Mute, out. The crowd love it, the team doesn't."
- — Jonathan Pearce, as Adam Emmett turns his back on Micro Mute's punishment from the House Robots
After the battle, Jeremy Honcox spoke to Jayne Middlemiss, reiterating how long the robot had taken to build and the team's anger at the damage done to it by the House Robots.
- Jayne Middlemiss: "How long did that take you to do?"
- Jeremy Honcox: "Well, over 3 years."
- Jayne Middlemiss: "3 years, and they've ripped it apart in 5 minutes. They're not very nice, the House Robots, are they?"
- Jeremy Honcox: "No, and that's not a quick fix either."
- — Post-battle interview
Matilda pushes Hammerhead 2 onto the Drop Zone
Matilda pits Hammerhead 2
The next three Heats would be rather quiet for Matilda. In Heat N, she was only used in one battle, the World Championship qualifier, but she was not involved, and she was not involved in either of the two battles she was used in Heat P, the Featherweight Final and the Heat Final. She was used in three battles in Heat O, but she was only involved in one of them, the Round 2 battle between Typhoon 2 and Hammerhead 2. This was one of the only times she performed the arena duties on a beaten competitor in this series, as she pushed the immobile Hammerhead 2 onto the Drop Zone, then into the Pit.
- "In comes Matilda with the spinning flywheel tail. Oh, and now the Drop Zone as well?! How cruel! How merciless! How delicious! How joyous for us all!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda pushes Hammerhead 2 onto the Drop Zone
The immobile St. Agro, damaged by Matilda
Matilda pushes St. Agro onto the Floor Flipper
She also performed a "mercy killing" on St. Agro in the first Semi-Final. X-Terminator immobilised it with its spinning disc, and as it was counted out, X-Terminator pushed it into Matilda's CPZ, where Matilda reversed into the beaten competitor with her flywheel, ripping off part of the top, then slamming into the left wheel, smashing off part of it, just as she had done in Heat H. Matilda then pushed St. Agro onto the Floor Flipper.
- "Matilda of course, always likes to come in and pulverise the week! Whoah! Look at that missing out of that wheel! You're not talking foam rubber out there! That was real metal-munching!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda attacks the immobile St. Agro
X-Terminator is thrown over by Matilda
Matilda adds to the punishment already caused to X-Terminator
After being used in 2 battles in the second Semi-Final, but not being involved in either of them, Matilda had another notable battle in the Grand Final. In the Play-Off between Tornado and X-Terminator, Tornado pushed X-Terminator towards Matilda's CPZ, and managed to push X-Terminator into Matilda's flywheel, which flipped X-Terminator over. With no srimech, X-Terminator rolled along on its spinning disc, but Tornado pushed it back into Matilda's flywheel, which flipped it back over. X-Terminator drove away from Matilda's CPZ, down the arena, but Tornado rammed it into the arena wall, immobilising it. After Refbot counted X-Terminator out, Matilda ground into the rear armour, carving a large gash in the back.
- Craig Charles: "I bet you'd be happy if you never saw Matilda again!"
- Marlon Pritchard: "Yeah, we were cringing a big there!"
- — Post-battle interview
Matilda pushes Typhoon 2 out of the CPZ
Matilda was also used in the Grand Final, and Typhoon 2 drifted into her CPZ whilst trying to avoid Storm 2 and get its spinning body back up to speed. It hit Matilda as it tried getting up to speed, but it was only spinning slowly, so did no damage, and Matilda pushed it out of the CPZ. After the battle was restarted, Storm 2 rammed Typhoon 2 into Matilda in her CPZ, stopping Typhoon 2 spinning, but Matilda backed off and refrained from damaging either of the competitors in the CPZ, and Typhoon 2 escaped. Later in the battle, Storm 2 rammed into an empty CPZ, pinning it against the wall, and Matilda rushed down the arena. Matilda got her tusks under Typhoon 2, pushing it away from Storm 2, and both competitors escaped the CPZ.
Matilda shatters the armour of EWE2
In the Annihilator, Matilda smashed into the top of EWE2 after it was counted out. EWE2 was left stranded on its side, and after Refbot counted it out, Matilda reversed into it with her flywheel, ripping off one of the top and one of the front panels.
However, Matilda's last two episodes of the show's original run proved to be uneventful for her. In the All-Stars, she was only used in the second Round 1 battle, and in the Third World Championship, she was only used in Battle 4, and she was not involved in either.
Series 8[]
- "Oh, be still my beating heart. The world's most famous robotic Triceratops is back, but her technology is anything but prehistoric."
- — Jonathan Pearce introduces Matilda in Meet the House Robots
Matilda as she appeared in a 2016 teaser trailer
Matilda attacks a cable drum roller with her flywheel
Matilda was the first House Robot to be confirmed for Series 8, appearing in the very first teaser trailer for the Revival Series. Along with fellow House Robots Shunt, Dead Metal and Sir Killalot, a new build would officially premiere in Meet the House Robots. After her updated design, tusks and flywheel were showcased, Matilda was seen cutting and throwing a wooden pallet and cable drum roller with each. During one of the flywheel attacks, a large piece of debris from the roller clipped and knocked one of the newly-designed horns off.
- "Matilda, I have missed you!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda enters the arena before the first battle of the new series
Matilda herself would also appear in the very first battle of the Revival Series - the opening Group Battle of Heat A involving Kill-E-Crank-E, Nuts, Razer and Terrorhurtz. She very nearly hit Terrorhurtz with her flywheel when it strayed into her CPZ, but Terrorhurtz swerved away and escaped the CPZ.
Behemoth is thrown onto its side by Matilda's flywheel
Her first major contribution during this run occurred in the Head-to-Head between Behemoth and Nuts, partnered with Dead Metal. Behemoth charged into one of Nuts' minibots and scooped it up, tossing it with its scoop, but as it did so, it charged towards Matilda's CPZ. Behemoth swerved to try and stop itself driving into Matilda, and though it managed to turn around, it stopped just on the edge of the CPZ, and Matilda reversed into its side with her flywheel, flipping Behemoth onto its side, and leaving a gash in its left-hand side in the process. As revealed later on, the damage was also enough to cause manoeuvrability issues for Behemoth, as a drive chain on that side had begun catching the damaged side panel.
- "They wanna dodge that tail spinner of Matilda, and Behemoth didn't watch out!"
- — Jonathan Pearce after Matilda hits Behemoth
Matilda flips up Nuts
Matilda also hit Nuts a couple of times with her flywheel. Whilst driving away from Behemoth, Nuts drifted to the edge of her CPZ, and as it turned, Matilda reversed into it with her flywheel, flipping it up. Nuts survived this attack, and span on the spot, but failed to get away from the CPZ. Despite Nuts being outside the CPZ, Matilda came out and hit it again, flipping it over with her flywheel.
- "You don't wanna tackle the rear end of Matilda, that's for sure! Over goes Nuts!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda hits Nuts with her flywheel
Shortly after, Behemoth flipped Nuts' orange minibot into Matilda's CPZ, and Matilda whacked it away with her tusks.
Matilda rips away Thor's wheelguard
In Heat B, Matilda made three appearances during the Head-to-Head stage, paired with Dead Metal in each instance. After not being involved in Shockwave's clash against Foxic, she would go on to damage both Thor and Shockwave in their match. Thor rammed Shockwave towards Matilda's CPZ, and as Shockwave tried to get away, it backed into the CPZ, and Thor slammed it against Matilda's side. Shockwave narrowly managed to escape the CPZ after being hit by Thor's axe, and as Thor pulled back its axe, it actually hit Matilda's front. Later in the battle, Shockwave fled from Thor, waiting for it by the trench, and as Thor charged at it, Shockwave turned around and pushed Thor into the rear of Matilda, which ripped one of Thor's wheelguard panels off. Thor charged at Shockwave, but Shockwave managed to push Thor into the CPZ, and Matilda was waiting with her flywheel. Shockwave pushed Thor into the flywheel, which hit Thor's side, ripping the top off one of the wheelguards, though both competitors would survive to a Judges' decision anyway.
- "For me the most impressive robot so far, but pushed on there, to Matilda! ...but what a competitive spirit, in the end, to stay clear of Thor just enough, and push Thor onto Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Shockwave pushes Thor into Matilda's flywheel, then when reviewing the highlights
Matilda flips Foxic into the Pit
Lastly, Matilda pushed Foxic into the Pit after it became immobilised against Thor. Once the battle was over, she got her tusks underneath and flipped it into the Pit, though not without being chided for it by Jonathan Pearce.
- "Oh, no no no! We don't need this Matilda! Oh Matilda, that's...Matilda, you're a bully. You're just a bully. Beautiful, but a bully!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda pits Foxic
Matilda trenches King B Remix
Matilda made a total of five appearances in Heat C, although she was not involved in three of those battles; the first group battle, TR2 vs. Big Nipper and King B Remix vs TR2. Matilda became the first robot to throw another out of the arena in the Revival Series in terms of broadcast order. This occurred during the Head-to-Head between Dantomkia and King B Remix, after the two-time UK Semi-Finalist threw the fellow Classic Series veteran between the Arena Tyre and the wall. After King B Remix became wedged, Matilda rushed in and flipped it over the wall using her tusks; the first instance where she would perform this without using her flywheel.
- "...the coup de grâce from Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce, over replays of Matilda tossing King B Remix out of the arena
Matilda pushes Dantomkia down from the wall
During the Heat Final between Dantomkia and TR2, Matilda was involved several times. First, Dantomkia flipped TR2 into her CPZ, but TR2 managed to drive away as Matilda tried to get underneath and flip with her tusks. Dantomkia then drove into her CPZ whilst turning away from TR2, and Matilda clipped its side, knocking it to the edge of the CPZ. Dantomkia turned around, and narrowly managed to escape as Matilda reversed at it with her flywheel.
- "They {TR2} nearly got pinned by Matilda, on her gruesome tusks in there! And the Matilda comes out and nearly saws into Dantomkia!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Dantomkia charged back at TR2, but TR2 got underneath and pushed it into her flywheel. Matilda briefly attacked the latter as it was flicked towards her CPZ by Dantomkia. After TR2 flipped Dantomkia and forced it to self-right against the angled side wall, Matilda reversed into the Team S.Tek machine, pushing it down from the wall. Dantmokia self-righted, but was flipped back into the CPZ by TR2, and Matilda blocked its escape. Matilda tried to pin Dantomkia in the corner, but Dantomkia slipped around her and escaped the CPZ.
- "There's that horrible pink rear end of Matilda, that no-one wants to see, even in their wildest dreams I can tell you, and I've had a fair few about Robot Wars!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as TR2 flips Dantomkia into Matilda's CPZ
Matilda tries to right Dead Metal
Heat D saw Matilda make four further appearances, two of which involved her attempting to assist other House Robots after they got flipped over by newcomer Apollo. Both of these occurred during the latter's battles against Storm 2; in the Head-to-Head, Matilda left her CPZ to try and right Dead Metal. She gave her fellow a House Robots a couple of pushes, but this was not sufficient to re-right the latter.
- "Matilda, you're not allowed to come out and look for revenge! No, no, no no! Going, Matilda coming in for the kiss of life? Ugh, dear! ... Matilda, what is she doing? Ah dear, Matilda nudging her teammate back into life it would seem, or maybe towards the pit. Surely not cannibalistic House Robots"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda attempts to right Dead Meta
Matilda is turned over by Apollo
Later in the battle, Storm 2 rammed Apollo into the CPZ, and when Matilda tried to attack with her flywheel, Apollo got under her side and tried to flip her. Although it failed to get under Matilda and lift her up, the flipper did catch her shell, ripping half of it off. Matilda tried to attack with her flywheel, but Apollo turned her on her side as well, to the jubilation of Team MAD.
- "Were they going to flip Matilda? I think they were! I think they got too confident there! Oh, and they've done it! A KO blow for the second time! They've taken just about everyone out! I've never, ever seen it before!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Apollo flips Matilda over
Matilda, about to flip Shunt back over
In the subsequent Heat Final, Apollo flipped Shunt over, then pushed it onto the Flame Pit. Later in the battle, Apollo pushed Storm 2 into the CPZ, and with Shunt taken out, Matilda came over to the CPZ, getting behind Storm 2 and chasing it out of the CPZ. She actually drove out of the CPZ, pushing the side of Apollo as it tried to flip Storm 2, before returnig to her CPZ. Matilda proceeded to flip Shunt back onto his wheels using her tusks, though by that point Apollo was already preparing to throw Storm 2 out of the arena, which it soon did, so neither House Robot had an opportunity to take revenge on the competitors.
- "...meanwhile, Matilda's on the warpath! She can cross into a CPZ if the competitors go in there, and once again oh! She's now self-righted her compatriot!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda comes over and rights Shunt
Matilda hits Thor with her flywheel
After not being used in any battles in Heat E, Matilda only made one appearance in the Grand Final - the Head-to-Head between Thor and TR2, which proved to be an eventful battle for her. TR2 flipped Thor towards Matilda's CPZ, and Thor drove straight into Matilda, who was ready with her flywheel. The flywheel hit Thor's side, ripping the top of one of the wheelguards, as it had done in the Heats. Thor turned, but failed to escape the CPZ, so Matilda turned, clipping Thor's side with the flywheel again. Matilda then turned around, clouting Thor with her tusks. Thor reversed straight onto Matilda's tusks, and Matilda flipped it out of the CPZ.
- "...Jason earlier on said they'd been destroyed, destroyed, destroyed, destroyed and destroyed, but they've come back to fight... but they're fighting Matilda there! They hit Matilda but got an absolute tusk trip! And over they went! Do not take on Matilda! She's an angry beast!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Thor is flipped into Matilda, referencing the damage recieved in earlier battles
Matilda flips Thor out of the arena
TR2 flipped Thor back into Matilda's CPZ, but Thor was able to self-right and escape before Matilda could attack. However, later in the battle, TR2 flipped Thor over and pushed it to the edge of Matilda's CPZ, so when Thor self-right, it fell into the CPZ, and Matilda hit its side with her flywheel, tossing it aside. This attack left Thor almost totally immobile, and TR2 flipped it back to Matilda, who flipped it up with her tusks, then turned around and hit Thor with the flywheel as it tried to escape the CPZ. TR2 flipped the immobile Thor against the wall by the trench, and flicked it to Matilda, who used her tusks to flip Thor out of the arena.
- "Well done Matilda! …[Thor] Had the affront to take on Matilda. Matilda's thirst for revenge knows no limits. Her anger was rising, her flip was final."
- — Jonathan Pearce after Matilda flips out Thor, watching the replay of the battle
Battle of the Stars[]
- "With two-and-a-half tonnes of lip, it's my favourite little stocking filler, Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce before the JAR vs Interstellar: MML battle
Matilda and the other House Robots with Christmas decorations
Matilda only made fleeting appearances in the Battle of the Stars specials, filmed concurrently with Series 9 and first broadcast in December 2016. In Episode 1, she only made 1 appearance, during the Head-to-Head between JAR and Interstellar: MML.
Matilda corners Interstellar: MML
Interstellar: MML lost drive on one side, and was chased into an empty CPZ by JAR, and Matilda came out of her CPZ and crossed the arena to attack Interstellar: MML, pinning it against the wall and blocking its escape. Interstellar: MML managed to turn around Matilda and escape the CPZ, but JAR shoved it straight back in, so Matilda rammed it out with her tusks.
- "...Interstellar, not moving, and that means that Matilda can come in and have fun! ...Matilda has a shove. When Matilda comes to dance, you know you're in trouble!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda comes over to attack Interstellar: MML, then as it pushes it away from the CPZ
Matilda thrusts Soldier Ant against the wall
Matilda also only made one appearance in Episode 2, in the Head-to-Head defeat between Robo Savage and Soldier Ant.
- "Where's my mistletoe? It's Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce before Robo Savage and Soldier Ant fought
Robo Savage flipped Soldier Ant over onto the flame pit, where it was counted out, so Matilda flipped it off the flame pit, before ramming it towards a corner and tossing it against the wall. Soldier Ant landed upright, and as Matilda pinned it in the corner, Soldier Ant retaliated by grabbing hold of Matilda's tusks with its crusher. Matilda lifted Soldier Ant up off the floor and carried it over to the pit, which was opened so Matilda could drop Soldier Ant down. Soldier Ant had however, broken off one of Matilda's horns as it grabbed onto her front.
- "Char-broiled Soldier Ant! And we have Matilda, oh, I love her movement! Coming in for a little bit of fun and frolics, this festive time! What a turn up for the books, and nearly turned up and over!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda flips Soldier Ant off the flame pit
Series 9[]
Matilda in the first teaser trailer for Series 9
Matilda, Shunt and Sir Killalot in the second teaser trailer for Series 9
Matilda appeared in a teaser trailer for Series 9, uploaded on 10th February 2017[24]. The teaser showed her and the other House Robots destroying household appliances, with Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" playing in the background in one version. Another teaser trailer released by the BBC showed her and fellow House Robots Shunt and Sir Killalot wrecking a white Vauxhall Corsa in a car park.[25]
- "Swipe left, or she'll take a swipe at you!"
- — Jonathan Pearce introduces Matilda before the first battle of Series 9, Heat A
Matilda's flywheel sends Nuts 2 flying
As in the previous series, she appeared in the opening Group Battle of Heat A, involving Nuts 2, Terrorhurtz, Rapid and Jellyfish. She quickly made her presence felt by coming out of her CPZ and flicking Nuts 2 aside with her tusks early in the battle, despite it not being immobile. Later in the battle, Rapid rammed Nuts towards Matilda's CPZ, and Nuts 2 rolled straight into Matilda, who pushed it aside with her tusks. Nuts 2 span around on the spot, but failed to escape the CPZ. Matilda reversed into it with her flywheel, effortlessly hurling it out of the arena with one blow.
- "Don't mess with the rear end of Matilda - it's a grizzly place to be!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda throws Nuts 2 out of the arena
Matilda made two further appearances during the Head-to-Head stage of the same episode; joining Dead Metal for Terrorhurtz vs Jellyfish, and Sir Killalot for Sabretooth vs Jellyfish, but was not involved in either battle.
A total of four appearances were made in Heat B - Behemoth vs Eruption, Behemoth vs Cherub and both of the Eruption vs Cherub encounters. However, Matilda was not involved in any of the battles. The first time the new Arena Hazard, Rogue House Robot, was activated in a battle featuring Matilda came in the Group Stage battle between Eruption and Cherub, but Dead Metal was the House Robot that went rogue, not Matilda.
Matilda parks herself on top of Concussion
Matilda's first appearance in Heat C came in the Head-to-Head between Thor and Concussion. Thor knocked Concussion onto the pit panel, which was still up, but Concussion found itself unable to get off due to its low ground clearance. Thor drove into the Arena Tyre, but instead of opening the pit, it activated Rogue House Robot. Matilda came out of her CPZ, the first time she went Rogue, but instead of attacking the competitors, she charged straight into Concussion, ramming into it and trying to flip it free of the pit using her tusks, but she missed with her tusks as she charged in. Matilda's tusks came down on top of Concussion, causing her to become stuck.
- "Concussion, wedged by Matilda! That means Thor can come in with that mighty axe! ... Matilda went in, trying to do her grizzly best!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Concussion and Matilda become caught together, then whilst watching the replay
Thor took advantage, axing Concussion, but Dead Metal came out of his CPZ, pushing the robots apart, allowing Matilda to reverse free of the pit. Matilda returned to her CPZ, and Concussion eventually managed to turn over the edge of the pit, and won the battle by flipping Thor over with its drum.
Matilda scuffs Heavy Metal's wedge
Matilda also appeared in Concussion's subsequent Head-to-Head against Heavy Metal, but was not involved in the very short battle, but she would make an impact in Heavy Metal's battle with Thor. Thor pushed Heavy Metal to the arena spikes by her CPZ, which flipped Heavy Metal towards her, so Matilda hit Heavy Metal with her flywheel, flipping up its wedge, causing sparks. The wedge was crumpled, but not ripped, and Heavy Metal managed to turn itself over and get away, only for Thor to ram it back into Matilda, and as Thor pushed Heavy Metal into Matilda, its right wheel fell off, leaving it immobile.
- "Drove Heavy Metal into Matilda's rear flywheeeel, and off the comes the wheel of Heavy Metal! And now stuck between Thor and Matilda, and I'm afraid this Heavy Metal gig is about to end..."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Heavy Metal's wheel came off
Matilda lines up her attack on Heavy Metal's wheel
Matilda flipped Heavy Metal over, and after 'Cease' had been called, Matilda reversed into the right wheel that got knocked off by Thor, chucking it across the arena and into Dead Metal's CPZ on impact.
- "Wheely big hit! Don't tangle with the rear end of Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda sends the wheel flying
With Sir Killalot and Shunt appearing in every battle bar one in Heat D, Matilda's appearances were limited to the Head-to-Head between Wyrm and Pulsar. However, the brevity of this battle meant that she was not able to get involved.
Matilda attacks Coyote with her flywheel
Similarly, in Heat E, Matilda only appeared in the Head-to-Head between newcomers Coyote and Crackers 'n' Smash. Coyote lost drive on one wheel, and Smash activated 'Rogue House Robot' had been enabled for the second time in the battle. This time, Matilda came out of her CPZ instead of Dead Metal, and reversed into the back of Coyote. Matilda then turned around to Coyote's front, hitting the bottom half of its jaw, before returning to the CPZ.
- "And here comes Matilda with a flywheel tail to have a go at Coyote. Can they 'withstain' this sort of punishment?"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Matilda goes into Rogue House Robot mode, just before the battle was stopped
In the Grand Final, Matilda first appeared in the Head-to-Head battle between Eruption and Ironside3, but she was not involved in the battle. Her second battle in the Grand Final was the Head-to-Head battle between Eruption and Aftershock. Eruption got under Aftershock and flipped it against the Arena Tyre, which activated Rogue House Robot. Matilda and Dead Metal drove out of their CPZs at the competitors, but the battle was abruptly stopped before they could attack, as Aftershock's spinning flywheel had damaged the arena floor on landing. Matilda had only just reached Aftershock when the battle was stopped, and had to return to her CPZ before she could do any damage along. The battle was re-started, but Matilda was not involved in the subsequent battle.
Series 10[]
- "There is the gorgeous Matilda - extra special looks for her in this series of Robot Wars."
- — Jonathan Pearce on Matilda's new white horns and tips
Matilda, sporting her white tips, enters the arena
Matilda damages Behemoth with her flywheel
Matilda's sole appearance in Heat A came in the Heat Semi-Final between Behemoth and The Swarm. Behemoth flipped The Swarm's bar spinner segment Blenda into her CPZ, and Matilda hit it out of her CPZ. However, Blenda then turned around, and hit Matilda's front with it bar spinner, ripping off one of her newly-repainted white spike tips. Behemoth got its scoop under Rubber Duck and flipped it into Matilda's CPZ, but as it did so, it drove to the edge of the CPZ, and Matilda reversed into it with her flywheel. Behemoth was flipped over, and skidded across the arena, but rolled back over, and went on to win the battle.
- "...she flips Behemoth, who got too close to the CPZ, but self-rights! Good control, by Ant Pritchard."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda flips Behemoth over
Matilda troubles Big Nipper with her flywheel
Similarly, Matilda only appeared once in the Heat Semi-Final stage of Heat B, during the fight between Eruption and Big Nipper. Big Nipper drove straight into Matilda whilst driving away from Eruption, and Matilda flicked it out of the CPZ with her tusks. After Fog of War was activated, Eruption flipped Big Nipper back into Matilda's CPZ, and Matilda got under it and flipped it against the arena wall. Big Nipper quickly escaped her CPZ, though towards the end of the battle, Eruption flipped Big Nipper against the Arena Tyre, and Matilda reversed into Big Nipper with her flywheel, causing sparks.
- "They're in trouble, they're between a rock and a hard place there! Matilda has her great pink lurid flywheel ready to churn, and on the other side Eruption's waiting to churn!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Eruption flips Big Nipper to Matilda
Matilda flips Bucky the Robot
Heat C marked the most appearances by Matilda across the entire series, at four.
- "In the arena for the first Group Battle, and still not returning my calls, it's Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda enters the arena
Her first appearance came in the first group battle, where Bucky the Robot strayed into the battle early on in the battle. Matilda turned around to use her flywheel, and though Bucky the Robot managed to escape the CPZ before she attacked, Rapid pushed it back into the CPZ. Matilda reversed into Bucky the Robot with her flywheel, pushing it out of the CPZ. She next appeared in Bucky the Robot's Redemption battle against Vulture, and after Bucky the Robot was flipped on its side and counted out, Matilda came out of her CPZ and flipped it across the arena with her tusks. Matilda was involved in both of the Heat Semi-Finals, the first being the shortest fight in Robot Wars history - the 5.6-second long Rapid vs Track-tion battle. In the other, between Vulture and Terrorhurtz, Matilda came over to separate the two competitors when Terrorhurtz's axe became caught in Vulture's top. Matilda pushed against Terrorhurtz's side a couple of times, but this failed to free the axe, so Matilda got her tusks under Vulture and flipped it, which separated the two.
Matilda flips one half of The Kegs
In Heat D, Matilda made notable contributions in each of the two battles she was rostered for. Following the Robot Redemption round between Concussion and The Kegs, Matilda launched one of The Kegs' segments across the arena after 'Cease' had been called. With the half of The Kegs being flipped against the trench, she then flipped it out of the arena, though this was not included in the televised show[26]
- Angela Scanlon: "The House Robots are relentless!"
- Dara Ó Briain: "Yeah, they are, actually! They're more savage this year!"
- Angela Scanlon: "Yeah, they are savage."
- Dara Ó Briain: "Lovin' them for it!"
- — The presenters after Matilda flips The Kegs across the arena
Matilda hits Iron-Awe 6 with her flywheel
Matilda also attacked both competitors during the 3rd Place Playoff between Iron-Awe 6 and Androne 4000. Iron-Awe 6 pushed Androne 4000 into Matilda, who was ready with her flywheel and ripped off a piece of its rear armour. Androne 4000 and Iron-Awe 6 got away from Matilda, and later in the battle, Iron-Awe 6 pushed Androne 4000 back into Matilda, this time pushing it into her tusks, but Androne 4000 slipped off the tusks before she could flip. Iron-Awe 6 opened the Pit, and tried to push Androne 4000 down. However, as it turned away for a charge, it drove into Matilda's CPZ, and Matilda turned and hit it with her flywheel, flipping it out of the CPZ. Iron-Awe 6 was not damaged, and kept trying to push Androne 4000 down, but as it reversed for another charge, it backed into the CPZ again, so Matilda flipped it out of the CPZ with her tusks. Iron-Awe 6 was fortunate to land on its wheels each time, as its flipper was suffering from recurring technical issues, so it would not have been able to self right. Instead, it managed to win the battle by pitting Androne 4000.
- "I don't think we've seen that sort of destructive power of a House Robot in the series so far, as Matilda went wild - Rogue and wild!"
- — Jonathan Pearce after Thor takes severe damage from the House Robot
Matilda shatters Thor's gas supply
After seeing no action during the Robot Redemption fight between Expulsion and Push to Exit in Heat E, Matilda made a massive impact during her remaining two battles of this episode. The first occurred during the Heat Semi-Final battle involving Thor and Coyote. After being summoned in 'Rogue House Robot' mode once the Arena Tyre had been pressed by Coyote, Matilda came charging out. Thor was flipped over by the floor flipper and self-righted, but then mistakenly drove towards Matilda, and Matilda reversed into it with her flywheel, violently hitting its side, tossing it across the arena and rupturing the CO2 system powering the axe of Jason Marston's machine.
- "Matilda's closing in as well, look out Thor! OH! Thor, his weapon taken out by Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda comes out and attacks Thor
A reckless Expulsion is attacked by Matilda
Matilda's flywheel came into play again during the 3rd Place Playoff involving Expulsion and Coyote. Expulsion missed a charge at Coyote, and drove into Matilda's flywheel, and Expulsion's spinner hit Matilda's front, causing a part to fly off. Expulsion drove into the arena wall, and before it could try to get away, Matilda reversed into it, blocking its escape. Expulsion tried to escape the CPZ, and Matilda turned and hit Expulsion with the flywheel, then turned and hit it again, tossing it out of the CPZ, flipping it onto its front spinner. Matilda tipped it back over with her tusks. Expulsion was struggling to move, but still won the battle as Coyote was immobilised.
- "Expulsion still working, but still a bit daft going onto the blade of Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Expulsion is hit with the flywheel
Matilda flips Magnetar to Group Battle defeat
Matilda was the only House Robot not to play some part in the 10 Robot Rumble, prefacing her two appearances in the rest of the Grand Final episode. However, she still made a notable difference in the second Group Battle involving Eruption, Magnetar and Rapid. Magnetar had dominated the battle, and pushed Eruption straight into Matilda, but Eruption managed to narrowly escape whilst Matilda turned around to use her flywheel. Eruption drove to the side of the arena, where Magnetar was waiting for it and pushed it back into Matilda's CPZ, but as it did so, it drove in as well. Matilda chose to attack Magnetar, getting her tusks underneath and flipping it against the wall, and as its self-righting arm had jammed open earlier on in the battle after self-righted, having been flipped over by Eruption, Magnetar could not self-right, so it lost the melee to Eruption.
- "Oh! Eruption almost onto the fly tail of Matilda! And that would have been disastrous for them! Oh, what's happened here to Ellis? Matilda has caused the damage!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Magnetar pushes Eruption into the CPZ, but gets flipped herself
Matilda sends Behemoth tumbling
During the Semi-Final between Eruption and Behemoth, she would once again cause problems for the Team Make Robotics entry. After Behemoth was thrown into her CPZ, Matilda reversed into it, flipping it up with her flywheel, sending Behemoth rolling through the air and out of the CPZ. This visually violent attack marked Matilda's final appearance in the main series.
- "Look at this! The axe is broken off! The impact against the arena wall and from the House Robot has left Anita defenceless!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Matilda helps snap TMHWK's axe shaft
Matilda also appeared in both of the World Series specials, themselves filmed in the same timeframe as Series 10. In Episode 1, her only appearance was the Head-to-Head battle between TMHWK and Terrorhurtz. Terrorhurtz tried to push TMHWK into Matilda's CPZ, but TMHWK turned away, and Matilda reversed into Terrorhurtz with her flywheel. Terrorhurtz did manage to push TMHWK into Matilda's CPZ later in the battle, and Matilda flipped it with her tusks, sending it cartwheeling away and the impact causing TMHWK's axe to fall off, having previously been weakened by blows from Terrorhurtz's axe, and some missed blows that hit the floor.
Matilda flips Tough as Nails against the wall
Matilda made more appearances in Episode 2. First, she appeared in the Head-to-Head battle between Thor and Tough as Nails. Thor pushed Tough as Nails into Matilda, and she flipped it up against the arena wall as it tried to get away.
- "She'll flip you so far, you'll need a VISA to get back in!"
- — Jonathan Pearce before Big Nipper and Terror Turtle fought
Big Nipper feels the effect of Matilda's flywheel
Matilda appeared in the next battle, between Big Nipper and Terror Turtle. Big Nipper grabbed Terror Turtle and pushed it into Matilda's CPZ. Matilda reversed at them with her flywheel, and it hit the side of Big Nipper, ripping off a top panel and sending the robot skidding across the arena and into the side wall. The impact caused some of Big Nipper's lithium polymer batteries to catch fire, though fortunately for Big Nipper, it had already immobilised Terror Turtle moments before it was hit by Matilda. Matilda pushed Terror Turtle against the arena wall with her flywheel, then flipped it onto its side against the wall. Big Nipper was still moving on one side, and it turned into Matilda's front, who flipped it over, and she also used her tusks to tip Terror Turtle back upright.
- "John Frizell said his best chance was to feed Big Nipper to a House Robot, and that's what happened! Big Nipper on fire, and that gets a little bit of a flip from Matilda! ... I don't think we're gonna see much movement from Terror Turtle, unless Matilda helps out."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda hits Big Nipper, then uses her flipping tusks on both competitors
Matilda flips Cathadh to the Pit
Finally, Matilda took part in the last televised fight on Robot Wars, the captains' battle of Episode 2 between Eruption and Cathadh. After the American representative was immobilised and counted out, she proceeded to push and throw it into the open Pit, the final pitting to take place in the show's history.
US Season 1[]
- "The mechanical mother of them all! With a chainsaw turning at 3000rpm and hydraulic tusks, you'd better believe that mother knows best"
- — Stefan Frank introduces Matilda
Extreme Warriors: Season 1 was filmed alongside Robot Wars Extreme Series 1, as part of the Tomorrow's World filming, which was Matilda's first appearance with the flywheel, and Extreme Warriors was also her first appearance in an episode not produced for UK broadcast. Matilda made her first appearance of in the first battle of Extreme Warriors: Season 1, between Silver Box and Close Enough in the Robot Rebellion. After Close Enough broke down and was pushed onto the Flame Pit by Shunt, Matilda attacked it with her flywheel, shaking the top panel loose.
Alongside Shunt, Matilda was one of the House Robots used for the Final, taking on Silver Box, Tut Tut, Tricerabot and Rosie the Riveter.
- "First up, we've got the matriarch of mayhem, Matilda! With two prototype electric motors that definitely makes her a beast on wheels! The charmingly named Matilda may not be able to waltz like her Australian namesake, but does have hydraulic tusks and an interchangeable weapons arsenal that can take either her deadly chainsaw, or her state-of-the-art flywheel that weighs over 60 pounds! That's truly a sting in her tail! She's powered by a rechargeable battery that helps her move at over 5 yards a second! Dancing with her is definitely not recommended! Easily the audience's favourite House Robot, Matilda's bodyshell is sculpted from fibreglass matting, a material which is more resistant to heavy blows than steel!"
- — Stefan Frank describes Matilda before the House Robot Rebellion
Tricerabot attacks Matilda
Silver Box rips into Matilda's shell sending fiberglass shards flying
Tricerabot started by getting at Matilda's side, and pushing against her, but Matilda turned around, then got behind Tricerabot and ripped off the rear decorations. Matilda turned away, driving up the arena, and Tricerabot rammed into her side. Matilda turned around again, hitting Tricerabot's front with her flywheel, flicking it up and knocking a part off. Silver Box managed to pin Matilda in the CPZ, and used its saw to cut into her side, ripping through the fibreglass armour.
- "And there's Silver Box, trying to ruin Matilda's beautiful complexion with that saw! This could be a huge upset! These four on two, I mean, you would have never fought that the House Robots would take this much punishment!"
- — Stefan Frank as Silver Box cuts into Matilda
Tricerabot overturns Matilda
Matilda ran away down the arena, and as she tried to attack Silver Box, Tricerabot rammed into her rear, avoiding the flywheel and pushing her away from Silver Box and Tut Tut. Matilda turned around, but before she could attack, Tricerabot rammed into her rear again, this time getting underneath with its front wedge and turning the House Robot onto her side. This was the first time Matilda was flipped over after she was equipped with the flywheel.
- "Matilda's up on her side! Let's look at that again - OH! What a lucky break for Tricerabot, blindsided Matilda! She wasn't waiting for that one!"
- — Stefan Frank as Tricerabot turns Matilda over
Following an off-screen axe blow by Tut Tut, Shunt gradually lost mobility soon after, so Sir Killalot came in to try and finish off the competitors.[27]
Drillzilla pushes Red Virus into Matilda
Matilda made two appearances in the Annihilator. After not being involved in Round 1, Matilda had a very eventful battle in Round 4. Drillzilla pushed Red Virus towards her CPZ, and as Red Virus turned and tried to get away from Drillzill, it nearly drove straight into Matilda's flywheel, but managed to stop itself and turn away from the flywheel. It drove back at Drillzilla, which pushed it against Matilda, who turned around, hitting Red Virus with her flywheel. As Red Virus turned, Matilda tried to stop it escaping, but Red Virus drove out of the CPZ.
- "And there's Drillzilla, pushing Red Virus into the Corner Patrol Zone, right into the back of Matilda. Boy you don't wanna be there, Matilda'll make a mincemeat out of him!"
- — Stefan Frank as Drillzilla pushes Red Virus into Matilda
Matilda backs into Refbot with her flywheel
Later in the battle, Dead Metal got one of its grabbing arms caught under Red Virus' lifter, and Refbot and Matilda drove up to the top CPZ to try and help separate them. Refbot pushed Red Virus free of Dead Metal, and Matilda turned around to try and use her flywheel, but Refbot pushed Red Virus out of the CPZ, so Matilda accidentally reversed into Refbot's side.
Refbot blocks Matilda from the CPZ
In the Civil War, Matilda only made 2 appearances, but was involved in both battles. In the battle between Bot-Ugly had Spike, Spike gripped Bot-Ugly and pushed it into Shunt's CPZ. As Shunt attacked, Matilda also drove up the arena to attack, but Refbot stopped her, as it was not her CPZ and neither competitor was immobile. Although he did not show a card, he blocked Matilda from reaching the CPZ, driving under her tusks and pushing her against the wall. However, Matilda did not return to her CPZ, and when Bot-Ugly let got of Spike, Matilda came in and cornered Bot-Ugly, flicking it up with her flywheel. Spike took advantage and axed her, allowing Bot-Ugly to escape.
- "Oh no, Spike into Matilda! He knows that's a wrong move!"
- — Stefan Frank when Spike axed Matilda
Spike axes Matilda as she attacks Bot-Ugly
Later in the same battle, Bot-Ugly broke down whilst it had Spike in its grip, and Spike's axe became stuck in Bot-Ugly. Spike dragged Bot-Ugly down the arena towards the Pit, but could not finish Bot-Ugly off, so Matilda got beside Spike and helped it push Bot-Ugly into the Pit.
Refbot stops Matilda as she comes out of her CPZ and tries to interfere with the 6 Million Dollar Mouse versus Falcon battle
In the battle between 6 Million Dollar Mouse and Falcon, Matilda came out of her CPZ whilst both competitors were still mobile. Matilda held back as the two competitors fought by the Pit, but as 6 Million Dollar Mouse reversed away, Matilda backed into it, but Refbot came over to warn her, so Matilda allowed 6 Million Dollar Mouse to drive back at Falcon. However, she did not return to her CPZ, and towards the end of the battle, as 6 Million Dollar Mouse had Falcon pinned against the wall, Matilda drove behind 6 Million Dollar Mouse, though she did not attack it. Matilda did not receive any card from Refbot for leaving the CPZ illegally.
Matilda after being overturned
Matilda only appeared in one of the four battles in the Tag Team Terror, but it proved to be a very eventful battle for her. In the first battle, between Rosie the Riveter and Tricerabot against Tut Tut and Drillzilla, all four competitors were breaking the rules by fighting at once, Matilda came out of her CPZ. She attacked Tut Tut, reversing into its side with her flywheel. Tut Tut turned away, so Matilda reversed into Rosie the Riveter, but Tricerabot pushed against her side, and Drillzilla pushed Rosie the Riveter away. Drillzilla rammed Rosie the Riveter against the arena wall, and Matilda reversed into Rosie the Riveter's side, grinding into it with her flywheel. Rosie the Riveter turned away, and Matilda reversed towards the arena centre, where Tricerabot charged into her side and turned her over.
- "Serves her right! Nobody went into her corner, she shouldn't even have been out there!"
- — Stefan Frank as Tricerabot turns Matilda over
Sir Killalot rights Matilda with his claw
This was the second time Tricerabot had turned Matilda over, and no other competitor would until fifteen years later where she was flipped by Apollo in Series 8. Sir Killalot was able to turn her back over using his claw, and Matilda went back to the CPZ. Sir Kilalot then retaliated against Tricerabot by grabbing it with his claw, picking it up and spinning it around, and Matilda would continue to attack the competitors, fighting with Tut Tut.
- "Serves her right! Nobody went into her corner, she shouldn't even have been out there!"
- — Stefan Frank as Tricerabot turns Matilda over
Matilda smashes into Red Virus
The Brute pushes Falcon into the CPZ, where Matilda lies immobile
The US Championship was Matilda's busiest episode of the series, with her appearing in 5 of the 7 battles, including 3 of the 4 six-way melees. In the first melee, when Red Virus tried pushing Medusa Oblongata towards Matilda, Medusa Oblongata drove away before she could attack, so instead Matilda came out of the CPZ and hit Red Virus with the flywheel, flipping it up and scattering the glitter that had been inside the skulls on Red Virus.
- "Oh, Matilda goes in there because they're too close to the Corner Patrol Zone, and made Red Virus feel it!"
- — Stefan Frank as Matilda hits Red Virus with her flywheel
However, after that, Matilda broke down in the CPZ, so when The Brute pushed Falcon into the CPZ, Shunt had to come in to attack.
Matilda pits The Brute
Matilda appeared in both of the semi-finals. In the first, between The Brute and The Revolutionist, the statistics boards incorrectly listed Shunt as one of the House Robots instead of her. After The Revolutionist immobilised The Brute and it was counted out. Matilda and Sgt. Bash came over to attack it. Matilda reversed into The Brute with her flywheel, hitting the front and ripping off pieces, then tossing it against the middle arena entry gate. Sgt. Bash gripped it in his jaw, then left it for Matilda to push down the arena and into the Pit.
- "It's time for the House 'bots to come in, and the audience iis yelling for the pit as Matilda and Bash go in for the little Brute! They're gonna take him out - in style!"
- — Stefan Frank as Matilda and Sgt. Bash attack The Brute
Refbot gives Matilda a yellow card
In the other Semi-Final between Panzer Mk2 and Manta, towards the end of the battle, Panzer Mk 2 rammed Manta against the arena wall and repeatedly slammed into it. As Manta struggled to get away from the wall, Matilda came out of her CPZ to help push it away from the wall, getting her tusks behind it, but Refbot came over to warn her to return to her CPZ, and after Matilda returned to her CPZ, Refbot showed her a yellow card.
- "Refbot goes and reprimands Matilda for coming out of her corner illegally."
- — Stefan Frank as Refbot gives Matilda a yellow card
The World Championship was Matilda's quietest episode of the series, with her only appearing in one of the episode's 7 battles. She flipped Flensburger Power, and later in the battle, half of her rear shell fell off.
- "Matilda flips over Flensburger Power! Makes Flensburger Power powerless! Look at that flywheel! It just tore him apart!"
- — Stefan Frank as Matilda flips over Flensburger Power in the US version of the episode
US Season 2[]
- "Waltz with Matilda and you may never dance again, as this is a robot that really likes to shake rattle and roll! With a fibreglass-matting body, which is more resistant to heavy blows than steel, Matilda is tougher than Tyson and twice as good looking."
- — The Robot Wars Extreme Warriors Season 2 programme on Matilda
For the filming of Extreme Warriors: Season 2 and Nickelodeon Robot Wars, Matilda took something of a back seat, as the producers thought Matilda's flywheel was too powerful following recent upgrades. As a result, she was equipped with the chainsaw for all her battles in the US Championship, was used in relatively few battles, and saw less involvement in those battles, not being used for any mercy killings. When she was armed with her chainsaw, the chainsaw saw very little use, with Matilda instead using her tusks.
Matilda made few appearances in the second season of Extreme Warriors. She was absent from the first three heats, and only made a brief appearance in Heat D, being used in the Round 2 battle between Propeller-Head and The Gap, though the House Robots played no part in that battle. This battle was Matilda's only appearance of the episode.
Matilda attacks Techno Trousers. Note she is armed with her chainsaw.
Heat E saw Matilda make her first attack on a competitor, in the Round 2 battle between Rosie the Riveter 2 and Techno Trousers. When Rosie the Riveter 2 pushed Techno Trousers into an empty CPZ, Matilda rushed into the CPZ, and pushed Techno Trousers against the wall. Techno Trousers tried to escape the CPZ, but Matilda pushed it back against the wall. She tried to flick Techno Trousers with her tusks a couple, but she fired them too early, before they were under Techno Trousers. Techno Trousers drove away from the arena wall, but Dead Metal grabbed it and pinned it against the Disc of Doom button. Rosie the Riveter 2 rammed into Techno Trousers, and Matilda came out of her CPZ, getting under Techno Trousers' side and lifting it up, then pushing past. At no point during these attacks on Techno Trousers did she attempt to use her chainsaw.
- "Oh, poor Techno Trousers! And Matilda, taking advantage of it! Matilda with that chainsaw tail!, coming into the Corner Patrol Zone and letting Techno Trousers know that ain't a good place to be!"
- — Stefan Frank as Matilda comes into the CPZ and attacks Techno Trousers
Matilda appeared in the other Round 2 battle in the same episode, between Basenji and Darkness, but was not involved in the battle. Dead Metal finished off Basenji after it was counted out, with Matilda being in the background.
G-Force backs Marauder into Matilda
After being absent from Heat F, Matilda was attacked by a competitor in Round 1 of Heat G. Marauder drove into Matilda's tusks whilst avoiding a charge from G-Force, and pushed against them. Matilda fired her tusks, and Marauder drove around her and into the arena wall at the edge of her CPZ. Marauder could not get away, so G-Force slammed into it, then backed it into Matilda's CPZ. Matilda turned around to attack G-Force, which reversed out of the CPZ before she could use her tusks. Meanwhile, Marauder kept pushing at Matilda's side, then drove around her and pushed its way past. Again, Matilda did not attempt to use her chainsaw, and it was the other House Robot that performed the mercy killing on the beaten competitor, with Shunt pushing G-Force into the Pit.
Matilda was also used in the other Round 1 melee, but was not involved in the battle. As with the other Round 1 melee, Shunt was used to pit the losing competitor, in this case Lightning Tracks.
Refbot and Matilda try to right Xylon
Matilda was also used in both Round 1 melees of Heat H, and left her CPZ in both battles without a competitor being counted out. In the first one, between Xylon, Buzz and Tyranabot, Xylon was turned over by Buzz, then drove into the arena wall, but as it tried reversing away, its side panels, which were loosely attached on the side snagged in to the arena floor, preventing it from reversing. Refbot came over to push it free, and Matilda came out of her CPZ to help. As Refbot got at Xylon's side and pushed, Matilda got the other side and flipped it with her tusks. This turned Xylon onto its side, and Refbot reversed away, allowing Xylon to roll back onto its wheels.
- "As Refbot's having a look at Xylon, might be impaled up against the rail! And the Refcam gets a little bit too close, because Matilda has decided that's part of the Corner Patrol Zone, and is definitely taking advantage of Xylon's vulnerability!"
- — Stefan Frank as Refbot and Matilda drive into Xylon
Matilda comes out of her CPZ as The Falcon Mark Two lifts Bunny Attack
In the other melee, between The Falcon Mark 2, Bunny Attack and Paul Bunyan, Matilda came out of her CPZ whilst The Falcon Mark 2 was lifting Bunny Attack, but stopped short of interfering, and reversed back to CPZ as Bunny Attack slipped off of The Falcon Mark 2's lifter. She did not receive any kind of warning from Refbot in these battles for leaving her CPZ.
Shunt and Matilda push Destructive Criticism away from the arena wall
In the Grand Final, Matilda was used in both Round 2 battles. In the first, Panzer Mk4 rammed Destructive Criticism into the arena wall, immobilisng it, and after Refbot counted it out, Matilda pushed it away from the wall, then she and Shunt pushed it towards the Pit, where Panzer Mk 4 pushed it in.
Matilda lifts The Falcon Mark Two with her tusks
In the other battle, Tricerabot 3.0 pushed The Falcon Mark 2 into her CPZ, and Matilda used her tusks instead of her chainsaw to attack, getting under The Falcon Mark 2's side and lifting it up, until Shunt came over and axed The Falcon Mark 2, after which Matilda lowered The Falcon Mark Two, and the two House Robots let it drive away.
- "And now he's too close to that Corner Patrol Zone, and Matilda's taking the tusks out!"
- — Stefan Frank as Matilda lifts The Falcon Mark 2
For the various side events, Matilda would be armed with her flywheel. In the Annihilator, she was only used in Round 1, and was not involved in the battle.
Matilda backs into G-Force with her flywheel
The first time her flywheel was used in this series was in the Tag Team Terror. In the first Semi-Final, G-Force broke down, and after Refbot counted it out, Matilda came out of her CPZ, hitting the side of G-Force with her flywheel, ripping off an armour panel and sending it flying away.
Sir Force A Lot is pushed into Matilda's flywheel
Matilda also appeared in the final, where her flywheel would do serious damage again. Rocky Bot-Boa pushed Sir Force-A-Lot into her CPZ, and Matilda was ready and waiting with her flywheel. Rocky Bot-Boa pushed Sir Force-A-Lot into the flywheel, which ripped through the back.
- "Great bit of driving, there. Bot-Boa and the Widow backing Sir Force A Lot into Matilda's corner again."
- — Stefan Frank
After only being used in the Final of the International Championship, but not being involved in the battle, the Robot Rebellion proved to be Matilda's busiest episode of the series. She appeared in five battles, making this the only episode of the series where she was used in more than 2 battles, though she was not involved in the final Rebellion.
Shunt pushes Night Stalker into Matilda's flywheel
Matilda's first battle of the episode was the Round 1 battle between Rosie the Riveter 2 and Night Stalker, where Rosie the Riveter 2 pushed Night Stalker into an empty CPZ, and her and Shunt rushed over, with Matilda reversing at Night Stalker with her flywheel, buckling the spinning body. After a little tussling between her and Shunt over control of Night Stalker, Shunt axed the top of Night Stalker and dragged it out of the CPZ, before pushing it back into Matilda's flywheel. Night Stalker was counted out, and Shunt pushed it down the arena to the Drop Zone, where a washing machine was dropped on it, and Matilda reversed into the washing machine, tossing it over. Matilda then gave Night Stalker one last hit with her flywheel, flipping it up.
- "Matilda gets going with the flywheel! Might have to just tear a couple of pieces off of Night Stalker if he's ever gonna get out of that Corner Patrol Zone!"
- — Stefan Frank
Matilda was originally used alongside Shunt in the first take of the battle between Buzz and Ninjitsu, but after both competitors fell into the pit together, a rematch was fought, and Matilda was not used for the second attempt.
Matilda's flywheel sends Medusa Oblongotta flying out of the arena
In the battle between Snookums and Medusa Oblongotta, Snookums pushed Medusa Oblongotta into an empty CPZ, where it broke down. After it was counted out, Matilda reversed into it with her flywheel and tossed it out of the arena. This was the first time she had tossed a robot out of the arena using her flywheel, but was not the first time a competitor was flipped out of the arena using a flywheel, as Cyclone had done so to Thor's Hammer and Hyperactive in the Annihilator in the same season.
- "And Matilda goes in with the flywheel! Flips Medusa Oblongotta right out of the arena like a bag of trash! Unbelievable! Well if anybody underestimated the power of Matilda, let this be a lesson to ya!"
- — Stefan Frank
Matilda attacks Snake Bite with her flywheel
Matilda's flywheel would also do damage in the semi-final battle between Rosie the Riveter 2 and Snake Bite. Snake Bite got under the front of Rosie the Riveter 2, and pushed it into an empty CPZ at the top of the arena, pinning it against the wall. Matilda reversed up the arena and backed into Snake Bite, tossing it against the wall and separating the two competitors. Despite the damage, Snake Bite went on to win the battle.
- "And now Snake Bite's the one doing the pushing, as he pulls Rosie right back into the Corner Patrol Zone, and immediately the flywheel of Matilda splits them both up!"
- — Stefan Frank as Snake Bite pushes Rosie the Riveter 2
Matilda was also used in the other Semi-Final, between Ninjitsu and Snookums, although she was not used in the battle.
Nickelodeon Robot Wars[]
- "With tusks of steel and a chainsaw for a tail, you don't want to get her mad!"
- — Stefan Frank describes Matilda in the House Robot introduction
Just as with the concurrently filmed second series of Extreme Warriors, Matilda was used less than usual in Nickelodeon Robot Wars, and her flywheel would be used sparingly, being swapped for the chainsaw in most of her appearances. However, Nickelodeon Robot Wars would be even quieter for Matilda than Extreme Warriors season 2, with her only appearing in four battles.
Tyranabot reverses into Matilda as she drives down the arena
Matilda made her first appearance of the series in the Final of the US Championship. Matilda was armed with her flywheel in this battle, the only time in the series she would use it in this series. Whilst Probophobia got its lifter under Tyranabot, Matilda drove out of her CPZ, despite the fact both competitors were still mobile. As Matilda drove down the arena, Tyranabot slipped off the lifter and reversed straight into Matilda's side, although Matilda would not attack, and instead just continued driving down to the bottom CPZ, despite Tyranabot turning and reversing into her side again.
- "Matilda is out of her Corner Patrol Zone! And Ivan Loftus needs to get out of the way!"
- — Stefan Frank as Tyranabot reverses into Matilda
Tyranabot slams Probophobia into Matilda's flywheel
Later in the battle, Tyranabot reversed at Probophobia, who lifted too early, allowing Tyranabot to get under the lifted and reverse Probophobia down the arena, straight into the flywheel of Matilda, which crumpled the rear armour and lifted the top panel slightly loose. Soon after this, Probophobia broke down, and was counted out by Refbot. Sir K grabbed Probophobia with his claw, whilst Matilda opened the Pit, and Sir K dropped it in.
- "Sir K and Matilda working together to bury poor Probophobia!"
- — Stefan Frank as Sir K carries Probophobia to the Pit
Matilda flips over the immobile Zanzara
Matilda also made only one appearance in the International Tag Team Terror. For the side competitions, Matilda was armed with her chainsaw rather than her flywheel, the opposite of Extreme Warriors Season 2. Matilda was used in the first fight, and after The Revolutionist immobilised Zanzara and Run Away, Matilda came out of her CPZ to attack, using her tusks to flip over Zanzara.
- "And Matilda goes for Zanzara! Upsets the immobilised Zanzara, upside down! We don't think that's gonna move!"
- — Stefan Frank as Matilda flips Zanzara over
Matilda pushes Zanzara onto the Floor Flipper along with Run Away
Shunt pushed Run Away up to the Floor Flipper, and Matilda pushed Zanzara onto the Floor Flipper alongside it. However, as with Probophobia in the US Championship Final, it was the other House Robot, this time Shunt, that pushed the beaten competitors into the Pit.
- "As Matilda and Shunt do a little clean-up on those robots! Wow! The whole team got flipped at the same time, you won't see that too often!"
- — Stefan Frank as Shunt and Matilda put Run Away and Zanzara on the Floor Flipper
Rosie the Riveter 2 drives under Matilda
Matilda was armed with her chainsaw for her appearance in the Mayhem battle between Rosie the Riveter 2, Propeller-Head and Xylon. Rosie the Riveter 2 rammed Propeller-Head into a CPZ, and Shunt and Matilda drove up the arena to the CPZ. Shunt arrived first, blocking Rosie the Riveter 2's escape, whilst Propeller-Head escaped the CPZ, and Matilda drove between Propeller-Head and Rosie the Riveter 2. However, Rosie the Riveter 2 got under Matilda's side, pushing her against the wall. Shunt axed Rosie the Riveter 2 and pulled it away, whilst Matilda reversed off the top of Rosie the Riveter 2, then fled to another CPZ.
Matilda hits the Pit release button
She was also used in the episode's next battle, in the Vengeance battle between Bunny Attack and Hoot, although Stefan Frank incorrectly announced Dead Metal as the other House Robot in the battle. Towards the end of the battle, whilst Bunny Attack was trying unsuccessfully to push Hoot, Matilda and Sir Killalot came out of their CPZs, however once again, Matilda was in the background, whilst the other House Robot did most of the damage. Matilda opened the Pit, whilst Sir Killalot attacked Bunny Attack, breaking off its hammer. Refbot did not warn either House Robot for leaving their CPZ and interfering with the battle.
Just like in Extreme Warriors Season 2, Matilda did not attempt to use her chainsaw in any of the battles she was armed with it.
This was the only time in the series where she was used in more than one battle, and would be Matilda's last appearance of the series, as she was not used in any battles in Episodes 4, 5 or the Annihilator. Having only appeared in four battles of the 24 battles of the series, this was by far Matilda's quietest series ever.
Dutch Series 1[]
- "The ruthless steel rhinoceros, with the adorable name ‘Matilda’!"
- — Eric Corton (translated from Dutch)
Chris Reynolds shows Matilda off to Bridget Maasland in Robot Wars: The Kick Off
Before the Heat A of Robot Wars: The Dutch Struggles, Matilda and the other House Robots were introduced to Dutch audiences through Robot Wars: The Kick-Off, a special programme that acted as an introduction to the series and gave a behind the scenes look at the show. Amongst the people interviewed was Chris Reynolds, designer of the House Robots, who revealed each House Robot's specifications and their specialities[28].
- Chris Reynolds: "Powerful enough to pull a car along, quite a powerful robot. It's the one thing a lot of people say about the robots is they're a hell of a lot bigger than they thought! She's got pneumatically-controlled tusks here, powerful enough to flip an 100 kilogram robot in the air, and the new, devastating pink bottom, is this flywheel. This spins at about 600 RPM"
- Bridget Maasland: "It must hurt!"
- Chris Reynolds: "Very hard! That, to be avoided!"
- — Chris Reynolds describes Matilda to Bridget Maasland
Matilda was also shown in a dream sequence with Bridget Maasland, destroying a toy robot dog along with Sir Kilalot and Sgt. Bash.
Lizzard loses parts of its tail to Matilda's flywheel
In the main series, Matilda had to wait until the 6th battle, the Semi-Final between Lizzard and Arena Killer. This battle showed off both her tusks and flywheel. When Lizzard was turning away from Arena Killer, it strayed too close to Matilda's CPZ, and Matilda reversed at it with her flywheel, hitting Lizzard's tail, ripping off two large chunks of it.
Matilda flips Lizzard over
Later in the battle, Lizzard and Arena Killer were fighting at the top of the arena, just outside Matilda's CPZ, and Lizzard started spinning, but in doing so it drifted over the edge of the CPZ, and Matilda got her tusks underneath Lizzard and flipped it over, pushing it against Refbot. Matilda then pushed it across the arena to the Floor Flipper, and her and Shunt pushed it onto the Floor Flipper. However, Lizzard went through, as the Judges ruled that Arena Killer had been immobilized first, as it had been flipped over by Shunt after going into his CPZ, and although Shunt later righted it by flipping it back over with his scoop after Lizzard pushed it back into his CPZ, it had been immobile for over 30 seconds.
Pyramid of Chaos being shredded by Matilda
This battle was Matilda's only appearance in Heat A, and she only made two appearances in Heat B. Both of these appearances saw her cause devastating damage to beaten competitors. She first appeared in the Losers' Melee, and after it was counted out by Refbot, Matilda came over, reversing at Pyramid of Chaos with her flywheel, and although its slanted sides initially resisted the flywheel, Matilda reversed back into it, and this time the flywheel caught under the flywheel, ripping it loose from the rest of the robot, and ripping through the armour.
- "There comes Matilda, she shoves her charmingly twirling butt nicely into the side of Pyramid of Chaos, which has fallen apart beautifully. Hello there, in the replay we see properly once again how Matilda, with her gorgeous, gorgeously rotating, uh…disk at the back, splits Pyramid of Chaos in two."
- — Eric Corton as Matilda tears through Pyramid of Chaos (translated from Dutch)
Matilda hits Pyramid of Chaos again after it was thrown by the Floor Flipper
Shunt pushed Pyramid of Chaos onto the Flame Pit, then onto the Floor Flipper, and as Pyramid of Chaos was thrown down the arena, Matilda was waiting for it at the bottom of the arena, and slammed into it with her flywheel.
Sgt. Bash and Matilda attack Scraptosaur
In the Semi-Final between PullverizeR and Scraptosaur, PullverizeR quickly defeated Scraptosaur by throwing it over with its flywheel, and Sgt. Bash and Matilda came out to attack after it was counted out. As Sgt. Bash grabbed it with his claw, Matilda reversed into the side, causing a large scar in the armour.
Matilda throws Scraptosaur onto Refbot
Matilda cuts a gash in the side of Scraptosaur
Sgt. Bash dragged Scraptosaur back to the CPZ, and Refbot drove over to warn him to let go. He drove between Sgt. Bash and Scraptosaur, but in doing so, he drove on top of Sgt. Bash's bottom pincer. Sgt. Bash retaliated by firing his flamethrower at Refbot, and as Refbot struggled to get off Sgt. Bash's pincer, Matilda hit Scraptosaur with her rear flywheel, throwing it against Refbot. This impact helped Refbot reverse off Sgt. Bash's pincer, and Matilda reversed into Scraptosaur again, flipping it up and ripping open the side armour.
Matilda and Botwork tear into Maximum Torque
Matilda pushes Maximum Torque into the Pit
Heat C proved to be a very eventful battle for Matilda, as she was used in five of the 7 battles. In the first battle, between Maximum Torque and Botwork, Maximum Torque reversed into her CPZ, and Matilda hit it with her flywheel, tearing the side armour and immobilizing the robot. After it was counted out, her and Sgt. Bash pushed it up to the Floor Flipper together, and after it was thrown, Matilda pushed it into the Pit.
Matilda backs into Pika 2, ripping off one of its wheels
Matilda pushes the immobile Pika 2 onto the Floor Flipper
Matilda also made a big impact in the next battle, between Pika 2 and Hammerhead. After Pika 2 was counted out, Matilda reversed into Pika 2 with her flywheel, tossing it aside and ripping off a whole wheel. Matilda then got her tusks underneath it and pushed it up the arena to the Floor Flipper.
- "Did this feel like a confident win? Because Matilda did all of the work for you guys."
- — Bridget Maasland to the Hammerhead team after their win against Pika 2 (translated from Dutch)
Matilda smashes the back of Hammerhead
Matilda rips the top of Hammerhead whilst she backs it towards the Pit
After not being used in the X-Bot vs Meshuggah battle, and not being involved in the Losers' Melee, Matilda appeared again in the Losers' Melee, but was not involved in the battle. She was used in the first halve final between Hammerhead and Botwork. When Hammerhead was immobile, Matilda backed into it with her flywheel twice, first reversing into the side, then reversing into the back, flicking the robot up. After Hammerhead was put on the Floor Flipper and thrown across the arena, she backed it into it, hitting the side and ripping one of the top armour panels loose, then backed it into the Pit.
Matilda was not used in the second Semi-Final, and whilst she was used in the Heat Final, she was not involved in the battle.
Matilda was used in four battles in Heat D, but unlike Heat C, she did not have many notable moments, as in each battle, the other House Robot did most of the work. She was involved in all three Round 1 battles, but in each of them she was not involved. In the Slicer vs Enderbot battle, Sir Killalot picked up Enderbot and span it around after it was defeated, and Matilda did not get a chance to attack.
In the second Round 1 battle, between El-Mower and Flextreme, neither competitor was immobilised, and it was Shunt who was used to come out of his CPZ, opening the Pit and attacking El-Mower. Then, in Project One vs Blue battle, Sgt. Bash blasted Project One with his flamethrower as Refbot counted it out.
Matilda pits El-Mower
Matilda did get a chance to attack a beaten competitor in the Semi-Final between Slicer and El-Mower, where she pushed El-Mower into the Pit, though again, Shunt did most of work, putting El-Mower on the Flame Pit, then the Floor Flipper
Heat E was similarly quiet for Matilda, as although she appeared in three battles, she was only involved in one of them. She was used in the Round 1 battle between NEAT Machine and Sater, and just like in Heat D, the other House Robot was used for the mercy killing, with Shunt pushing the beaten competitor onto the floor flipper, then into the pit.
Shapeshifter is destroyed for the second time
The remains of Shapeshifter, immediately before a post-battle attack by Matilda
Matilda made much more of an impact in the Losers' Melee, where after Shapeshifter was counted out, Matilda reversed into it, smashing one side of the wooden shell. Just before the battle ended, Matilda reversed into the other side, smashing almost all of the remaining armour off.
Matilda was also used in the Heat Final, although ultimately neither House Robot was involved in the battle.
Lizzard is launched by Matilda's flywheel
In the Grand Final, Matilda was only used in the Final battle, where her only involvement was a brief but memorable attack. Lizzard strayed too close to her CPZ, and Matilda turned around and hit it with her flywheel, flipping it up almost 3 foot into the air, although Lizzard landed back on its wheels and survived until the end of the battle.
Dutch Series 2[]
- "The charmingly named Mathilda with her hydraulic fangs is not as elegant as her name suggests. New this year is that her tail has become a weapon arsenal and can transform into a deadly chainsaw or a state of the art flywheel weapon that weighs over 27kg. You can definitely speak of a stinging sting in her tail. And because she is powered by rechargeable batteries and moves faster than 3.6 meters per second, it is not advisable to handle her with kid gloves."
- — Robot Wars official website, translated from Dutch[29]
Matilda was only occasionally used throughout the second series of Robot Wars: The Dutch Struggles. Throughout the series, her main weapon was her rear flywheel, with her tusks seeing very little use.
Matilda flips the immobile Hard against the wall...
...causing its axe to get stuck on the wall
In Heat A, Matilda made her first appearance during the fourth Round 1 battle, between Hard and Neater. Hard was immobilised after a slam from Growler, and Growler grabbed its axe in his jaw, tipping the robot onto its side, then pushed it up to the middle of the arena, where it was counted out. After Refbot had finished, Matilda came over and flipped Hard with her tusks, which turned Hard upright, but its axe fell onto the arena wall, with the axe head hooking onto the wall. Growler grabbed it and pushed it back and forth to try and free the axe, but the axe was still hooked against the wall. Refbot also came over and pushed the other side of Hard, forcing it against an angle grinder, but the axe was still hooked against the wall.
Impact gets stuck on Matilda's side
Heat B saw her use her flywheel for the first time in the series. In the Semi-Final between Impact and Twister, Twister immobilised Impact by knocking out its removable link, and once it was counted out, the House Robots came out. Dead Metal dragged Impact to the Floor Flipper, and after it was thrown, Matilda reversed into it with her flywheel, ripping off part of the front armour, and flipping the robot up. However, as Matilda reversed against Impact, Impact rode up her side and became stuck. Matilda drove forwards, dragging Impact with it, and had to turn around and hit Impact with her flywheel to knock it off. This impact also caused Impact's front to fall off
Matilda smashes Impact open and rips loose the internals
Matilda did not stop there however, as she hit the side with her flywheel, flipping Impact over, causing the gearbox to fall out. Matilda continued her merciless attack, reversing into the shattered Impact, hitting one of the wheels, which was hanging loose.
- "So there I was immobile and out came Matilda who attacked my robot several times. Looking back on it, I think she went too far. In that single fight I lost 1 speed controller, 1 gearbox, 2 Bosches and 2 batteries. All of that damage was caused by the house robot, not the opponent. I also lost the frame of the robot but that was built way too weak anyways."
- — Jeroen van Lieverloo
Matilda opens the Pit for Sir Killalot as it holds up Twister
Matilda was also used for the second Semi-Final, but the House Robots were not invovled in the battle. In the Heat Final, after Philipper 2 flipped Twister over, Matilda opened the Pit whilst Sir Killalot grabbed the beaten competitor with his claw, allowing Sir Killalot to carry it to the Pit and drop it in.
Matilda destroys Flepser
Matilda made three appearances in Heat C, in the last three battles. In the first Semi-Final, between Flepser and Twisted Metal EVO, Flepser drove close to Matilda's CPZ after being badly damaged by Twisted Metal EVO, having had its right tyre punctured. Twisted Metal EVO drove after it and continued to rip into it, and Flepser turned to the edge of Matilda's CPZ. Matilda reversed into it, flipping it up against the wall and ripping off the right wheel and parts of the armour. Flepser span around on its one wheel, and Matilda backed into it again, ripping off the cover of the other wheel. Growler came over and grabbed Flepser, then took it up to the Floor Flipper. Flesper was thrown down the arena, and Matilda waited for it at the bottom of the arena, hitting it with the flywheel again, before Growler put Flepser on the Drop Zone, then into the Pit.
She was also used in the other Semi-Final, but was not involved in the battle apart from a couple of times Hammerhead drifted into her CPZ, but got out before she could attack.
Twisted Metal Evo takes damage from Matilda
Matilda was involved in the Heat Final, as Krab-Bot pushed Twisted Metal EVO towards her CPZ, and when Twisted Metal EVO tried to turn away, it drifted into the CPZ, and Matilda reversed into the Twisted Metal EVO, ripping open the top armour.
Matilda hits Amok with the flywheel
Matilda made a big impact in the first battle of Heat D, between Amok and Cyclone. After Cyclone immobilised Amok by knocking out its removable link and pushed it to an empty CPZ. Dead Metal and Matilda came over to attack, with Matilda hitting it with her flywheel, tossing it against the arena entry gate. Dead Metal pushed it against an angle grinder and Refbot counted it out, so Matilda slammed into it with her flywheel. Dead Metal put Amok on the Floor Flipper, and after it was thrown down the arena, Matilda hit its flywheel again, flipping it into the air. Matilda opened the Pit, and Dead Metal pushed Amok over to the Pit. Cyclone pushed it over the edge, and Matilda nudged it in.
Gravity is wrecked by Matilda
Matilda made two other appearances in Heat D, one in the Semi-Final between Cyclone and Scraptosaur, which she was not involved in, then in the Heat Final, her fourth Heat Final in a row. After Gravity was counted out, and Matilda smashed Gravity's left side with her flywheel, ripping out its internals. Gravity was placed on the Floor Flipper, and the force of the flip caused Gravity's CO2 canister to fall out. Matilda reversed into Gravity after it landed, turning it over, then hit the CO2 canister, knocking it into the Pit.
Matilda throws S.O.Xbot out of the arena with her flywheel
Matilda only made two appearances in Heat E, in the two Semi-Finals. In the first, between Pika 3 and √3². Pika 3 pushed S.O.Xbot into an empty CPZ and Matilda quickly reversed into it, sending the third of the clusterbot out of the arena with the force of her flywheel, throwing it against a camera and damaging it. Despite this, √3² still went on to win the battle, due to it being a three-way clusterbot, meaning two of the three parts had to be immobilised.
Matilda accidentally backs into Growler as he carries Scarab
In other Semi-Final, Growler carried Scarab down the arena, Matilda tried to hit it but backed into Growler. She then opened the Pit for Growler, who dropped Scarab in.
Matilda was not used in any of the 7 battles in the Grand Final, the only episode of the series she was absent from.
German Robot Wars[]
Thorgrim after being smashed by Matilda
Matilda made a dramatic start in the German series. She appeared in the first battle of Heat A, and when Thorgrim was counted out, she ripped off one side and one half of the top with her flywheel. Matilda would go on to appear in all but one of the battles in that episode (including, coincidentally, the German melee from Extreme 1 that was repeated as part of the episode.)
Junkyard Queen is attacked by Sir Killalot and Matilda
Her next notable moment was in the Round 2 battle between Junkyard Queen and Son of Armageddon. With Junkyard Queen immobilised, Sir Killalot held it up, and carried it straight into Matilda's flywheel, puncturing one of its tyres. After it was placed on the Drop Zone, it was placed on the Pit, where Matilda continued to attack one of the wheels before the Pit was opened.
Despite this notable damage, Matilda would only appear twice more in the main competition. In Heat B, she only appeared in the second melee, but played no part in the battle, and in the Grand Final, she only appeared in the third place playoff, but again was not involved in the action.
Appearances in Merchandise[]
- Matilda/Pullback
- Matilda/Minibot
- Matilda/Pitstop
- Matilda/RC
- Matilda/HEXBUG
- Matilda/Construction Set
- Matilda/Robot Wars: Metal Mayhem
- Matilda/Robot Wars: Arenas of Destruction
- Matilda/Robot Wars: Advanced Destruction
- Matilda/Robot Wars: Extreme Destruction (GBA)
- Matilda/Robot Wars: Extreme Destruction (PC/Xbox)
Gallery[]
Outside Robot Wars[]
Both versions of Matilda was among other House Robots and a Robot from Robot Wars' sister show Mechanoids, made a cameo appearance in a BBC documentary about Leonardo Da Vinci in a section where the props team attempted to recreate some of Leonardo's designs with wood and other materials from around his time period [30]
Before the show's revival, a version of Matilda made an appearance at the 2011 UK Heavyweight Championships at the O2 Arena. Built by Alan Gribble, this version of Matilda was based on the original Series 1-4 shell, while featuring a new chassis and internals. It served as a House Robot in the Featherweight Championship at the event, alongside all subsequent events organised by Roaming Robots up to and including the 2013 Robot Wars live tour.[31]
In 2014, John Findlay built a new Matilda replica to replace Gribble's version. Alan Gribble had worked at Gloucester University, which provided the internals for his version whilst he provided the shell; however, with Gribble's death, the university wanted its property back. John Findlay's Matilda was equipped with a flywheel, improved tusks and a tougher body shell, which was later replaced with a new shell made from the original moulds. It was retired in 2016 after Findlay ceded rights to use the Robot Wars brand name, but remains in use as a display piece for the subsequent Extreme Robots tours[32] and is often displayed alongside other replica House Robots by Caley Creations and CMJ's Workshop.
Matilda and Shunt on display during The One Show in March 2017
On 21 July 2016, Matilda and the rest of the House Robots appeared on BBC's The One Show, to promote the then newly-launched Series 8. They battled three remote controlled cars piloted by the cast of The Rebel. Sir Killalot flattened all three cars, and won the battle for the House Robots.
Both Matilda and Shunt appeared in the 6 March 2017 edition of The One Show along with Dara Ó Briain, in order to promote Series 9.
The House Robots confront the Cybermen in the What If Robots Replaced Teachers? promo
Along with Sir Killalot and Dead Metal, Matilda also appears in the BBC Make It Digital promo What If Robots Replaced Teachers? as one of several robots running a high school in place of human staff. She and Dead Metal are seen accompanying Sir Killalot as he 'expels' a pair of disruptive Cybermen, and are credited onscreen as 'Senior Prefects'[33].
The replica Matilda at RoboNerd 2019
Matilda on display at Robotazia in May 2022
As of September 2017, Gribble's version of Matilda is now owned by Cyberigs Robotics, a company specialising in collecting and restoring famous robots and robot props. Still retaining the original bodyshell, it was restored to working order with new wheels and tyres as well as recreations of missing components, including new tusks, horns and a dummy rear chainsaw.[34] This version would appear as a static display at RoboNerd in August 2019. Cyberigs Robotics later displayed the restored Matilda at Robotazia, where it remained until the sci-fi restaurant's closure in March 2023.[35][36]
Matilda (right) and Sir Killalot replicas on display at Robots Live!/MechMania Grantham, July 2024
Throughout 2024, an official static replica of Matilda, created for display at Robot Wars filming sessions during the original run, was displayed by Robots Live! as part of the inaugural MechMania tour. Representing Matilda's appearance in Series 1-4, complete with moving tusks and chainsaw, this replica also currently incorporates the headpiece used by her Series 5-7 incarnation.[37] The partnership with Robots Live! included a public display at Robot Rebellion, a beetleweight event also filmed by Mech+, where both replicas were joined by the Series 10 version of Apollo.[38]
Trivia[]
- According to the Robot Wars File, the early design that became Matilda was known as Evildoer. This machine had a similar ovoid shape and a chainsaw on the rear like Matilda, but had saws and spikes all over its body.
- Matilda was the only House Robot whose design was not based on a concept sketch. Instead, it was sculpted based on suggestions from the crew.
- "With Matilda it came down to me describing to James [David, who built the robot] what I thought we needed. We wanted something very organic - sort of an alien pig type of thing, and he sculpted it several times, but couldn't get it right, so we kept sending him back to start again!"
- — Chris Reynolds, interviewed in Robot Wars: The Official Magazine[39]
- The thumbprints on Matilda's headpiece were fashioned by crewmember James Davies.
- Early footage of Matilda being tested would suggest that she was originally intended to be painted black, before later being changed to purple.
- Matilda was fitted with spark projectiles on her tusks for some of the events in Series 2. They were removed just before Series 3 started.
- Matilda's horns were made from squashy rubber; the metal versions tended to shatter or break off too easily. The practice of rubber horns has carried over to the newest version of Matilda and can be seen wobbling when using her tusks.
- Matilda was the oldest House Robot, having had construction started first amongst the four original House Robots.
- Throughout her appearances, Matilda received various nicknames emphasising her ferocity, spinning weapons and status as a female House Robot. Among those to be spoken by Jonathan Pearce in televised episodes included The Matriarch of Mayhem, The Mistress of Mischief, The Sister of Slice and Dice and The Grandmother of Grinding Metal.
- Even discounting the versions made for live events, Matilda is the House Robot represented by the most different machines with three; the original model used for the first four series, a rebuilt model used from Extreme 1 onward, and an updated model for Series 8 onwards.
- Matilda was the only robot to be represented by all five types of Robot Wars toys.
- Prior to Series 10, Matilda was the only House Robot to be considered and referred to as a female.
- In Dutch Robot Wars, commentator Eric Corton would often suggest that Matilda and Shunt were in a relationship.
- Matilda appeared in the first and last battle of the rebooted series.
- Out of all the House Robots that have been built for Robot Wars, Matilda was one of the only three that has been in every series in both the Classic and reboot runs. The other two were Shunt and Dead Metal.
- Matilda was one of two House Robots to never be partnered with Cassius Chrome, the other being Dead Metal.
- Matilda is the only robot from Robot Wars to feature on the Serbian version of Wikipedia[40].
References[]
- ↑ 'Metal monsters battle for survival', Watford Observer, 28 July 2000
- ↑ 'Robot Wars Official Souvenir Programme [Live Event]', 2001
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ [3]
- ↑ Robot Wars Magazine, Issue 1, Page 7
- ↑ Killerhurtz website - UK Robot Wars, August 1998
- ↑ How We Got Our Battle Scars', Slippery Strana website
- ↑ Robot Wars Magazine, Issue 1, Page 8
- ↑ Robot Wars: Ultimate Warrior: Sir Killalot and the House Robots on YouTube
- ↑ Google Groups, alt.Robot Wars - Robot Wars Honour
- ↑ Agent Orange website - Pictures (Archived)
- ↑ Robot Wars Magazine, Issue 1, Page 8
- ↑ RobotWars101 website - Team Spin Doctor interview (Archived)
- ↑ Robot Wars Magazine, Issue 1, Page 8
- ↑ Unofficial Robot Wars Facebook Group
- ↑ Obsidian website - Robot Wars series V, 2001 (Archived)
- ↑ Ming website (Archived) - Most recently learnt lessons
- ↑ Series 6 programme
- ↑ Extreme 2 programme, page 24
- ↑ Barbaric Response website - Extreme 2 (archived)
- ↑ Team Storm website (archived)
- ↑ Series 7 programme, page 24
- ↑ Series 9 Teaser Trailer, featuring the House Robots
- ↑ Series 9 Teaser Trailer, featuring the House Robots
- ↑ The Kegs vs Concussion - Robot Wars series 10 audience footage on YouTube
- ↑ Mike Morrow on the Robot Wars Forum (archived)
- ↑ ZQ Central - Robot Wars: The Kick-Off (Archived, Dutch)
- ↑ Robot Wars official website - Matilda (Archived, Dutch)
- ↑ https://twitter.com/thethomasandfr1/status/1687407834101858304?s=46&t=cwSCg5U5mzcS4xjG8EjJSA
- ↑ 'Robot Wars 2013 Colchester - Featherweights 2', Revsmin (YouTube), uploaded 15 April 2013
- ↑ Facebook video by Extreme Robots, 24 October 2023
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjCkiNRM-FI
- ↑ http://www.robotazia.co.uk/robot-wars-matilda/
- ↑ http://www.robotazia.co.uk/robotazia-to-operate/
- ↑ Liam Ryder, 'Robotazia robot restaurant in Milton Keynes closes down over cost of living crisis', Buckinghamshire Live, 13 March 2023
- ↑ Public message by Jamie McHarg in the Out of the Arena Discord, 17 July 2024
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/RobotRebellionUK/posts/pfbid02s1943mYVVWfJLEUv5qviuz3b4tjTwUwHo9wW4xRBGEaoWrc4tRX6YB6G6ZG9xFnJl
- ↑ [4]
- ↑ Matilda's entry on Serbian Wikipedia
[]
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