- "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 Robo Doc 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 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 her 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 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 Sgt. 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 it 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 partrol 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, with Cease was called straight away.
- "They {Napalm} never laid a glove on yeh, 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. Matida 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 Killlalot 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 Robo Doc in the Gauntlet
During Robo Doc's run, Matilda drove up to the top of the middle route as Robo Doc entered the middle route. Matilda blocked Robo Doc from reaching the ramp, getting her tusks under the side and lifting Robo Doc up, but Robo Doc slipped off, and got around Matilda to drive up the ramp. However, Sir Killalot was blocking the way down, so Robo Doc drove off the side, but drove into Sergeant Bash, and Sir Killalot also blocked the way. Matilda came in behind Robo Doc, and as Sir Killalot picked Robo Doc up, Matilda tried using her chainsaw. As Robo Doc'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 ramring, 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 barrells 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 Robo-Doc with her tusks, when Alll-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 3 of the 5 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. Robo-Doc managed to survive, as Matilda flipped it over, which did not affect Robo Doc as it was invertible, then pushed Robo Doc 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
Robo Doc is forced towards the Pit
In the Arena stage battles, Matilda came out of the PPZ when Robo-Doc backed close to the pit, and with her tusks raised, pushed Robo-Doc towards the pit. King Buxton got behind her and pushed the two together, nearly pushing Robo-Doc into the pit, but Robo-Doc pushed back, and Matilda turned away as King Buxton reversed up the arena. Robo-Doc drove up Matilda's side, and Matilda pushed it onto the flame pit with the help of King Buxton.
- "Oh my goodness me! Robo-Doc nearly went into the pit of oblivion, and Matilda's going to push him back there! Time is running out! Robo-Doc heaves back at Matilda, again is turned up onto its head! Over the flaming pit! Chargrilled Robo-Doc."
- — 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. Broot tried to get away as time ran out, but 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!
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 push on Haardvark in the Heat Final when it drove into her in 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, Killetron 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 Matida'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 span 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 os 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 Twrn'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
Mortis attacks Matilda but is grabbed by Dead Metal
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 FireStorm, 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 Sgt. 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 Sgt. Bash came out of CPZ's to help her, chasing after Chaos 2, and eventually, Sgt. Bash managed to pin it against the wall when Chaos 2 drove too close to the wall. Shunt and Sgt. Bash also pinned Facet against the wall after it flipped Facet over.
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.
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
- "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
Matilda loses a tusk in the Heat Final of Heat I
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.
- "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
Inverterabrat dislodges Matilda's rear shell
As Matilda hit Inverterabrat with her tusks and pushed it against the wall, Inverterabrat hit Matilda's rear shell with its bludgeoner, ripping it loose. Matilda reversed, span 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 an 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
Steg-O-Saw-Us is flipped up again by Gravedigger, before Matilda rights it
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]
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 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
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.
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.
In Round 1 of Heat N, Thing 2 tipped Prizephita onto its side, then pushed it into Sgt. Bash's CPZ. Sgt. 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.
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 … 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 Sgt. 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 Sgt. 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 slices into Dreadnaut XP-1
Matilda's chainsaw barely damaged armour during this series, as chainsaws are designed for cutting wood, not metal, which made up the majority of competitors' armour at the time. She was unable to cut through robots such as Maverick, Oblivion 2 and Plunderbird 4. When attacking Killertron, she was unable to cut through the metal base, but did cut into the plastic top. The most notable damage her chainsaw did in this series was against Dreadnaut XP-1, where she easily cut through the fibreglass armour and the tyres. She also cut through the tyre of The Mangulator.
The Steel Avenger on the arena wall, under pressure from Matilda
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. With her chainsaw unable to do much damage, her tusks became her main weapon for this series. She used them to flip robots that strayed into her CPZ over, such as Dominator 2 and Wheely Big Cheese, she flipped The Steel Avenger onto the arena wall, and also flipped immobile robots such as Plunderbird 4 and Knightmare. Most notably, she flipped Onslaught onto its side in the final of the Southern Annihilator, leaving Razer as the winner. Her tusks were also useful for pushing robots around, such as when she used her forks to pin down Little Fly in the Heat Final of Heat K.
Matilda flips Little Fly
Despite the introduction of Refbot, there were still a few incidents where Matilda came out to help robots that were stuck. For example, when Tiberius became stuck on the arena wall as it was in forward drive in its battle with Little Fly, Matilda pushed it off the wall. When FrenZy's axe was caught in the floor in its battle with Detonator, Matilda flicked it free.
- "Poor old Detonator will not thank Matilda for that!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda helps out FrenZy
She also pushed Killerhurtz and Sgt. Bash apart when Killerhurtz's axe became stuck in Sgt. Bash's flamethrower. She flipped Killertron over when it was stuck on its back in two fights, first against Wheely Big Cheese, then later in the Celebrity Special against Gemini.
Matilda flicks Tiberius into the pit
Matilda carried out the arena duties on a few occasions in this series, as she pitted robots such as Shadow of Napalm, Tiberius and The Mangulator. In the latter case, she pushed the long robot into the pit with the help of Shunt.
- "Almost like stretcher-bearers of doom, Matilda and Shunt, and in they go!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Shunt and Matilda pit The Mangulator
Firestorm pinned against the arena wall by Matilda
In the Tag Team Terror, the House Robots were allowed to attack the competitors when the rules were broken. Matilda appeared in the first fight, and when the competitors broke the rule about only one robot fighting at a time, she came out, helping separate Firestorm 2 and Plunderbird 4 by getting under Firestorm 2 and flicking it up, then pinning it against the wall as it tried attacking Plunderbird 4 again. Later on, she flipped Firestorm 2 against the wall after Bigger Brother pushed it into her CPZ. She was only used in the first battle, Sgt. Bash and Dead Metal were used in the other battles.
Matilda blocks S.M.I.D.S.Y. in the Pinball Warrior Tournament
Matilda appeared in the Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars/Pinball Warrior Tournament for the second year running, where she guarded the 50 point target on the side of the arena. However, six of the sixteen competitors managed to hit her target. She managed to prevent Firestorm 2 and S.M.I.D.S.Y. hitting her target, but the other competitors managed to get around her, or in the case of King B3, pushed past her.
Gemini overturns Matilda
Although she was not attacked by competitors as much as she had been in Series 3, she was still flipped over twice. First by Steg 2 in its battle with Iron-Awe, then later flipped over by Gemini in its battle with Killlertron in the Celebrity Special.
- "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
Sir Killalot removes Matilda's wheel
These attacks weren't the only problems she suffered in this series. During the melee between Aggrobot, Saw Point and Oblivion, Matilda's wheel was accidentally ripped off by fellow house robot Sir Killalot, leaving her only able to drive around in circles.
In the Celebrity Special, whilst trying to flip Sir Chromalot, Matilda charged forward and became stuck on the arena wall.
Razer destroys Matilda
Perhaps Matilda's most infamous misfortune ever occurred in the Southern Annihilator final, after Matilda flipped Onslaught onto its side, Razer crushed Matilda's rear armour, not only filling it with holes, but also rendering the chainsaw inoperable. She was pushed onto the flame pit, with the other House Robots also attacking Matilda.
- "The rear of Matilda has never been seen quite like this before and I have to say, thank goodness-Matilda is on fire!!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Razer turns on Matilda
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.
The damaged Matilda after her run-in with Razer
- "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
Matilda bandaged up after being badly damaged by Razer
However, Matilda reappeared active, albeit heavily bandaged, at the end of the episode. According to Vincent Blood, the producers were planning on rebuilding Matilda, so they let Razer destroy her.
- "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
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 herds together the immobile Flensburger Power and MaxiMill
Matilda had been completely overhauled to keep it 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.
Doom is destroyed by Matilda's flywheel
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. She could now flip robots out of the arena with this weapon, however it took time for this to happen.
X-Terminator is damaged by Matilda's new weapon
Matilda reverses accidentally into Shunt
Matilda's first use of her flywheel came in the All-Stars first round battle between Chaos 2 and X-Terminator, 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
Matilda presses the pit release button
Matilda throws Flensburger Power over
She followed this up with a crippling attack on Doom in the Middleweight Championship after it was thrown by the floor flipper, before also playing a notable role in the International Inferno. After causing damage to the immobile MaxiMill, Matilda helped end the deadlock between Panic Attack and Manta, as she pressed the pit release button while Panic Attack had the US robot lifted up, and Kim Davies' machine was able to reposition and drop Manta down into the pit. Matilda then caused more pain for a foreign machine as she threw the beaten German machine, Flensburger Power, over with her flywheel in The Second World Championship, causing bodywork damage in the process.
Disc-O-Inferno is immobilised by Matilda
Matilda managed to immobilise the eventual winners of the second Annihilator, Disc-O-Inferno, in the first round of the tournament, after Spirit of Knightmare drove it into the CPZ. Thankfully for Disc-O-Inferno, Fighting Torque was immobilised before the House Robot landed her devastating blow.
Matilda was also involved in two notable scraps with competing robots in Robot Wars: Extreme, 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 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
Matilda knocks out Wheely Big Cheese
Matilda throws Chaos 2 back with her flywheel
She also appeared in the Flipper Frenzy, where Matilda single-handedly immobilised Wheely Big Cheese, Bigger Brother and Chaos 2 with her new flywheel after the competing robots decided to attack the House Robots. 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
Matilda hits The Steel Avenger with her flywheel
Matilda still had her negative and controversial moments in Extreme. In a Mayhem match between The Steel Avenger, Tornado and King B Powerworks, Matilda attacked The Steel Avenger illegally, throwing it over. Matilda was red carded for this attack, and the judges disregarded her attack on The Steel Avenger when they made their decision.
- "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
She also buckled part of the arena wall out of place in an All-Stars semi-final battle between Razer and Firestorm 3. 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 catches Chaos 2 with her flywheel
Matilda appeared in the first two battles of The Fifth Wars, and she made her mark on both battles as she sent two-time champion Chaos 2 up into the air with her flywheel in its battle against Storm Force, when it stayed by the CPZ too long after pushing Storm Force into her.
- "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 carves into Obsidian
Then, in the battle between S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Obsidian, she ripped into Obsidian's armour after it broke down and was counted out. She also helped push it to the Floor Flipper.
- "Look at the damage there! Smash, rip, tear! And let's face it roboteers, we love it! …slicing through that armour of Obsidian, as if it is mere "
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda exerts her punishment onto Obsidian
The beaten and battered Atomic 2
Matilda's potency didn't threaten to come to a halt either, with Atomic 2 the next in line to suffer significant damage in Heat B. With Atomic 2 already immobile, Matilda used her flywheel to add further wounds to its right-hand side after it was already damaged by Hypno-Disc.
Firestorm 3 sees its flipper arm buckled
She followed this up with another exhibition of her flywheel's power in Heat D. In the first battle, Firestorm 3 tried to push Bee-Capitator into her flywheel, but Bee-Capitator slid off Firestorm 3's top as it was pushed into Matilda, thanks to the drill at its front hitting Matilda. Firestorm 3 therefore drove straight into the flywheel, and the flipper was buckled as it fired. Later on in the battle, after Bee-Capitator was counted out, Matilda hit it with her flywheel, knocking the overturned robot back on its wheels.
- "Look at the damage though, caused to Firestorm! Went on the attack, look at the buckled flipper! …I know the bee flew, but then the flywheel caught Firestorm!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Firestorm 3's flipper is buckled
The destroyed Rohog
Then in the next battle, after Rohog broke down in its battle with Sir Chromalot, she inflicted multiple damaging hits to it, which not only caused significant bodywork damage, but also caused the entire shell itself to be thrown upwards at one stage.
- "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 carves into Trouble 'n' Strife
Matilda's rear weapon also proved pivotal during a couple of first-round battles. In Heat E, Matilda caused significant damage to Trouble 'n' Strife in the late stages of the battle when Shunt used his axe to drag Trouble 'n' Strife into her flywheel, contributing to its loss against Wild Thing via a judges' decision.
Supernova's top armour is ripped away
In Heat H, with Behemoth and Supernova trading blows, Supernova then found itself in Matilda's CPZ, and the House Robot showed no mercy, as it sent Supernova's entire top panel flying before buckling one of its wheel guards. With such significant damage caused, Supernova failed to get itself back into the battle and was chucked down into the pit by Behemoth.
Then, a fight between The Executioner and Pussycat in Heat L saw Matilda completely wipe out any sort of further attacking threat from The Executioner, as she ripped off the tip of its crusher.
Matilda shatters the back-end of Kliptonite
Matilda also subjected beaten robots to further punishment in The Fifth Wars. In Heat G, she used her flywheel on Hydra before pushing it down into the pit, while in Heat J she subjected Kliptonite to severe damage as she completely wrecked its bodyshell.
- "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 mutilates Widow's Revenge
Finally, she gave Widow's Revenge similar treatment in Heat K as she slammed body panels loose from the beaten machine after it was defeated by Razer.
- "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
Ming suffers major damage from Matilda
There was also a controversial incident involving Matilda in Heat L. During Terrorhurtz's battle with Ming 3, she came out from her CPZ and attacked Ming 3 twice with her flywheel, which immobilised it. The match went to the judges nevertheless, who chose Terrorhurtz as the winner based on the action up until Matilda unfairly intervened. Team Ming were given an apology, while Matilda was red-carded and given "a good smack up the backside" according to Jonathan Pearce.
- "Matilda's gone on the attack! That is way out of order!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
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 had no major internal changes for The Sixth Wars, with the most notable revisions coming visually, as she was attached with two big hoops resembling wings at the top of her head and her flywheel was now permanently pink.
Matilda shreds Raging Reality
Matilda made an instant impression in her first appearance in The Sixth Wars, as, during the Heat A final, Razer dragged Raging Reality towards the House Robot, where her flywheel tore off a top panel and carved a huge gash into Raging Reality's side. This attack immobilised the silver robot, ending its run in Series 6.
- "Look at the great split in the side of Raging Reality! Matilda's flywheel, wreaking 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
Matilda crashes into Inshredable
- "Matilda's flywheel wrecking havoc!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Raging Reality is torn apart by the House Robot
Matilda's flywheel caused more problems for competing robots in Heat G, as she knocked the back plate of Edge Hog loose during its first round melee. Edge Hog reversed away and broke down. Later in the same battle, she completely ripped a panel off of Inshredable.
The damage caused to Panic Attack by Matilda
Panic Attack was the next robot to feel the force of the House Robot's flywheel, as, after it was cornered in the CPZ in its heat final battle against Terrorhurtz in Heat I, Matilda came across and completely ripped Panic Attack's top straight off, sending it out of the arena and into a camera. This caused great damage to Panic Attack, although Matilda also broke down in the process and had to be moved aside by Shunt and Refbot.
- "Matilda's flywheel causing all the damage there, after Terrorhurtz had initially prised that lid loose."
- — Jonathan Pearce after Matilda rips off Panic Attack's top
Tornado is thrown a huge height by Matilda
Matilda was also involved in a pivotal moment in the Semi-Final second round battle between Tornado and Dominator 2. Both robots tussled and manoeuvred in and around Matilda's CPZ, before Tornado suddenly made contact with Matilda's flywheel, which sent Tornado high into the air and almost directly into the pit. It was after this that Dominator 2 drove into the pit itself.
- Craig Charles: "The way you flew in the air..."
- Andrew Marchant: "I thought we were taking flying lessons!"
- Craig Charles: "I thought it was all over! I thought you were going to need a parachute!"
- — Post-battle interview
Extreme 2[]
Matilda throws Dominator 2 over, causing damage
Matilda's first appearance in Extreme 2 came in an All-Stars second round battle between Dominator 2 and 13 Black. 13 Black strayed into the CPZ and received a glancing blow from the flywheel, but then Dominator 2 drove into the CPZ itself trying to pin 13 Black against the wall, and the House Robot knocked Dominator 2 on its side and inflicted decisive damage, rendering Dominator 2's right-hand drive immobile with a hit from her flywheel, which caused mobility issues for Dominator 2 during the remainder of the battle that 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
Matilda also caused notable damage in the Annihilator. At the end of Round 4 and with Major Tom a sitting duck, Matilda and Mr. Psycho carried a merciless assault 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.
- "Look at that! The dust settling on what was once upon a time, proud major."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda rips into Major Tom
Matilda smashes into Diotoir
The House Robots attack Barbaric Response
Matilda also played a notable role in the Tag Team Terror, as she tore one of Mighty Mouse's ears off, ripped a protective panel away from Barbaric Response's wheel guard, and came in to inflict further damage on a beaten Diotoir.
- "Look at the punishing power of the flywheel!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda attacks Diotoir
Matilda shatters the TV
In Heat A of the New Blood Championship, Matilda was involved in a comical incident involving Niterider, as after causing damage to the immobile machine, she ended up shattering the screen of the TV that fell from the Drop Zone.
- "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
She also caused considerable damage to Chopper and Mad Dog in Heat C, and Doctor Fist and Piranha in Heat D. Whilst attacking Doctor Fist, Mr. Psycho tried to hammer Doctor Fist, but Matilda's flywheel pushed it out of the way, so Mr. Psycho accidentally hit an angle grinder and Matilda with the hammer, losing one of her top horns.
- "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's flywheel took another considerable step to proving its power during Extreme 2, as it managed to not only damage robots, but also throw them Out of the Arena. She inflicted this fate on Sir Chromalot and Vader, with both instances occurring during the Challenge Belt.
- "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 has part of her shell ripped away by Corkscrew
Matilda didn't escape the second series of Extreme without damage, however, as she had a significant chunk of her front armour torn off by Corkscrew during its first round battle in the Commonwealth Carnage.
- "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
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
Matilda was unchanged from Extreme 2, and had to wait a considerable amount of time to make her mark in The Seventh Wars, as she only made her first appearance in Heat E, and appeared a total of three times in the first seven heats.
Matilda in her first Series 7 appearance
St. Agro limps along after suffering damage from Matilda
Matilda shatters Ceros out of the arena
Matilda's first moment of real impact in The Seventh Wars was worth the wait, however, as she tore a chunk out of St. Agro's wheel before severely damaging an immobile Ceros as she sent it flying out of the arena in the final of Heat H.
- "Good old Matilda. You can count on her rear end in any sort of catastrophe."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda smashes Ceros out of the arena
Matilda punishes the immobile Mayhem
Matilda's flywheel continued to prove its power throughout the series, and made an impression in the very next heat, when she sent a panel from the arena wall flying as she attempted to attack Rhino, before throwing Mayhem through the air in the same first round melee.
- "They are relentless, the House Robots! Terrifying!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Matilda attacks Mayhem
Matilda's next moment of impact involved an out of control Behemoth in its second round defeat to Mute in Heat L as she inflicted minor bodywork damage before chucking it up into the air with another rear-end attack.
The House Robots show no mercy to Micro Mute
The damage inflicted to Micro Mute
Heat M saw Matilda take part in the special event of the episode, the final qualifier for the final of the Featherweight championship, where she and Sir Killalot teamed up to cause significant damage to Micro Mute. Sir Killalot held it up and lowered it into her flywheel, completely wrecking the back end of Micro Mute. The team were very upset at the merciless damage done, with Adam Emmett walking out of the booth as Matilda wrecked Micro Mute, and only one team member being willing to do the post-battle interview.
Matilda only carried out arena hazard duties twice during The Seventh Wars. Firstly, she subjected Hammerhead 2 to the Drop Zone before nudging the beaten robot down into the pit of oblivion in Heat O, and she later placed the beaten St. Agro on the floor flipper during its Semi-Final battle with X-Terminator. During the latter fight, Matilda also cut one of St. Agro's wheels apart again, also causing notable bodywork damage to the beaten robot.
X-Terminator is thrown over by Matilda
Matilda adds to the punishment already caused to X-Terminator
Matilda appeared in the final two battles of the UK Championship, and the third place playoff saw her throw X-Terminator up and over, then flip it back onto its wheels as Tornado pushed it back into her flywheel. After X-Terminator was counted out, she caused damage to the rear armour, leaving a large gash.
- 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 shatters the armour of Ewe 2
Matilda's flywheel also inflicted damage in the Annihilator, where she shattered the top of an immobile Ewe 2, throwing it onto its back and ripping a full panel away.
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.
Behemoth is flipped by Matilda's flywheel
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. Her first major contribution during this run occurred in the Head-to-Head between Behemoth and Nuts, partnered with Dead Metal. When the Team Make Robotics machine strayed into her CPZ, Matilda threw it onto its side with her flywheel, also 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 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. Though playing a minimal part in Shockwave's clash against Foxic, she would go on to damage both Thor and Shockwave in their match. After tearing a section of Shcokwave's HDPE scoop off with her flywheel, she proceeded to rip one of Thor's wheelguard panels off in a similar fashion, though both competitors would survive to a Judges' decision anyway. Lastly, Matilda threw Foxic into the pit after it became immobilised against Thor, 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
Making a total of five appearances in Heat C, 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
During the Heat Final between Dantomkia and TR2, Matilda briefly attacked the latter as it was flicked towards her CPZ by Dantomkia. However, she proceeded to hit Dantomkia multiple times with the flywheel, initially after it mistakenly drove into the same CPZ twice. After TR2 flipped Dantomkia and forced it to self-right against the angled side wall, Matilda reversed into the Team S.Tek machine disc-first before flipping it out of the CPZ with the tusks. Dantomkia reversed back into the CPZ seconds later, resulting in Matilda ramming it twice more before it finally escaped.
Matilda is turned over by Apollo
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 ram an upturned Dead Metal, though this was not sufficient to re-right the latter. Ironically, Matilda herself would have part of her rear bodyshell torn away by Apollo's flipper, before Apollo turned her on her side as well, to the jubilation of Team MAD. In the subsequent Heat Final, Matilda briefly pressured both competitors out of Shunt's CPZ, long after Apollo threw the latter onto the Flame Pit. 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.
Matilda flips Thor out of the arena
Solitary appearances followed in Heat E - during the Heat Final between Gabriel and Pulsar - and the Grand Final - during the Head-to-Head between Thor and TR2. In the latter, Matilda once again used her flywheel against Thor, causing even more damage following its earlier encounter against Carbide. Seconds after this attack, she proceeded to throw Thor over with the tusks, and would do so a second time after TR2 threw it into her later on in the fight. Another flywheel attack enabled Matilda to flip Thor a third time, at which point Jason Marston's machine had begun to experience self-righting issues. When TR2 turned Thor over against an entry gate, Matilda proceeded to throw the latter over the gate itself with the tusks. This helped TR2 secure a knockout win and the full three points for this match.
- "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
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 corners Interstellar: MML
Matilda 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 came out of her CPZ during the Head-to-Head between JAR and Interstellar: MML, pushing Interstellar: MML against the wall after it lost drive to one side. After JAR shoved Interstellar: MML into the CPZ a second time, Matilda rammed it out with her tusks.
- "Matilda has a shove. When Matilda comes to dance, you know you're in trouble!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Matilda thrusts Soldier Ant against the wall
In Episode 2, she flipped Soldier Ant off the Flame Pit with her tusks following its Head-to-Head defeat to Robo Savage, before pushing and tossing it into the wall. In retaliation, Soldier Ant grabbed hold of Matilda's tusks with its crusher, before Matilda dragged it away and pitted it, although not without having one of her horns broken off in the process.
- "Where's my mistletoe? It's Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce before Robo Savage and Soldier Ant fought
Series 9[]
Matilda appeared in a teaser trailer for Series 9, uploaded on 10th February 2017[17]. 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.[18]
- "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 flicking Nuts 2 aside with her tusks early in the battle, before later eliminating the same machine by hurling it out of the arena with her flywheel.
- "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.
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 would play a minimal part in each.
Matilda parks herself on top of Concussion
Matilda's first appearance in Heat C involved her being deployed to try and remove the stranded Concussion, after it was unable to drive off the damaged pit panel in its initial Head-to-Head against Thor. Upon ramming the Dorset-based competitor, she ended up beaching herself on top of it, allowing Thor to attack with its axe. Dead Metal - the other House Robot in use at the time - was eventually required to separate them.
- "Concussion, wedged by Matilda! That means Thor can come in with that mighty axe!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Matilda lines up her attack on Heavy Metal's wheel
Matilda also appeared in Concussion's subsequent Head-to-Head against Heavy Metal, and would put her flywheel to use in the latter's duel with Thor. During the fight, she used it to damage the wedge and left wheel of Team 13's machine after it got flipped over by the arena spikes. After 'Cease' had been called, Matilda reversed into the right wheel that got knocked off by Thor, chucking it 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. Here, she attacked Coyote and its jaw weapon with her flywheel, once 'Rogue House Robot' had been enabled for the second time in this battle by Smash.
- "And here comes Matilda with a flywheel tail to have a go at Coyote. Can they 'withstain' this sort of punishment?"
- — Jonathan Pearce
In the Grand Final, Matilda only appeared in the Head-to-Head battle between Eruption and Ironside3, along with the latter's subsequent Head-to-Head against Aftershock. However, she was unable to affect the events of either of these matches.
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. Similarly to this comparative stage of Series 8, she inflicted a gash in one of Behemoth's side panels with her flywheel, but had one of her newly-repainted spike tips ripped off by The Swarm's bar spinner segment Blenda.
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. She caused problems for the latter, using her tusks and flywheel to put the Team Titanium machine under pressure on a number of occasions.
- "In the arena for the House Robots and still not returning my calls, Matilda!"
- — Jonathan Pearce during Series 10
Matilda flips Bucky the Robot
Heat C marked the most appearances by Matilda across the entire series, at four. Firstly, she caused Bucky the Robot to flinch in its Group Battle against Rapid and Track-tion with a hit from her flywheel. Following Bucky the Robot's subsequent Redemption battle, she proceeded to chuck it across the arena with her tusks after it was counted out against Vulture. During the Heat Semi-Finals, Matilda initially used her tusks to separate Terrorhurtz and Vulture, before appearing in the shortest fight in Robot Wars history - the 5.6-second long Rapid vs Track-tion.
Matilda hits Iron-Awe 6 with her flywheel
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. She eventually flipped an empty keg shell out of the arena - smashing it into the entry gates in an untelevised attack. Matilda also threatened Iron-Awe 6 multiple times during its 3rd Place Playoff against Androne 4000, attacking with both the flywheel and tusks on separate occasions. However, Iron-Awe 6 was not flipped over on any of those occasions, which would have otherwise eliminated it as its flipper was suffering from recurring technical issues.
- "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, Matilda came charging out. A driving error from Thor enabled her flywheel to violently strike its side, 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 taking 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, as she damaged the Brentwood School Roboteers' machine with two hits from her spinning weapon. Despite Explusion being declared the winner over the immobilised Coyote, Matilda still flipped it over with her tusks before the battle could draw to a close.
- "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. After the dominant Magnetar entered the CPZ along with Eruption, Matilda threw it over with her tusks while its self-righting arm had jammed open. The Team Ranglebots machine thus lost the melee to Eruption with no means of recovering from its own malfunction.
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, a flywheel attack allowed her to send Behemoth rolling through the air. 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, after TMHWK sustained consistent damage to its weapon in its Head-to-Head against Terrorhurtz, a final flip from Matilda's tusks caused the axe shaft to snap entirely.
- "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 also caused notable damage to Big Nipper during Episode 2, as she shattered one of its top panels during its Head-to-Head against Terror Turtle. The attack caused some of Big Nipper's lithium polymer batteries to catch fire, while Matilda proceeded to use her tusks on both competitors during the same fight. The fire had no effect on Big Nipper's performance, however, as it had already immobilised Terror Turtle moments before it occurred.
Alongside Shunt, 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
Matilda made her first appearance 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.
- "And there's Silver Box, trying to ruin Matilda's beautiful complexion with that saw! This could be a huge upset!"
- — Stefan Frank during the House Robot Rebellion
Tricerabot overturns Matilda
In the Final, she and Shunt took on Silver Box, Tut Tut, Tricerabot and Rosie the Riveter. Tricerabot tried pushing Matilda, but Matilda turned around, knocking part of the back off with her flywheel. Matilda turned away, driving up the arena, and Tricerabot rammed into her. Matilda turned around again, hitting Tricerabot's front with her flywheel, knocking a part off. Silver Box managed to pin Matilda in the CPZ, and used its saw to cut into her front. Matilda ran away down the arena, and as she tried to attack Tut Tut, Tricerabot rammed into her side, knocking the House Robot over. This was the first time Matilda was flipped over after she was equipped with the flywheel. 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.[19]
Bot-Ugly trapped in the CPZ as Spike attacks Matilda
In the Civil War, Bot-Ugly had Spike in its grip in the CPZ with Shunt. As Spike got free, Matilda came in and cornered Bot-Ugly, knocking it up with her flywheel. Spike took advantage and axed her, allowing Bot-Ugly to escape. 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. Matilda finished Bot-Ugly off by pitting it.
- "He knows that's a wrong move!"
- — Stefan Frank when Spike axed Matilda during the match
Matilda after being overturned
In the first battle of the Tag Team Terror, when all four competitors were breaking the rules by fighting at once, Matilda came out of her CPZ. She attacked Tut Tut and Rosie the Riveter, but despite having all its fur burned off, Tricerabot managed to flip Matilda again. This would not occur again until fifteen years later where she was flipped by Apollo in Series 8. Sir Killalot was able to push her back over, and Matilda went back to the CPZ.
- "Serves her right! Nobody went into her corner, she shouldn't even have been out there!"
- — Stefan Frank
Matilda smashes into Red Virus
The Brute pushes Falcon into the CPZ
Matilda also had a number of notable moments in the US Championship. 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. 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
In Round 2, Matilda pitted The Brute at the end of its battle with The Revolutionist, and then in the other Semi-Final between Panzer Mk2 and Manta, when Manta began to slow down, Matilda came out of her CPZ to push Manta, for which she received a yellow card from Refbot.
US Season 2[]
Despite Matilda's flywheel being interchangeable with her chainsaw, the chainsaw was only ever seen a few more times in the second season of the US series Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors as well as in Nickelodeon Robot Wars. This was due to the fact that the producers thought Matilda's flywheel was too powerful following recent upgrades and opted to use the chainsaw as an alternative. However, Matilda's chainsaw was rarely put into action during its matches.
Matilda attacks Techno Trousers. Note she is armed with her chainsaw.
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.
Heat E saw Matilda make her first attack on a competitor. When Rosie the Riveter 2 pushed Techno Trousers into the CPZ, Matilda started pushing it away and flicking it with her tusks before Dead Metal grabbed it and cut into it. She was armed with her chainsaw for this battle. Matilda appeared in the other Round 2 battle in the same episode, between Basenji and Darkness. She was armed with her chainsaw again, but Dead Metal finished off Basenji, with Matilda being in the background.
After being absent from Heat F, Matilda was attacked by a competitor in Round 1 of Heat G. Marauder appeared to stop just by her CPZ, and G-Force pushed it into Matilda, and escaped before Matilda could attack. However, the middleweight robot kept pushing at Matilda's side, then pushed its way past Matilda. Matilda was again armed with a chainsaw for this battle.
In the second round of the Grand Final, Tricerabot 3.0 pushed The Falcon Mark 2 into her, so Matilda lifted it up and Shunt came over to axe it.
Sir Force A Lot is pushed into Matilda's flywheel
The Tag Team Terror saw her appear with her flywheel for the first time in the series. She used it to rip parts off the side of G-Force in Round 2 after it was counted out. In the Final, Rocky Bot-Boa, with the help of Black Widow pushed Sir Force A Lot into her flywheel, which ripped a hole in the back.
- "Great bit of driving, there. Bot-Boa and the Widow backing Sir Force A Lot into Matilda's corner again."
- — Stefan Frank
She appeared in the final of the International Championship, but didn't play a part in the battle.
Matilda's flywheel sends Medusa Oblongotta flying out of the arena
Her most notable battle in this series was during the battle between Snookums and Medusa Oblongotta in the Robot Rebellion. After Medusa Oblongotta was counted out in Dead Metal's CPZ, Matilda hit it with her flywheel, throwing it over the fence, resulting in chronologically her first attack to throw a robot out of the arena.
- "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
She also appeared in four other battles in the Robot Rebellion. Notably, in the Round 2 battle between Snake Bite and Rosie the Riveter 2, when Snake Bite had Rosie the Riveter 2 pinned in the corner, Matilda charged across the arena and hit Snake Bite with her flywheel, knocking both robots upwards. However, it was Shunt, Dead Metal and Sir Killalot that fought in the House Robot Rebellion itself.
- "But the biggest hit by far was Matilda with that flywheel!"
- — Stefan Frank reviewing Matilda's attack which damaged Snake Bite and Rosie the Riveter 2
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
Tyranabot slams Probophobia into Matilda's flywheel
Matilda made just four appearances in Nickelodeon Robot Wars. She made her first appearance in Nickelodeon Robot Wars in the final of the US Championship, where she was armed with her flywheel. Tyranabot backed into Probophobia, who lifted its forks at the wrong moment, allowing Tyranabot to drive it straight into the flywheel of Matilda. Soon after this, Probophobia broke down.
In the International Tag Team Terror, Matilda appeared in the first fight, where she used her tusks to flip over the immobile Zanzara.
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 Matilda and Shunt came in, but Rosie the Riveter 2 got under Matilda, pushing her against the wall. Shunt axed Rosie the Riveter 2 and pulled it away, and Matilda fled to another CPZ. She made a minor appearance later in the episode in the Vengeance battle between Bunny Attack and Hoot, which proved to be her last appearance in this series, as she was absent from Episodes 4, 5 and the Annihilator.
Dutch Series 1[]
- "The ruthless steel rhinoceros, with the adorable name ‘Matilda’!"
- — Eric Corton (translated from Dutch)
Pyramid of Chaos being shredded
Matilda's flywheel proved to be a devastating weapon in the Dutch series. It tore through the side of Pyramid of Chaos, lifting it up from the baseplate. Maximum Torque broke down after being hit on the side by Matilda's flywheel, and Pika 2 was flipped over by the flywheel, with a wheel being obliterated in the process.
- "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)
Shapeshifter is destroyed by Matilda's flywheel
The most spectacular damage Matilda caused was against Shapeshifter, after it broke down in the Losers' Melee of Heat E. After Shapeshifter broke down, Matilda ripped into its side, then proceeded to tear much of its chassis and balsa wood armour apart with two more blows.
- "Oof, I’m in love with Matilda, you know? The way she slashes into stuff and then she chop-chop-chop-chops and BANG, she throws a Hammerhead into the sky!"
- — Rob Kamphues (translated from Dutch)
Matilda did her share of arena duties in Dutch Series 1, putting Pika 2 and Maximum Torque on the flipper (the latter of which with Sgt. Bash), and also pitted Maximum Torque, Hammerhead and El-Mower. Her pitting of El-Mower was notable because she slowly nudged it into the pit with her tusks and flywheel.
- "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)
One of Matilda's most notable battles in this series was her first appearance, in the Heat A battle between Lizzard and Arena Killer. When Lizzard strayed close to her CPZ, Matilda hit its whipping tail, ripping the cover off it. Later in the same battle, after Arena Killer was flipped over by Shunt, Matilda overturned Lizzard. Lizzard was thrown by the floor flipper as cease was called, but the jury ruled in favour of Lizzard, as Arena Killer had been immobilised first.
Matilda was used in the final battle of the Grand Final, where a combination of Slicer's drum and her flywheel launched Lizzard 3 ft into the air.
Dutch Series 2[]
Matilda only occasionally appeared in the second series of the Dutch Robot Wars. She was absent from the Grand Final, made no impact in her two appearances in Heat A, and only made an impact in one of her three battles in Heat B.
However, when she did attack a competitor, her flywheel caused significant damage. Her first notable moment in the series saw her do the most damage she would do that year. After Impact was immobilised in its battle with Twister, Matilda ripped it apart with her flywheel, tearing off its base, its electronics box, and one of its drive motors.
Matilda destroys Flepser
Twisted Metal Evo takes damage from Matilda
In Heat C, when Flepser drove too close to her CPZ in its battle with Twisted Metal Evo, Matilda hit it side on, ripping off one of the wheels. Matilda continued to thrash it, before Growler put it on the floor flipper. In the Heat Final, Matilda hit the top of Twisted Metal Evo, buckling it upwards.
Matilda hits Amok with the flywheel
Gravity is wrecked by Matilda
The next Heat also saw some notable damage from Matilda. After Amok broke down, she hit it with her flywheel three times. Two of these attacks saw her throw it against the wall, but she did not manage to get it over the arena wall. She then opened the pit and disposed of Amok. She appeared in the Heat Final for the fourth time in a row, and after Gravity was counted out by Refbot, Matilda hit the side with her flywheel, destroying one of its sides, then flipping it clean over.
Matilda throws S.O.Xbot out of the arena with her flywheel
Matilda managed to throw a robot out of the arena in Heat E, sending S.O.Xbot, part of the Dutch clusterbot √3², flying out of the arena. 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.
German Robot Wars[]
Thorgrim after being smashed by Matilda
Matilda made a dramatic start in the German series. She appeared in the first battle, 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 [20]
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.[21]
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.[22]
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'[23].
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.[24] 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.[25][26]
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.[27] 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.[28]
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[29]
- 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[30].
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
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/groups/UnofficialRobotWars/permalink/553849841561452
- ↑ Series 9 Teaser Trailer, featuring the House Robots
- ↑ Series 9 Teaser Trailer, featuring the House Robots
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20021022113532/http://www.robotmayhem.com/forum/messages/7/4476.html?1000779672
- ↑ 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
[]
| |||||||||||