Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars (also referred to as Series 5) was the fifth series of the British television game show Robot Wars. It was originally broadcast in 2002 on BBC Choice and repeated later that year on BBC Two. The series was notably rerun from 9-27 November 2015 on Challenge and on Sky2 in February 2016, with further re-runs on occasions thereafter. The series was hosted by Craig Charles, the pit reporter was Philippa Forrester and commentary was provided by Jonathan Pearce.
Along with the rest of the Classic Series, The Fifth Wars is available to stream in its entirety on Mech+ as of 2024.
Format[]
Craig Charles and Philippa Forrester in a promotional shot for Series 5
The series consisted of twelve heats featuring eight robots each. The format for each heat was similar to that of Series 3, consisting of two rounds of one-on-one battles and a Heat Final between each of the winning robots from the second round. Winners of this would progress to the Semi-Finals.
The Semi-Finals introduced a new format to the series, each beginning with three first-round battles to determine the first competitors to progress to the second round. The three losing robots would be placed in a 'Losers Melee', where the winner would be reinstated and given a second chance to reach the Grand Final. The Grand Final featured two winning robots from each Semi-Final, which fought against each other in a pair of one-on-one 'Eliminators'. The winners of each 'Eliminator' would face each other in a final battle to determine the series champion. For the first time since Series 2, a play-off was also held to determine third and fourth place finishes, having been cancelled in the previous two series due to one of the robots due to take part withdrawing because of technical difficulties. The play-off would be held each year for the remainder of the original series' run.
Unlike every other series before it aside from Series 1, Series 5 had no special events held during or after the main competition. In fact, several of the events aired in the first series of Robot Wars Extreme were filmed in their place, although all the fights filmed at Elstree were aired together along with those filmed at Earls Court prior to Series 5.
Seeded robots[]
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1. Chaos 2 |
13. Spawn Again |
Heats[]
Heat A[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Heat A
Robots Competing: Chaos 2, Storm Force, S.M.I.D.S.Y., Obsidian, 8645T, T-Bone, The Steel Avenger, The Tartan Terror
Eliminators
- Chaos 2 vs Storm Force: Chaos 2 won
- S.M.I.D.S.Y. vs Obsidian: S.M.I.D.S.Y. won
- 8645T vs T-Bone: 8645T won
- The Steel Avenger vs The Tartan Terror: The Steel Avenger won
Semi-Finals
- Chaos 2 vs The Steel Avenger: Chaos 2 won
- S.M.I.D.S.Y. vs 8645T: S.M.I.D.S.Y. won
Final
- Chaos 2 vs S.M.I.D.S.Y.: Chaos 2 won
- Note: During the final, both robots ended up immobilised (Chaos 2 flipped S.M.I.D.S.Y. onto the arena wall, then flipped itself over). A re-match was called, which Chaos 2 won.
Heat B[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Heat B
Robots Competing: Hypno-Disc, Black Widow, Juggernot 2, Bulldog Breed 3, Wowot, Lambsy, Atomic 2, Kan-Opener
Eliminators
- Hypno-Disc vs Black Widow: Hypno-Disc won
- Juggernot 2 vs Bulldog Breed 3: Bulldog Breed 3 won
- Wowot vs Lambsy: Lambsy won
- Atomic 2 vs Kan-Opener: Atomic 2 won
Semi Finals
- Hypno-Disc vs Atomic 2: Hypno-Disc won
- Lambsy vs Bulldog Breed 3: Bulldog Breed 3 won
Final
- Hypno-Disc vs Bulldog Breed 3: Hypno-Disc won
Heat C[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Heat C
Robots Competing: S3, Plunderbird 5, MouseTrap, Shredder, Stinger, Hippobotomus, General Carnage 2, Guzunderbot
Eliminators
- S3 vs Plunderbird 5: S3 won
- MouseTrap vs Shredder: MouseTrap won
- Stinger vs Hippobotomus: Stinger won
- General Carnage 2 vs Guzunderbot: General Carnage 2 won
Semi Finals
- Stinger vs General Carnage 2: Stinger won
- S3 vs MouseTrap: S3 won
Final
- Stinger vs S3: S3 won
Heat D[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Heat D
Robots Competing: Firestorm 3, Bee-Capitator, Sir Chromalot, Rohog, Bot Out Of Hell, Reactor 2, Gemini, Ruf Ruf Dougal
Eliminators
- Firestorm 3 vs Bee-Capitator: Firestorm 3 won
- Sir Chromalot vs Rohog: Sir Chromalot won
- Bot Out Of Hell vs Reactor 2: Reactor 2 won
- Gemini vs Ruf Ruf Dougal: Gemini won
Semi Finals
- Firestorm 3 vs Sir Chromalot: Firestorm 3 won
- Reactor 2 vs Gemini: Reactor 2 won
Final
- Firestorm 3 vs Reactor 2: Firestorm 3 won
Heat E[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Heat E
Robots Competing: Wild Thing, Trouble 'n' Strife, Velocirippa, The Alien, Napalm 2, Warhog, Thermidor 2, Prizephita Mach 2
Eliminators
- Wild Thing vs Trouble 'n' Strife: Wild Thing won
- Velocirippa vs The Alien: The Alien won
- Napalm 2 vs Warhog: Napalm 2 won
- Thermidor 2 vs Prizephita Mach 2: Prizephita Mach 2 won
Semi Finals
- Wild Thing vs Napalm 2: Wild Thing won
- The Alien vs Prizephita Mach 2: Prizephita Mach 2 won
Final
- Wild Thing vs Prizephita Mach 2: Wild Thing won
Heat F[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Heat F
Robots Competing: Dominator 2, Derek, King B Powerworks, Kronic 2, 13 Black, Corkscrew, X-Terminator, Immortalis
Eliminators
- Dominator 2 vs Derek: Dominator 2 won
- King B Powerworks vs Kronic 2: King B Powerworks won
- 13 Black vs Corkscrew: Corkscrew won
- X-Terminator vs Immortalis: X-Terminator won
Semi Finals
- Dominator 2 vs King B Powerworks: Dominator 2 won
- Corkscrew vs X-Terminator: Corkscrew won
Final
- Dominator 2 vs Corkscrew: Dominator 2 won
Heat G[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Heat G
Robots Competing: Tornado, Gravedigger, Diotoir, Dome, Evolution, Sabretooth, Hydra, Spawn Again
Eliminators
- Tornado vs Gravedigger: Tornado won
- Diotoir vs Dome: Diotoir won
- Evolution vs Sabretooth: Evolution won
- Hydra vs Spawn Again: Spawn Again won
Semi Finals
- Tornado vs Diotoir: Diotoir won
- Evolution vs Spawn Again: Spawn Again won
Final
- Diotoir vs Spawn Again: Spawn Again won
Heat H[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Heat H
Robots Competing: Wheely Big Cheese, Wolverine, Axe-Awe, Granny's Revenge, Robochicken-Evo, Crushtacean, Behemoth, Supernova
Eliminators
- Wheely Big Cheese vs Wolverine: Wheely Big Cheese won
- Axe-Awe vs Granny's Revenge: Axe-Awe won
- Robochicken-Evo vs Crushtacean: Crushtacean won
- Behemoth vs Supernova: Behemoth won
Semi Finals
- Wheely Big Cheese vs Axe-Awe: Wheely Big Cheese won
- Behemoth vs Crushtacean: Crushtacean won
Final
- Wheely Big Cheese vs Crushtacean: Wheely Big Cheese won
Heat I[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Heat I
Robots Competing: Splinter, VIPER 01, Bigger Brother, Tip-Top, Onslaught, Tetanus, 3 Stegs 2 Heaven, Eleven
Eliminators
- Splinter vs VIPER 01: Splinter won
- Tip-Top vs Bigger Brother: Bigger Brother won
- Tetanus vs Onslaught: Tetanus won
- 3 Stegs 2 Heaven vs Eleven: 3 Stegs 2 Heaven won
Semi Finals
- Splinter vs Bigger Brother: Bigger Brother won
- Tetanus vs 3 Stegs 2 Heaven: 3 Stegs 2 Heaven won
Final
- Bigger Brother vs 3 Stegs 2 Heaven: Bigger Brother won
Heat J[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Heat J
Robots Competing: Mini Morg, Kat 3, Tiberius 2, Monad, Major Tom, Kliptonite, Panic Attack, Barber-ous
Eliminators
- Kat 3 vs Mini Morg : Kat 3 won
- Tiberius 2 vs Monad: Tiberius 2 won
- Major Tom vs Kliptonite: Major Tom won
- Panic Attack vs Barber-ous: Panic Attack won
Semi Finals
- Kat 3 vs Major Tom: Kat 3 won
- Tiberius 2 vs Panic Attack: Panic Attack won
Final
- Kat 3 vs Panic Attack: Panic Attack won
Heat K[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Heat K
Robots Competing: Razer, Big Nipper, Sumpthing, Widow's Revenge, Axe-C-Dent, Destruct-A-Bubble, Suicidal Tendencies, Rick
Eliminators
- Razer vs Big Nipper: Razer won
- Sumpthing vs Widow's Revenge: Widow's Revenge won
- Axe-C-Dent vs Destruct-A-Bubble: Destruct-A-Bubble won
- Suicidal Tendencies vs Rick: Suicidal Tendencies won
Note: After the first round, Suicidal Tendencies was forced to pull out due to electrical problems, and Rick was reinstated.
Semi Finals
- Razer vs Widow's Revenge: Razer won
- Destruct-A-Bubble vs Rick: Rick won
Final
- Razer vs Rick: Razer won
Heat L[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Heat L
Robots Competing: Pussycat, The Executioner, Ming 3, Terrorhurtz, Clawed Hopper, Twister, 101, Fluffy
Eliminators
- Pussycat vs The Executioner: Pussycat won
- Terrorhurtz vs Ming 3: Terrorhurtz won
- Clawed Hopper vs Twister: Clawed Hopper won
- 101 vs Fluffy: Fluffy won
Semi Finals
- Pussycat vs Clawed Hopper: Pussycat won
- Terrorhurtz vs Fluffy: Fluffy won
Final
- Pussycat vs Fluffy: Pussycat won
Semi-Finals[]
Semi-Final 1[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Semi-Final 1
Round 1
- S3 vs Bigger Brother: Bigger Brother won
- Chaos 2 vs Wild Thing: Chaos 2 won
- Razer vs Spawn Again: Razer won
Losers Melee
- S3 vs Wild Thing vs Spawn Again: S3 won
Round 2
- Chaos 2 vs Bigger Brother: Bigger Brother won
- Razer vs S3: Razer won
Semi-Final 2[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Semi-Final 2
Round 1
- Wheely Big Cheese vs Dominator 2: Dominator 2 won
- Hypno-Disc vs Firestorm 3: Hypno-Disc won
- Panic Attack vs Pussycat: Pussycat won
Losers Melee
- Wheely Big Cheese vs Firestorm 3 vs Panic Attack: Firestorm 3 won
Round 2
- Dominator 2 vs Hypno-Disc: Hypno-Disc won
- Pussycat vs Firestorm 3: Firestorm 3 won
Grand Final[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Grand Final
Eliminators
- Hypno-Disc vs Bigger Brother: Bigger Brother won
- Razer vs Firestorm 3: Razer won
Playoff
- Hypno-Disc vs Firestorm 3: Firestorm 3 won
Final
- Razer vs Bigger Brother: Razer won
Awards[]
- Main article: Robot Wars Awards
These are the winners of the various awards given out at the end of the series:
- Best Design: Razer
- Best Engineered: Derek
- Most Original Entry: S3
- Sportsmanship Award: Pussycat
- Most Promising Newcomer: Fluffy
Trivia[]
- The Fifth Wars was the last UK series in Robot Wars' original run to feature unique team introductions.
- Unlike previous series, the team introductions were shown prior to Round 2 instead of Round 1, resulting in half of the competing robots not receiving an aired team introduction. However, since one for Hippobotamus was aired in Extreme and they can be seen being filmed in some Pits photos, it seems they were very likely filmed for every team.
- Only eight newcomers won a battle in The Fifth Wars (8645T, Lambsy, The Alien, Corkscrew, Evolution, Crushtacean, Widow's Revenge and Fluffy), with three reaching a heat final, and none winning a heat.
- The Fifth Wars was the only series of Robot Wars in which all of the Semi-Finalists had either reached that stage in a previous series or would also do so in a future series.
References[]
External Links[]
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