- "The peace has been shattered, diplomacy failed. The robots are back - it's all out war and the battle lines have been drawn. So prime your weapons and evict the faint-hearted, as we put the scrap back into metal!"
- — Jonathan Pearce's introduction to Heat A
Robot Wars: The Second Wars (also referred to as Series 2) was the second series of the British television game show Robot Wars. It was originally broadcast from 1998 to 1999 on BBC Two. 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 Second Wars is available to stream in its entirety on Mech+ as of 2024.
Format[]
The series consisted of twelve heats, with six robots competing in each heat. The twelve winners from the heats moved onto the Semi-Finals. In each heat, the six robots would compete through a series of three challenges - the Gauntlet, the Trial and the Arena.
- The Gauntlet was an assault course with three separate routes, each filled with various hazards and guarded by the House Robots. Competitor robots had to make their way as far down the course as possible in the time allowed. The robot covering the shortest distance by the end of the stage was eliminated, leaving five robots to continue.
- The Trial was a set challenge which varied from heat to heat. Events held during the course of the series included Sumo, Football, Skittles, Tug of War, King of the Castle, Joust and Pinball, each with their own specific objectives and goals. The lowest-performing robot from each Trial would be eliminated, allowing four robots to continue.
- The Arena was the first combat stage for the remaining robots, which were paired off and fought in one-on-one battles. As the stage's name implies, each battle was held in the main Robot Wars Arena, which featured various hazards including the House Robots. In the Heats, two winning robots from the Arena stage would face each other in the Heat Final, where the winner would progress to the Semi-Finals.
The series had two Semi-Final shows, each with six heat finalists initially reprising the Gauntlet stage. Five robots would progress to the Pinball Trial, held exclusively during these Semi-Finals, where the lowest-scoring robot from each running would be eliminated. As with the heats, the remaining four robots from the Trial stage would then face each other in two one-on-one Arena battles. The two winners from each Semi-Final went through to the Grand Final, where the four remaining robots were paired off in two 'Eliminator' rounds. The winners of each 'Eliminator' met for a final battle to determine the series champion, with the losers also taking part in a 'play-off' to determine third and fourth place finishes.
Seeded robots[]
1. Roadblock2. Mortis
3. Bodyhammer
4. Killertron
5. Cassius
6. Chaos
Heats[]
Heat A[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat A
Robots competing in Heat A: Victor, Napalm, Panda Monium, Piece De Resistance, Demolition Demon, Caliban
Gauntlet: Caliban eliminated
Trial (Skittles): Piece de Resistance eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Napalm vs Panda Monium: Napalm won
- Victor vs Demolition Demon: Demolition Demon won
Arena Final
- Napalm vs Demolition Demon: Napalm won
Heat B[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat B
Robots competing in Heat B: Mace, Leighviathan, Wheelosaurus, Death Trak, Tantrum, Chaos
Gauntlet: Death Trak eliminated
Trial (Tug of War): Tantrum eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Mace vs Leighviathan: Mace won
- Chaos vs Wheelosaurus: Chaos won
Arena Final
- Mace vs Chaos: Mace won
Heat C[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat C
Robots competing in Heat C: Challenger, Dreadnaut, Mortis, Oblivion, Rameses II, Griffon
Gauntlet: Griffon eliminated
Trial (Joust): Challenger eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Dreadnaut vs Oblivion: Oblivion won
- Rameses II vs Mortis: Mortis won
Arena Final
- Mortis vs Oblivion: Mortis won
Heat D[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat D
Robots competing in Heat D: Razer, Inquisitor, Milly-Ann Bug, Bodyhammer, Behemoth, Elvis
Gauntlet: Bodyhammer eliminated
Trial (Football): Milly-Ann Bug eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Razer vs Inquisitor: Inquisitor won
- Elvis vs Behemoth: Behemoth won
Arena Final
- Inquisitor vs Behemoth: Behemoth won
Heat E[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat E
Robots competing in Heat E: Spin Doctor, Killertron, Pain, ORAC, Technophobic, Schumey
Gauntlet: Pain eliminated
Trial (King of the Castle): Schumey eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Killertron vs ORAC: Killertron won
- Technophobic vs Spin Doctor: Technophobic won
Arena Final
- Killertron vs Technophobic: Killertron won
Heat F[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat F
Robots competing in Heat F: Disruptor, Panic Attack, Corporal Punishment, Whirling Dervish, Ron, The Parthian Shot
Gauntlet: The Parthian Shot eliminated
Trial (Sumo): Ron eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Panic Attack vs Whirling Dervish: Panic Attack won
- Corporal Punishment vs Disruptor: Disruptor won
Arena Final
- Panic Attack vs Disruptor: Panic Attack won
Heat G[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat G
Robots competing in Heat G: Roadblock, Killerhurtz, Onslaught, Nemesis, R.O.C.S., Limpet
Gauntlet: R.O.C.S. eliminated
Trial (Skittles): Limpet eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Killerhurtz vs Roadblock: Roadblock won
- Nemesis vs Onslaught: Onslaught won
Arena Final
- Roadblock vs Onslaught: Roadblock won
Heat H[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat H
Robots competing in Heat H: Sting, Loco, Cassius, GroundHog, Rampage, Wizard
Gauntlet: Rampage eliminated
Trial (Football): Sting eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Loco vs GroundHog: Loco won
- Cassius vs Wizard: Cassius won
Arena Final
- Loco vs Cassius: Cassius won
Heat I[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat I
Robots competing in Heat I: King Buxton, Robo Doc, Prometheus, Rottweiler, All Torque, Cruella
Gauntlet: Cruella eliminated
Trial (Joust): Rottweiler eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Robo Doc vs King Buxton: King Buxton won
- All Torque vs Prometheus: All Torque won
Arena Final
- All Torque vs King Buxton: King Buxton won
Heat J[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat J
Robots competing in Heat J: Talos, Ivanhoe, Kill Dozer, Broot, Penetrator, G.B.H.
Gauntlet: Broot eliminated
Trial (Tug of War): Penetrator eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Ivanhoe vs Kill Dozer: Ivanhoe won
- G.B.H. vs Talos: G.B.H. won
Arena Final
- Ivanhoe vs G.B.H.: G.B.H. won
Heat K[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat K
Robots competing in Heat K: Enzyme, The Mule, Phoenix, Plunderbird 2, Mega Hurts, Demon
Gauntlet: Phoenix eliminated
Trial (King of the Castle): Mega Hurts eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- The Mule vs Demon: The Mule won
- Enzyme vs Plunderbird 2: Plunderbird 2 won
Arena Final
- Plunderbird 2 vs The Mule: Plunderbird 2 won
Heat L[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat L
Robots competing in Heat L: Tender Caress, Haardvark, Vercingetorix, Havoc, Angel of Death, Flirty Skirty
Gauntlet: Angel of Death eliminated
Trial (Sumo): Tender Caress eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Haardvark vs Vercingetorix: Haardvark won
- Havoc vs Flirty Skirty: Havoc won
Arena Final
- Haardvark vs Havoc: Haardvark won
Semi-Finals[]
Semi-Final 1[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Semi-Final 1
Robots competing in Semi-Final 1: Napalm, Behemoth, Panic Attack, Mortis, Mace, Killertron.
Gauntlet: Mace eliminated
Trial (Pinball): Napalm eliminated
Arena
- Mortis vs Panic Attack: Panic Attack won
- Killertron vs Behemoth: Killertron won
Semi-Final 2[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Semi-Final 2
Robots competing in Semi-Final 2: Roadblock, Cassius, Haardvark, King Buxton, G.B.H., Plunderbird 2.
Gauntlet: Plunderbird 2 eliminated
Trial (Pinball): G.B.H. eliminated
Arena
- Cassius vs Haardvark: Cassius won
- Roadblock vs King Buxton: Roadblock won
Grand Final[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Grand Final
Robots competing in Grand Final: Cassius, Roadblock, Killertron, Panic Attack.
Eliminators
- Cassius vs Roadblock: Cassius won
- Killertron vs Panic Attack: Panic Attack won
Playoff
- Killertron vs Roadblock: Roadblock won
Final
- Cassius vs Panic Attack: Panic Attack 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: The Mule
- Most Original Entry: Milly-Ann Bug
- Sportsmanship Award: Plunderbird 2
The Grudge Matches[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/The Grudge Matches
After the main competition, a special episode was shown featuring a number of Grudge Matches. This gave robots the chance to settle old scores and also allowed robots that did not feature in the main series a chance to battle in the arena. Highlights from the battles of the other weight classes were also broadcasted during this episode too.
Other Weight Classes[]
In addition to the main heavyweight championship, the Second Wars also included several tournaments for robots from other weight classes. These are the final results from those weight classes:
Super Heavyweight Championship[]
Heats
- Minotaur vs Kick Robut vs Reckless Endangerment: Kick Robut won
- Thud vs Roter Ochse vs Siren: Siren won
- Berserk vs Rumble vs Death Jester: Berserk won
- Demon Duck vs Soc'em vs Bottweiler: Demon Duck won
Final
- Siren vs Kick Robut vs Berserk vs Demon Duck: Kick Robut won
Middleweight Championship[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Middleweight Championship
Final
- Hard Cheese vs Wharthog vs Doodlebug vs Scorpion: Hard Cheese won
Lightweight Championship[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Lightweight Championship
Final
- Damacles vs Rosebud vs Shadow Fiend vs Slippery Strana vs Spartacus vs Unidentified lightweight robot vs Armageddon: Slippery Strana won
Featherweight Championship[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Featherweight Championship
Final
- Anarchy vs Armadillo vs Deadline vs Demolisher vs The Ripper: Demolisher won
Judgement Day[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Judgement Day
This grudge dated back to a judges' decision in The First Wars when Recyclopse (the original robot of Team Cassius) controversially defeated Mortis for a place in the Grand Final.
Winner: Mortis
Reserve Rumble[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Reserve Rumble
This match was for the reserve heavyweight robots that did not feature in the main series.
Lateral Thought vs Malice vs Bumblebot vs Forklift vs Jim Struts
Winner: Jim Struts
Inferno Insurrection[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Inferno Insurrection
This match featured Sergeant Bash and two flammable robots which were sprayed with paraffin before the event.
Sergeant Bash vs Nemesis & Ramrombit
Winner: None announced
Internet Insurrection[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Internet Insurrection
This grudge match was to decide which team had the best website.
Griffon vs Killerhurtz vs Bodyhammer vs Corporal Punishment
Winner: Griffon
Judgement Day 2[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Judgement Day
This grudge dated back to the Trial in the series semi-final when Mortis sustained damage to one if its tracks but was given a second chance by the production team and gained enough points (with a bit of help from the House Robots) to eliminate Napalm from the championship.
Winner: Mortis
Television ratings[]
| Episode | Rating | BARB ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Heat A | 5 million | 3rd |
| Heat B | 5.8 million | 3rd |
| Heat C | 5.95 million | 3rd |
| Heat D | 5.94 million | 3rd |
| Heat E | 5.47 million | 3rd |
| Heat F | 5.72 million | 3rd |
| Heat G | 5.59 million | 3rd |
| Heat H | 5.94 million | 2nd |
| Heat I | 5.58 million | 2nd |
| Heat J | 5.66 million | 2nd |
| Heat K | 6.13 million | 1st |
| Heat L | 5.72 million | 1st |
| Semi-Final 1 | 6.01 million | 2nd |
| Semi-Final 2 | 6.21 million | 2nd |
| Grand Final | 6.94 million | 1st |
| Grudge Matches | 5.17 million | 2nd |
The series proved to be a ratings success for BBC 2, since no episode fell below the top three highest weekly rated BBC 2 shows according to BARB. Heat A was the lowest rated episode in the series, but still managed to attract 5 million viewers. From Heats A to F, episodes were consistently behind Have I Got News for You and The Simpsons. However, by Heat G the series had successfully managed to beat Have I Got News for You, with the ratings for Heat H enabling the series to defeat The Simpsons for the first time. Heat H was also the first episode of the series to reach the top two highest weekly rated BBC 2 shows, behind only a then-new series of Gimme Gimme Gimme.
The broadcast of Heat K enabled the series to set three new Robot Wars ratings records. By attracting 6.13 million viewers, it became the first Robot Wars episode to top six million viewers, beating the previous record holder for the highest television rating for Robot Wars, Heat C, by 180,000 viewers. According to BARB, Heat K became the first episode to top the highest weekly rated BBC 2 shows, by attracting 290,000 more viewers than Gimme Gimme Gimme. Two other episodes, Heat L and the Grand Final, also topped the highest weekly rated BBC 2 shows, the latter achieving the all-time highest rating for the show at 6.94 million.
Specials[]
During this series two specials and a behind-the-scenes series were also produced:
The Making of Robot Wars[]
- Main article: The Making of Robot Wars
The first special was a behind-the-scenes special about the making of the first series of Robot Wars.
The Best of Robot Wars[]
- Main article: The Best of Robot Wars
The second special featured clips of some of the best and worst moments of the series.
Robot Wars Revealed[]
- Main article: Robot Wars Revealed
A behind-the-scenes series presented by Philippa Forester, including highlights, interviews and video diaries of the main series competitors. 15 episodes were aired on BBC Choice, each based on the individual Heats, Semi-Finals and Grand Final.
Proposed Episodes and Events[]
During the development of Series 2, a small number of internationally-focused events and episodes were proposed, but would not materialise:
1998 US Event[]
- Main article: Robot Wars 1998 (proposed US events)
A one-off episode first intended to cover the live 1998 US competition at the Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, as originally proposed by Marc Thorpe. With Thorpe's event being cancelled as a consequence of a dispute between him and Profile Records, an alternative proposal for a dedicated televised event was publicly revealed by Mentorn in July 1998, to be held at the same venue and dates (14-16 August). Intended for broadcast in the UK and Europe, the event would have maintained the original 'competitive structure' and ruleset of the 1994-1997 US competitions, with the possibility of multiple weight classes, cash prizes and qualification for a potential 'international' event to be filmed in the UK. Low interest from US builders, in the wake of the Thorpe-Profile dispute, lead to the proposal being shelved.[1][2][3]
International Event[]
As a replacement for their US event proposal, an international competition was also proposed by Mentorn to be filmed in the UK alongside the main Series 2. Effectively a precursor to the World Championship specials, the competition was tentatively scheduled for filming on 27 August 1998, with provisions for freight, travel and accomodation costs to be paid by Mentorn themselves.[3] Very few details are available for this proposed event, which was initially deferred to February 1999,[4] then shelved and ultimately succeeded by The First World Championship.
Trivia[]
- At least three competitors from the lower weight classes of Series 2 went untelevised. The Featherweight Championship included only Demolisher, Armadillo and The Ripper in its broadcast (omitting Anarchy, Deadline and potentially another machine), while the Lightweight Championship showed only five of its six competitors, leaving one more robot unidentified.
References[]
- ↑ Letter from The Mentorn Group concerning their proposed 1998 Robot Wars US event, dated 3 July 1998, reproduced on RobotCombat.com
- ↑ Official Mentorn letter written by Tom Gutteridge, concerning a proposed 1998 Robot Wars US event to be filmed for UK audiences, 10 July 1998, reproduced on RobotCombat.com
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Letter from The Mentorn Group confirming the cancellation of their proposed 1998 Robot Wars US event, dated 27 July 1998, reproduced on RobotCombat.com
- ↑ 'News', Scoot.co.uk page on Caliban (archived)
External Links[]
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