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"And it is! This is one of the heaviest in its class...the lifting arm and spike could mean that it's all "gorgonz-over" for opponents!"
Jonathan Pearce introduces The Big Cheese

The Big Cheese (also known as Big Cheese) was the first of two cheese-based machines entered by Roger Plant and Team Big Cheese. It exclusively competed in Series 3 of Robot Wars, where it reached the Heat Final before being eliminated by the eventual champion Chaos 2. It was succeeded by Wheely Big Cheese.

Design[]

"It's a very powerful robot, it's got a two-stroke petrol engine driving it, and only one weapon, which is this lifting arm, which also cuts and slices everything. It'll lift anything that it comes up again, and it's quite fast, very manoeuvrable and very dangerous."
— Roger Plant introduces The Big Cheese
The Big Cheese Crop 2

Front view of The Big Cheese

The Big Cheese was a large, classic wedge-shaped robot, designed to look like a piece of cheese. It was armed with a large rear-hinged red hydraulic lifting arm that was capable of lifting a Mini Cooper, and it showed this strength in the arena too - by hoisting opponents high in the air and pitting them. The arm was made from Kevlar and Titanium, and a bladed tip on the end of the lifting arm allowed for extra purchase while lifting. The arm could also be used to pin down opponents, as shown in The Big Cheese's Round 2 battle with Anorakaphobia, and the edge was intended to cut opponents.

"This can lift 500kg up to 1.2 metres above the ground. We tested it by lifting lorry engines and by lifting and turning over a Mini Metro that weighed 800kg. ... This robot can not only lift half a tonne - it can drive around with it as well!"
— The Big Cheese Robot Company website on The Big Cheese's lifting arm[1]
Tbchq

The Big Cheese in the arena

The Big Cheese was very powerful, capable of lifting even House Robot Sgt. Bash into the air. The interior of the machine featured guided missile and submarine components, as Roger Plant was a mini-submarine pilot. Plant described the robot as "quite fast, very manoeuvrable and very dangerous", although this conflicts with the robot's actual top speed of only 5 mph. The arm usually had the ability to self-right the robot, but it failed to right The Big Cheese in the Heat Final because it was not working at full power, according to Roger Plant. The engine and hydraulic system will run at any angle, including upside down, without loss of performance

The Big Cheese lifter 1

The Big Cheese in the arena, with its lifter raised

The robots armour and chassis were made with from Kevlar and RS285 resin, with monocoque construction[2]. The robot was powered by 7 horse power 2-stroke STIHL disc cutter engine, with hydraulic drive with variable swash plate pumps, giving a top speed of 5mph. A lot of the robot's electronics were designed by Roger Plant, including the hydraulic servos that controlled the pumps, the electronics for the receiver, and Roger Plant modified the Futaba radio control. The rear ground clearance was adjustable, between 0 and 100 mm.

When it arrived at the auditions, The Big Cheese weighed in at 83.8 kg, 4.4 kg over the weight limit. Although it was revised to weigh 79.4 kg by the time of filming, The Big Cheese's audition weight was still used in its statistics board[3].

Etymology[]

The robot's name is a pun on the term "big cheese", a slang term for an important person, referring to the robot's wedge shape and yellow colour.

There was another heavyweight machine that was to be entered for Series 3 called The Big Cheese. It was made by Liverdyne Robotics, but after it had issues at qualifying, Robot Wars Producers told Roger he could have the name as he needed a gimmick. Their Big Cheese ended up appearing at VIPER01

The name was written as The Big Cheese on front of the robot, and on the statistics board, but Stuart McDonald introduced the robot simply as "Big Cheese", and the name Big Cheese was used on the battle listings.

The Team[]

Main article: Team Big Cheese
TeamBigCheeseS3

The Big Cheese with its team in Series 3

The Big Cheese was entered by Team Big Cheese from Langport, Somerset. Roger Plant was the team captain, the main driver and weapons operator of Wheely Big Cheese and the lead speaker for all of the team's interviews. Roger Plant had previously entered with The Mule, but this was the first time he competed with other team members, John McGugan and Paul Otten. According to the Big Cheese Robot Company website, the robot was built by Roger Plant and Paul Otten[4].

Series Record[]

Series 3[]

Philippa Forrester: "This is The Big Cheese, its eyes light up! That's all that's any good isn't it?"
Roger Plant: "You wait 'til you see it in action!"
Philippa Forrester: "Nothing else any good about this robot! Its eyes light up, so what? We're impressed? We've seen eyes light up before! It seriously is a demonic robot, watch out for that one!"
— During Philippa's walk around of the pits at start of the episode

The Big Cheese participated in Heat E of the Third Wars. In the first round of the heat, The Big Cheese was placed up against a newcomers Shrapnel.

The Big Cheese Shrapnel

The Big Cheese gains purchase to lift Shrapnel

At the start of the battle, the two competitors drove towards each other, and though Shrapnel tried turning to get around The Big Cheese, The Big Cheese got under the side. However, as it raised the lifting arm, Shrapnel slid off safely.

"Big Cheese first to move, at £3000 it cost ten times the amount in the design and construction of Shrapnel!"
— Jonathan Pearce compares the cost of the two competitors early in the battle
Bigcheeseshrapnel

The Big Cheese holds Shrapnel over the pit

The Big Cheese reversed, and Shrapnel turned around. The Big Cheese drove straight at Shrapnel, easily getting underneath its opponent's high ground clearance. The Big Cheese lifted Shrapnel up, hooking the lifter in a gap behind one of the wheels. Holding Shrapnel up high, The Big Cheese turned around and carried it down the arena. The Big Cheese drove to the edge of the pit, then lowered Shrapnel down, dropping it into the pit.

"The Big Cheese the winner, and it was ever so easy!"
— Jonathan Pearce as The Big Cheese drops Shrapnel into the pit

This simple victory put The Big Cheese through to the next round of the heat.

Philippa Forrester: "Roger, you won the Best Engineering Award for Series 2 with The Mule, didn't you?"
Roger Plant: "Yes."
Philippa Forrester: "So we were expecting fantastic things from The Big Cheese and we haven't been disappointed! Are you pleased?"
Roger Plant: "A good start, wasn't it?"
Philippa Forrester: "You've taken over from Sir Killalot's job haven't you? I think it's usually his job dumping robots in the pit."
Roger Plant: "Well he was absent, I mean...he's not here, we'll do his job for him. When he is here, we might do his job for him - with him."
Philippa Forrester: "Oh! Fighting talk from Roger."

— Post-battle interview

In the second round of the heat, The Big Cheese was placed up against another newcomer, Anorakaphobia.

"The Big Cheese, Roger Plant and his team, they look powerful. Anorakaphobia looks sleek."
— Jonathan Pearce before the battle
Anorakophobia The Big Cheese

Anorakaphobia rides up The Big Cheese

The Big Cheese started by slowly approaching Anorakaphobia, which held back, then drove towards The Big Cheese, only to swerve away as it got close. The Big Cheese tried to get under Anorakaphobia's side, but Anorakaphobia drove off The Big Cheese's side, then drove to the arena centre. The Big Cheese followed it, but Anorakaphobia turned around as it got close, and drove away, nearly driving into the pit. Anorakaphobia reversed into The Big Cheese's side, and as The Big Cheese turned to try and use its lifter, Anorakaphobia turned around to The Big Cheese's side to try and use its axe. Anorakaphobia fired its axe rapidly at The Big Cheese, but The Big Cheese kept turning against Anorakaphobia, pushing against it and preventing it from lining up the axe properly for an attack.

"No damage caused to The Big Cheese, you see? More powerful it would seem, certainly the heavier of the two robots, capable of edging away from Anorakaphobia!"
— Jonathan Pearce as The Big Cheese avoids Anorakaphobia's axe
Big Cheese pits Anorakaphobia

The Big Cheese cunningly pits Anorakaphobia

Anorakaphobia turned and tried pushing against The Big Cheese's side, but mistimed the turn and drove into the arena wall. The Big Cheese turned around to pin Anorakaphobia against the wall, then tried turning around to use the lifter, but this gave Anorakaphobia enough room to get away from the wall. The Big Cheese turned around after its opponent, but Anorakaphobia was quick enough to ram into its side as it turned, then drove past. However, as it did so, it drove close to the pit, and almost reversed in as it turned. Anorakaphobia turned away from the pit's edge, but turned close to Sir Killalot's CPZ. Anorakaphobia paused, then turned away as Sir Killalot gave it a little push with his lance, nearly turning into the pit again. Anorakaphobia charged at The Big Cheese, driving up the wedge, but turned off as The Big Cheese tried lifting it with its lifting arm. Anorakaphobia reversed against The Big Cheese's side, then reversed, turned and drove away, driving past the pit. The Big Cheese drove at Anorakaphobia with its lifter raised, and Anorakaphobia drove at it, but in doing so, it pinned itself under The Big Cheese's lifting ram. Anorakaphobia fired the axe, but this allowed The Big Cheese to close the lifting arm, pinning down the axe, and it swiftly pushed Anorakaphobia into the pit.

"The great lifting ram of The Big Cheese, just there, sliding down once again, almost crushing Anorakaphobia, and they did that well, and pushed Anorakaphobia into the pit; and that's splendid control by The Big Cheese!"
— Jonathan Pearce as The Big Cheese pits Anorakaphobia

This put it through to the Heat Final.

Craig Charles: "Is this the biggest robot in the competition?"
Roger Plant: "Nah, it's the best!"
Craig Charles: ""It's the best!"?!"
Roger Plant: "Definately!"
Craig Charles: "This arm, how strong is it?"
Roger Plant: "It lifts 500 kilos!"
Craig Charles: "I heard it could lift a whole Mini, and you've got photographs of it lifting a Mini!"
Roger Plant: "Yes, we've got a video of it."
— Post-battle interview

In the Heat Final, The Big Cheese was drawn against Chaos 2, from former Grand Finalists and Heat Finalists Team Chaos, making this the first and only time The Big Cheese fought a veteran team.

Craig Charles: "You do realise this is one of the best robots in the competition?"
Paul Otten: "Very good, yeah!"
Craig Charles: "And it doesn't bother you?"
Roger Plant: "No, not in the least!"
— Confidence in the pre-battle interview
BigCheesetipsChaos2onitsside

The Big Cheese tips Chaos 2 onto its side

At the start of the battle, Chaos 2 charged at The Big Cheese as it slowly approached it, but Chaos 2 stopped in the arena centre, then tried reversing as The Big Cheese got close. The Big Cheese slid beneath Chaos 2's side as it tried turning away, then turned around on the spot, getting the lifting arm under Chaos 2. The Big Cheese raised the lifting arm, tipping Chaos 2 up on its side.

"Really for the first time, in this heat, in danger, Chaos 2."
— Jonathan Pearce after The Big Cheese's first move
Chaos2flipsBigCheeseover

Chaos 2 flips The Big Cheese over

However, The Big Cheese failed to turn it over, and Chaos 2 fell down and drove off of The Big Cheese. Chaos 2 tried to get under The Big Cheese's side, but The Big Cheese reversed. Chaos 2 reversed for another charge, but The Big Cheese drove into it as Chaos 2 tried getting underneath. Chaos 2 reversed up the arena, then drove around The Big Cheese as it drove after it. As The Big Cheese tried turning around, Chaos 2 got under its front corner. The Big Cheese turned around, but this allowed Chaos 2 to get its flipper properly under the front and flip The Big Cheese over. Chaos 2 got under The Big Cheese's side and rammed it across the arena, flipping it onto the flame pit, but in doing so, Chaos 2 righted The Big Cheese.

"And the hopes of The Big Cheese, grated, in these early moments."
— Jonathan Pearce as Chaos 2 flips The Big Cheese over
The Big Cheese Chaos 2

The Big Cheese topples and pins Chaos 2

Chaos2flipsBigCheeseoveragain

Chaos 2 flips The Big Cheese over again

The two competitors reversed to the arena centre, and Chaos 2 drove around The Big Cheese. However, when it drove at the front, it drove on top of the wedge instead of getting the flipper under the front, allowing The Big Cheese to lift it up with the lifting arm, turning Chaos 2 over. The Big Cheese raised its lifter to its fullest and pinned Chaos 2 against the wall, but then reversed a little, giving Chaos 2 enough space to self-right, which it quickly did. Chaos 2 drove to the top of the arena, and The Big Cheese drove after it, but Chaos 2 reversed down the arena. The Big Cheese drove down the arena after Chaos 2, but Chaos 2 drove away up the arena. As The Big Cheese turned around, Chaos 2 charged at it, getting under the side and ramming it against the wall, where Chaos 2 flipped The Big Cheese over.

"Driving underneath Big Cheese and flipping him up and over this time. And let me tell you, The Big Cheese weighs as much as an adult!"
— Jonathan Pearce as The Big Cheese is thrown over
Chaos2vsbigcheese RWS3

The Big Cheese fails to self-right

The Big Cheese raised its lifting arm to try and self-right, but the lifting arm just couldn't reach far enough to tip the robot back onto its wheels, having lost some of its power. Chaos 2 pushed The Big Cheese towards the wall as it tried to right itself, then reversed away and performed a victory spin.

"Look at this from The Big Cheese; trying, trying so hard to right itself here! Roger Plant can't quite turn The Big Cheese up and over!"
— Jonathan Pearce as The Big Cheese fails to self-right
SirKholdsupBigCheese

The Big Cheese is lifted up by Sir Killalot

The House Robots came out to attack The Big Cheese, with Sgt. Bash blasting it with his flamethrower and gripping the bottom, Shunt getting the other side and axing it, and Sir Killalot getting his lance under one of the wheels and picking the robot up. Sir Killalot carried The Big Cheese up the arena and dropped it on the floor flipper, but dropped it on its wheels, and The Big Cheese merely drove away from the floor flipper.

"And remember what Roger Plant said earlier on in the heat: he was capable of beating Sir Killalot, whose spies were out, told him, and this, I'm afraid, is what we call..."botribution". Robot style...revenge for Killalot."
— Jonathan Pearce as Sir Killalot carries The Big Cheese up the arena
Chaos2vstbc RWS3

The Big Cheese lifts Sgt. Bash

SgtBashbackandpropanetankfallout

Sgt. Bash's rear armour and propane tank come loose after being lifted up by The Big Cheese

Sir Killalot and Sgt. Bash blocked The Big Cheese, but The Big Cheese pushed past to get through. Sgt. Bash drove away, and The Big Cheese drove at it, getting its lifter under Sgt. Bash's front and lifting the House Robot up, tipping it onto its side and causing its rear armour to fall off. Shunt got behind The Big Cheese and axed it, and Sir Killalot pushed against The Big Cheese, but The Big Cheese did not stop attacking Sgt. Bash, lifting it up with its lifter, though this caused it to overbalance and fall forwards. Sgt. Bash and The Big Cheese fell over and tumbled onto their sides together.

"Oh! Great last effort though, to flip Bash up and over and Bash has lost its helmet! Oh, that's splendid stuff! The Big Cheese, still capable of wonderful wars entertainment! You can see George Francis chuckling away there in the Chaos team as well. Brilliant final! Two tremendous robots! And Sgt Bash is in bits and pieces!"
— Jonathan Pearce as The Big Cheese lifts Sgt. Bash up

As Cease was called, The Big Cheese closed its lifter, causing it and Sgt. Bash to fall back onto their wheels, and as it did so, the rear armour fell off and the propane tank fell out of the back of Sgt. Bash. The Big Cheese was eliminated from the competition.

Craig Charles: "What went wrong lads?"
Roger Plant: "We lost"
Craig Charles: "You certainly did! Your robotic arm seemed to lose power."
Roger Plant: "For some reason, in the middle of it, we went down to about half-throttle, I don't know why."
Craig Charles: "It was a bit like Naseem against Lennox Lewis! Will you come back next year?"
Roger Plant: "You're right we will!"
— Post-battle interview

At the end of the series, The Big Cheese was nominated for the Best Engineered Award, which Roger Plant had won the previous series with The Mule. However, it lost to the robot that also beat it in the main competition, Chaos 2.

Results[]

THE BIG CHEESE - RESULTS
Series 3
The Third Wars - UK Championship
Heat Final
Heat E, Round 1 vs. Shrapnel Won
Heat E, Round 2 vs. Anorakaphobia Won
Heat E, Final vs. Chaos 2 Lost

Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 2
  • Losses: 1

Series Record[]

Main Series The Big Cheese Series Record
The First Wars Did not enter
The Second Wars Entered with The Mule
The Third Wars Heat Final
The Fourth Wars Entered with Wheely Big Cheese
The Fifth Wars Entered with Wheely Big Cheese
The Sixth Wars Did not enter
The Seventh Wars Did not enter
Series 8 Did not enter
Series 9 Did not enter
Series 10 Did not enter
Robot Wars Extreme Appearances
Series 1 Entered with Wheely Big Cheese
Series 2 Did not enter

Gallery[]

Outside Robot Wars[]

Thundercheese

The Big Cheese with Small Cheese in 2013

After Roger Plant stopped competing in Robot Wars, he sold all of his robots. The Big Cheese was sold over eBay for £500 to an unknown buyer.

Big Cheese RN2021

The Big Cheese at RoboNerd in September 2021

The Big Cheese was later sold to roboteer Joseph Prophet in 2008, who formed Team ThunderCheese, nowadays known as Team Ironclads. The team also built a wedge-shaped featherweight Small Cheese in homage to The Big Cheese. After a number of live event displays, The Big Cheese was resigned to the team's wall as a decoration. The Big Cheese made an appearance as a static display at RoboNerd in September 2021. For more information on the Team Ironclads' excursions aside from The Big Cheese, see ThunderChild and Audacious.

Robot Wars Live Events[]

Joseph Prophet took The Big Cheese to a number of Robot Wars live events, such as the Maidstone and Gloucester events in 2013.

Appearances in Merchandise[]

Trivia[]

Cheese Cats

"At the moment, he's all nice and peacefully asleep, but when you wake him up, he's very dangerous indeed."

  • The Big Cheese's heat final battle against Chaos 2 was voted Best Battle of the Series in Series 3.
  • The Big Cheese was sponsored by; St Ivel, Moog Controls, who supplied the hydraulic servo valves, Loxton Garden Machinery, who supplied the hydraulic motors and pumps, Wood and Douglas, who supplied the 459MHz radio transmitter and receiver and Norgren, who supplied the hydraulic reservoirs[5]
  • Ironically, The Big Cheese and Chaos 2, who met in the final of their Heat, were the only losing Heat Finalists in Series 2 to reach that stage in the following war.
  • The Big Cheese is one of three robots to lose both a battle and an award to the same robot in the same series. The other two are Bigger Brother losing Best Design to Razer in The Fifth Wars, and The Creature losing Best Design to Gemini in The Fourth Wars.
  • Roger Plant was very upset at the amount of damage done to The Big Cheese by the House Robots, and designed his next robot, Wheely Big Cheese, to get revenge on the House Robots. Prior to the filming of Series 4, he challenged Sir Killalot to a grudge match[3], and tried to flip Sir Killalot in Wheely Big Cheese's Round 1 battle.
"I dont know about s4 with the Big Cheese as I do not agree with all the damage that the house robots are doing to the competitors robots. The BC will take many hours of repair work to the case and I and the team do not have the time right now. I am in agreement with REX about withdrawing from the RW series. I gave Mentorn a damn good show with TBC and they still tried to wreck it. It will NOT be back against the house robots if they are going to do the same again. I am working on a 100% titanium robot for the next series which will be literally bullet proof. If I get time it will be ready for RW4 TTFN"
— Roger Plant

Honours[]

Big cheese s3 official

Official Series 3 photo

Nominations

References[]

External Links[]

Navigation[]

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