 All battle/event/episode write-ups must be written in the past tense.
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- "This video is the ultimate in Robot Wars. It features behind the scenes action, real drama from the pits, and never before seen footage from The First Great War.
In this exclusive video we see more than ever before. Sit back as hosts Craig Charles, Philippa Forrester and Jonathan Pearce take you on this incredible journey." - — Blurb on the back cover of the original UK VHS release
Robot Wars: The First Great War was a video based around the first series of Robot Wars. It was released on VHS on 29 March 1999, making it Robot Wars' first general home media release. It featured behind-the-scenes footage, clips of the 1995 UK Open Competition - which served as a pilot for the original UK Series - along with highlights of the heats and Grand Final, which saw Roadblock crowned as the first UK Series Champion. Craig Charles hosted the video, as well as appearing in bridging sequences and occasionally doing voice-overs during highlight footage. It also contained the bonus feature Robot Wars: The Constructor's Guide, a robot-building guide for aspiring roboteers.
The video's title comes from the original name of World War I, The Great War.
The original UK VHS release shipped in a collectable tin box that included the VHS tape in a standard case.
While there was no DVD release in the UK, a release did occur in the Scandinavian region (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) in 2003 by PAN Vision (with the slightly different name Robot Wars: The First Great Wars). This release left out The Constructor's Guide (though the back cover claims otherwise) and included Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles. The video was called Robot Wars: Ensimmäiset Fantastiset Kamppailut in Finnish. In Swedish, it was called Robot Wars: De Första Stora Slagen.
Synopsis[]
- "Hello, and welcome to the annihilation, the carnage, the total wanton destruction that is Robot Wars. Here, for the first time in one package, we bring you the classic battles of the first TV series, the story of how Roadblock became Robot Wars champion, exclusive behind-the-scenes action, real drama from the pits and never-before-seen footage of the first Robot Wars conflict."
- — Craig Charles' introduction to The First Great War.
1995 UK Open[]
- "Now the sport of Robot Wars originated in America, but the first battles on British soil were witnessed here, at this secret warehouse location. Unfortunately, the conflict was so indescribably brutal, it was immediately banned by the censors, and has never been shown before - that is until now. So sit back, evict the faint-hearted and enjoy some highlights from the very first Robot Wars, when a handful of robots took on the wrath of the American champions in open competition."
- — Craig Charles introduces the 1995 UK Open.
The video featured highlights of the 1995 UK Open Competition, the event that acted as a proof-of-concept for the television show. Robots from various weight categories were seen in action, including Grunt and The Mouse (which went on to become two of the three Stock Robots used in the First Wars), as well as famous American competitors Thor, La Machine and The Master. Highlights of other events were also shown, including regular one-on-one battles, melees and a Soccer match reminiscent of the Football/Robotic Soccer events seen in the first three series of the televised UK Robot Wars. Craig Charles concluded the segment by telling the viewers they would later show the battle fought between Thor and The Master.
Heat Highlights[]
- "So, there you have it. Of course, Robot Wars has since become a major phenomenon on British television. Over 5 million people witnessed robots locked in battle every week, the nation has been rocked by scenes of unparalleled violence. And the House Robots have become household names. 36 teams faced each other in the first series, 6 fought their way through to the final - this is their story. If you need a pillow to cower behind, get one now."
- — Craig Charles
Each heat shown followed the exploits of up to three of the six robots in the heats from The Gauntlet onwards. The footage was periodically interspersed by interviews with the Visual Effects Designer Chris Reynolds and other Robot Wars staff, revealing some of the original concept art and general ideas behind the House Robots, Matilda, Sergeant Bash, Dead Metal and Shunt, as well as the Robot Wars Arena. The battles included alternate camera angles (e.g. from the House Robot cameras) and pit interviews cut from the television episodes.
- Heat A: Roadblock, Nemesis and Killertron
- Heat B: Recyclopse, Mortis and Detonator
- Heat C: Plunderbird 1, Dreadnaut and Robot The Bruce
- Heat D: None
- Heat E: Bodyhammer and REALI-T
- Heat F: T.R.A.C.I.E. and Elvis
House Robot Development[]
- "The job of building the House Robots went to the BBC's famous Visual Effects department."
- — Craig Charles
The heat highlights began with Philippa Forrester's Gauntlet introduction from Heat E before going into the House Robot roll call from Heat A, followed by a behind-the-scenes look at the development of the House Robots, using footage and interview dialogue with Chris Reynolds taken from The Making of Robot Wars, including unused dialogue. Also shown were concept art of the proposed House Robots, specifically Ekk Eekk, A Taste of Kaos, Power Mosh, Shove and Hammerhead.
Heat A[]
Highlights of this heat began with an alternate variation of Philippa's introduction to the pits.
The Gauntlet runs of Roadblock, Nemesis, and Killertron were shown (team introductions included), each followed by their respective post-round pit interviews (except for Killertron's, which was adapted from their post-Gauntlet interview with Clarkson). In the case of Nemesis, before its Gauntlet run was shown, an unused pit interview shows Philippa questioning the flammability of Nemesis. The Sumo Trial performances were also shown with Killertron's run being shortened slightly for time, as Charles explained the rules in a voice-over, and Roadblock's victory over Shunt being celebrated in the pits, whose fall was also shown from his on-board camera.
The Arena stage featured both Semi-Finals (albeit edited down for time) and the Heat Final and included extended and unseen pit footage and interviews. The Nemesis team's pre-Arena interview was altered to start at the moment they are introduced to Roadblock while also incorporating unseen footage of the Nemesis team jokingly asking the Roadblock team what they thought would be effective against fur, followed by an unseen interview revealing the major factor behind Nemesis' loss in their Semi-Final. Killertron's pre-semi-final interview was followed by an unused scene highlighting the first known instance of a Gentleman's Agreement; the Killertron team mockingly offered bin bags to the Shogun team, with the latter informing them of their speed control problems. The post-mortem interviews for both Nemesis and Shogun after their respective losses were also extended, with the Nemesis interview showing that the Roadblock team kept some of their opponent's fur. Shogun's post-fight interview was shown before Killertron's post-Semi-Final interview and featured Philippa pointing out a dislodged panel on the robot. Unseen pre-final footage also showed the Roadblock team trying to adjust their robot, whilst Killertron's pre-final interview was slightly shortened.
Though not featured, Barry was still name-dropped during Killertron's Gauntlet run. Grunt is also not featured, likely due to it being a stock robot. The closing montage towards the end of the video also included a blooper in which Derek Foxwell fell over as he entered the arena to put Nemesis out.
Heat B[]
- "So, Roadblock puts its place in the Grand Finals. And now, on to the next heat."
- — Craig Charles
Shortened versions of the Gauntlet runs of Detonator and Recyclopse were shown along with a shortened version of the Detonator team introduction (which wasmoved to before the footage of their run rather than during). The full Gauntlet run of Mortis, including its team introduction, was featured, with additional footage of Mortis returning to the pits.
This was followed by both Mortis and Detonator's pre-Trial interviews, with additional footage of the Detonator team trying to fix the steering problems they had during the Gauntlet. The full British Bulldog Trial was also highlighted, though Recyclopse's post-Trial interview was moved to be shown before that of Detonator.
Also shown before the Arena stage was an unused pre-Semi-Final interview with the Recyclopse team about their opponent being Scrapper, along with an extended version of the pre-Semi-Final interview with Leighbot. An extended version of the pre-Final footage of the Mortis team entering the arena was placed just after Recyclopse's post-Semi-Final interview, while the team's pre-Semi-Final interview was moved to after they defeated Leighbot. Unused footage of Philippa with the teams in the pits was shown before and after the Judge's Decision for the Final, along with an extended version of the footage at the end of the episode of Philippa informing Rex Garrod of the decision being popular with the teams in the pits.
Arena Development[]
A behind-the-scenes look at the design and construction of the original iteration of the Robot Wars arena, again using relevant footage and interview dialogue with Stephen Carsey and Steve Clark taken from The Making of Robot Wars. Interview dialogue not used in The Making Of included how the team avoided too grungy a look for the arena and avoided adding science fiction elements, giving the industrial look they achieved.
Heat C[]
- "The mayhem continues with more candidates for the Gauntlet"
- — Craig Charles
The Gauntlet runs of Plunderbird 1, Dreadnaut and Robot the Bruce were featured with mostly altered footage: the team introduction for Plunderbird 1 was moved from the middle of their run to the start so that unseen footage of Philippa conversing with Mike Onslow about the laser-guided spike would appear at that point instead; the footage of Dreadnaut's run was altered so that the moment its internals catch fire plays almost immediately after completing its Gauntlet run; Philippa's interviews with both the Plunderbird and Dreadnaut teams following the former's Gauntlet run in the episode were swapped around while her second interview with the former was shown after Robot the Bruce's run instead of WYSIWYG's run; and a previously unseen clip showing Robot the Bruce being weighed was shown before its Gauntlet run.
The Soccer Trial, the only time WYSIWYG and Cruella were shown in highlights from this heat, was mostly intact, but edited down for time. An additional interview with the Dreadnaut team before the Arena stage was also shown.
During the Arena stage, only the Semi-Final between Dreadnaut and Wedgehog and the Final between Robot the Bruce and Wedgehog were shown, with the Semi-Final footage significantly edited for time (though the moment Sgt. Bash lost his saw on Wedgehog still appears during a montage) and including an extended version of Dreadnaut's post-mortem interview and the Final being preceded by extended versions of both finalists' pre-Final interviews.
Heat D[]
Despite the lack of coverage of Heat D, two House Robot camera montages included what looked like footage from the Semi-Final between The Demolisher and SAT'arn, both of which are otherwise not featured.
Heat E[]
The only featured footage of this heat was the latter half of Bodyhammer's Gauntlet run and an extended version of REALI-T's post-trial interview, as well as an edited version of the Final between both. The interview with Bodyhammer at the end of the episode is also extended and shown after their Gauntlet run, while a different version of REALI-T's end-of-episode interview was also shown, followed by a different interview with Bodyhammer regarding sportsmanship. Two unseen pre-final interviews with each of the finalists were also shown. Despite not being featured, Torque of the Devil appeared briefly during montages, using footage taken from its Semi-Final with Bodyhammer. A House Robot camera montage also briefly showed footage from Matilda's camera during REALI-T's Semi-Final with Full Metal Anorak, the latter of which was otherwise not featured. Likewise, Psychosprout and Wharthog were still seen during pit interviews, despite them not having any highlighted footage.
Heat F[]
Both T.R.A.C.I.E. and Elvis' Gauntlet runs were featured along with their team introductions. Following T.R.A.C.I.E.'s run, previously unseen footage of the team determining that the microswitches caused their breakdown during the Gauntlet was also shown. Following Elvis' run, additional unseen post-Gauntlet footage in the pits is shown, regarding T.R.A.C.I.E. having speed control problems and a further conversation with the Elvis team, the latter mentioning the accident Neil had with an angle grinder and his right pointer finger.
While the Snooker trial was not shown, both T.R.A.C.I.E.'s Semi-Final against Prince of Darkness and Final against Skarab were also featured, both edited down for time and ending after Cease was called, the latter also concluding with a post-battle interview with the T.R.A C.I.E. team from Philippa. The Blob, while not featured, appeared during a House Robot camera montage, specifically showing its Gauntlet run.
- "The tension is becoming unbearable as the robots are made ready for the Grand Final to determine who will become the first British Robot Wars series champion. Even the House Robots are receiving last-minute attention to ensure that they are at their destructive best."
- — Craig Charles during the House Robot maintenance montage
Before the Grand Final at the end of the final heat, there was some previously unseen footage of the crew seeing to the House Robots (specifically Matilda, Sgt. Bash and Dead Metal) in the arena during the series.
Following the Grand Final, a montage of footage from across the video set to a mash-up of various lines from Jonathan Pearce was shown, including two bloopers of Philippa messing up her lines and the aforementioned blooper involving Derek Foxwell.
Epilogue[]
- "It's okay, you can come out now. You can tell your friends you survived the classic battles, the unseen action, the wanton destruction of Robot Wars. And it's not over yet, 'cause we've got that epic confrontation between Thor and The Master still to come."
- — Craig Charles
Prior to the final featured battle, Craig Charles informed viewers about the Robot Wars website, where they could check the latest news and developments, as well as giving information on the Robot Wars Club in a similar vein to how Jonathan Pearce did so at the end of episodes of the TV series, with an additional spiel regarding merchandise available exclusively to club members. Unlike in the episodes, although the "Information Hotline" number was present on-screen, it was never pointed out and was substituted toward the end with the web address for the website.
The video concludes with an extended version of the battle between Thor and The Master shown in Heat D, with The Master emerging victorious. For more information on this battle, see here.
- "And now it's time for you to strap yourselves in and cry mercy, as we leave you with the ultimate robotic confrontation."
- — Craig Charles
Constructor's Guide[]
- Main article: Robot Wars: The Constructor's Guide
Incoming Data[]
Throughout the video, a series of facts and statistics of Series 1, as well as some relating to the 1995 UK Open, were revealed as they scrolled across the bottom of the screen at relevant times:
- 1995 UK Open
- The development of Robot Wars as a TV programme took almost three years...A written proposal was presented to the BBC in April 1995...The programme was piloted in November 1995...The first series was recorded in November 1997 and broadcast soon after at the beginning of 1998.
- Three American robots were invited to take part in the British Open competition - The Master, La Machine and Thor - British customs officials had to be convinced that they shouldn't be classified as weapons before being allowed into the country.
- Series 1
- The conceptual artwork for Robot Wars was created by 2000 AD artist Tom Carney.
- 155 roboteers competed in the First Wars...The average age of the combat veteran was 27...Unlike Vietnam!
- The combined distance covered in the Gauntlet totalled 340 metres.
- Over 150 individuals were involved in the production from stage hands and caterers to lighting directors and security men.
- The First Wars were recorded over three days...An army marches on its stomach...The crew and competitors consumed 6000 cups of tea, 1500 bacon rolls, 7500 chocolate biscuits, 1200 sandwiches, 78 gallons of milk, 600 litres of mineral water, 17kg of sugar, 1100 sausages, 1600 cakes and 560 tins of baked beans!
- The combined weight of all the competing robots in the First Wars totalled 1899kg (1.9 tonnes)...the equivalent of 16 Matildas (based on how much she weighed at the time) or 2 Minis.
- Each House Robot took over 300 hours to build...The combined weight of Sergeant Bash, Shunt, Dead Metal and Matilda (at the time) equals 453kg.
- The scrap metal used to dress the set of Robot Wars was salvaged from Hanningfield Metals in East London...A skip full of aircraft parts, missile components and assorted scrap metal was delivered to the location...cost £2000.
- The competing robots laid end-to-end would measure 38 metres...the equivalent of 27 Matildas or 13 Minis.
- Just over 90 minutes of combat took place during the First Wars...the equivalent of a full game of soccer.
- Each House Robot is powered by 2 x 12V batteries which have to be recharged constantly during recording...Matilda's batteries can only be reached when her tusks are removed.
- Sergeant Bash, Shunt, Matilda and Dead Metal all used components from children's Go-Karts...during the shoot Matilda had to have her chainsaw chain replaced four times.
- Each House Robot suffered at least two major breakdowns during the recording of the First Wars...A team of over ten technicians were on constant standby to keep them running.
Errors & Omissions[]
- Although The First Great War is a highlights package for Robot Wars: The First Wars, it completely ignores the events of Heat D, a featherweight-only heat won by Cunning Plan.
- Robot The Bruce's encounter with Cruella is also omitted.
- The footage of Heat E and F did not include highlights from the Trial and Arena Semi-Final stages, except T.R.A.C.I.E.'s battle with Prince of Darkness.
- Jeremy Clarkson, presenter for Series 1, is cut out of all the footage.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The VHS back cover contains an advertisement for the Robot Wars Technical Manual.
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