Inquisitor

Inquisitor
Participation Information
UK Series	2-3
Other Names	Inquisitor Mk 2 (Series 3)
Team Information
Team Members	Keith Millward Gavin Hatton (Series 2) Michael Millward (Series 3)
From	Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Robot Statistics
Weight	78.9kg
Top Speed	6mph
Power	4 Electric Motors
Weapons	Lifting Arm
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Inquisitor was a competitor from Series 2 of Robot Wars. During its only appearance in the main competition, it reached the Heat Final following a surprise win over the destructive Razer, before losing to Behemoth.

The team also entered the Pinball Competiton of Series 3 with a second version, briefly referred to as Inquisitor Mk 2 by Jonathan Pearce. Although it endured a slow and difficult run, this incarnation of Inquisitor scored 70 points and was able to turn Matilda over after time ran out.

Versions of Inquisitor

Inquisitor

The Series 2 Inquisitor without its chainsaw

Inquisitor after Series 2 without its flail

"A stealth bomber lookalike"

— Jonathan Pearce on Inquisitor in Series 2

The original Inquisitor was a large six-wheel drive, wedge shaped robot with an aluminium shell, a front mounted chainsaw with spikes and a rear spinning flail. However, the chainsaw was only used once, during its fight with Razer, which broke the flail weaponry, so neither were used in the Heat Final against Behemoth. Also, this version lacked a self-righting mechanism. Despite having six wheel drive, it could spin on the spot.

"Inquisitor looked a lot heavier than it was and had a chainsaw sticking out of the front which I learnt later was electric and not petrol. The flail at the back was also electric."

— Oliver Steeples on Inquisitor

Inquisitor Mk 2

Inquisitor Mk 2 in the Pinball

Inquisitor Mk 2 a much lower wedge shaped robot patterned with a multicoloured body and a black-and-white pattern on the weapon. It was equipped with a lifting arm capable of lifting 300 kg two feet into the air. This version was invertible, however it suffered speed problems which cost it in the Pinball.

Etymology

Craig Charles: "So why's it called Inquisitor?"

Gavin Hatton: "I'd rather not say"

Craig Charles: "Why? Oh go on, tell me!"

Gavin Hatton: "Red Dwarf."

Craig Charles: "Never heard of it!"

— A discussion concerning Inquisitor's name

Inquisitor was named after The Inquisitor, a character from the Red Dwarf episode of the same name. This lead to humorous exchanges between the team and Craig Charles, who jokingly denied his role in the sci-fi sitcom as the main character Dave Lister.

The Team

"He saw and enjoyed the first series so much that he wrote to the director to ask to take part in the second batch of programmes. Kevin used to work at Purite, on the Thames industrial estate, Thame, and his former colleague, Gavin Hatton, of Chinnor, while the robot was built in their own time at the factory."

— The Bucks Herald on Keith Millward entering Robot Wars

The Inquisitor team in Series 2

The Inquisitor team in Series 3

Inquisitor was entered by Keith Millward from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. A former production technician at Purite, a water purification company in Thame, Keith was originally joined by fellow production technician Gavin Hatton, who helped to paint the robot. Purite also sponsored the robot. For Series 3, he was joined by his relative Michael Millward. In both appearances, Keith Millward drove the robot.

Qualification

Inquisitor at the Series 2 rehearsals

For Series 2, Inquisitor attended the rehearsals, however the robot was unpainted and lacked some parts. Despite this, Inquisitor was successful in qualifying for the series.

Inquisitor Mk 2 attempted to qualify for Series 3 through the auditions, however, it was unsuccessful for qualifying for the main competition. That said, it was allowed to enter the Pinball side event.

Robot History

Series 2

Inquisitor in the Gauntlet

In The Gauntlet, Inquisitor steadily drove towards the ramrig. Inquisitor got caught in the ramrig, but managed to get clear. Shunt then pushed it around in circles and then into the tank trap, but managed to escape the house robot, leaving it with a clear run to the endzone.

Inquisitor scores in the Football

The trial was the Football. Dead Metal left the goal unguarded, allowing Inquisitor score the third goal, putting it through.

In the Heat Semi-final, Inquisitor was drawn against Razer, who was quickly becoming the favourite for the Heat.

"...we were going to concede defeat to razor {sic} but they were so cocky in the hotel the night before we decided to take our 5 minutes of fame, only to never be allowed in the main event again, ho hum, was still fun to do"

— Keith Millward

The now immobile Razer is attacked by Matilda

Razer clamps down on Inquisitor

At the start of the fight, Razer got behind Inquisitor and shoved it into the PPZ and the side wall. With Inquisitor trapped Razer began to crush the robot, breaking its flail mechanism. Shunt came in and attacked with its axe, by now the Inquisitor team had given up. Razer kept on crushing the bodywork of Inquisitor, this time almost peeling a panel off. The House Robots began to close in on Inquisitor, Matilda cutting into it with her chainsaw. Inquisitor managed to escape, but Razer had broken down.

Much work in the pits was needed and carried out to prepare it for the Heat Final against Behemoth.

Inquisitor with no chainsaw and a broken flail

Behemoth lifts Inquisitor

The team had to remove their chainsaw, but luckily they managed to get the robot fighting fit in time. Inquisitor started well, attacking Behemoth, but Behemoth pushed Inquisitor onto the spikes then into Sir Killalot, who ripped its flail from the back of the robot. Inquisitor was pushed into another PPZ, where it was attacked by Dead Metal and Matilda. Sir Killalot struck the final blows- overturning Inquisitor with its lance, before picking it up with its claw and dropping it down the Pit during the end credits.

Series 3

Inquisitor Mk 2 exits the Pinball tournament in a blaze of glory as it flips Matilda

The team's second entry, Inquisitor Mk 2, didn't qualify for the Third Wars, but still competed in the Pinball competition. It started slowly and only got a few barrels down. Sir Killalot pegged it into the corner. It escaped and tried to get up the ramp, but Sir Killalot nudged it off. Inquisitor recovered and got the 50 point target guarded by Sergeant Bash. The robot also managed to release the multiballs. Time ran out, but that didn't stop it flipping Matilda over. In all, it scored 70 points. This put it overall seventh out of ten.

Results

Wins/Losses

Inquisitor (right) and Inquisitor Mk 2 (left)

• Wins: 1
• Losses: 1

NOTE: Inquisitor's successful Gauntlet and Trial runs in Series 2 are not included

Series Record

Series	Inquisitor Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Heat Final
The Third Wars	Pinball Competition
The Fourth Wars	Did not enter
The Fifth Wars	Did not enter
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

Trivia

• When pictured for local papers The Bucks Herald and The Bucks Advertiser, Inquisitor was decorated with a logo for Purite, the company team members Keith Millward and Gavin Hatton worked for. However, this was not present on the robot on television, presumably because of the BBC's rules against advertising.