- "Welcome, to another special edition of Robot Wars! Grab your partners, for our Tag Team Terror! Now think about it... fluorescent socks, the Kray twins, Richard and Judy, all prove that the nastiest things come in pairs! So we wanted to make Robot Wars more gruesome, but just had to do some mechanical matchmaking! The way that Tag Team works is like this: only one robot from each pair can be fighting at any one time. If they want their partner to take over, they must retreat to their coloured areas: blue for the blue team, red for the red team. Is it me, or is it all very, very simple?"
- — Craig Charles' introduction
The Tag Team Terror of Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars was a full-length side competition filmed and broadcast as part of Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars.
The second mid-series 'Christmas Special' to air, it introduced the Tag Team Terror format which became a staple of future Robot Wars series. Teams of two robots faced each other in the arena, each pairing having the ability to 'tag' each other to swap places over in a series of otherwise regular one-on-one fights. Other similarly-named 'Tag Team' events would go on to be held in the spin-off Robot Wars Extreme, alongside the US series Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors and Nickelodeon Robot Wars.
The Tag Team Terror was originally broadcast on 28 December 2000 on BBC Two. The broadcast managed to attract 1.7 million viewers. According to BARB, this meant it ranked joint-twenty fourth in the top thirty highest rated BBC Two broadcasts during 25-31 December 2000, along with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
On 4 April 2024, the remastered Series 4 Tag Team Terror episode was uploaded in full by the official Robot Wars Facebook page, as part of ongoing promotions for Mech+.[1] The full episode was also uploaded by the Mech+ YouTube channel a week later on 11 April.[2]
Format[]
Two teams, each with two robots, enter the arena at once, stationed in designated red and blue marked areas on opposite sides. Only one member from each team is allowed to battle at any one time. If a robot wishes to let its teammate into the action, it is required to return to its coloured area to 'tag' it and switch places. In the event that more than two robots fought at once, or any other tagging rules were broken, the House Robots were given freedom to attack any infringing competitors. Despite this, the tagging rules were often abandoned partway through fights, often resulting in Tag Team matches devolving into regular three or four-way melees.
In this tournament, there were four teams, and the competition structure played out similarly to the Grand Final of a main series championship. This consisted of two Eliminator battles, a playoff for third and fourth places, and a final showdown between the winning pairings from each Eliminator.
Competing Teams[]
- Firestorm 2 & Scorpion (Red)
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Firestorm 2 | ||
| Weight | 79.9kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.29 x 0.97 x 0.82m | |
| Clearance | 0.06m | |
| Power | Electric powered motors | |
| Weapons | Powerful flipping arm | |
| Notes | Took 3 months to build | |
| From: Durham | ||
| Team Members: Graham Bone, Alex Mordue & Jenny Parsons | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scorpion | ||
| Weight | 76.2kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.80 x 1.40 x 0.70m | |
| Clearance | 0.05m | |
| Power | 2 x Wheelchair motors | |
| Weapons | Chainsaw and 2 cutting discs | |
| Notes | Built on dining room table | |
| From: Nutley, East Sussex | ||
| Team Members: Geoff Smith & John Bell | ||
- Bigger Brother & Plunderbird 4 (Blue)
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bigger Brother | ||
| Weight | 77.3kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.30 x 0.90 x 0.90m | |
| Clearance | 0.01m | |
| Power | 2 x Electric motors | |
| Weapons | Steel spike | |
| Notes | Monster truck wiper motors | |
| From: Brighton | ||
| Team Members: Joseph Watts & Ian Watts | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Plunderbird 4 | ||
| Weight | 80kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.40 x 0.65 x 0.93m | |
| Clearance | 0.02m | |
| Power | 2 x Electric motors | |
| Weapons | Slicer Dicer (crushing arm) | |
| Notes | Aeroplane aluminium shell | |
| From: Alton, Hampshire | ||
| Team Members: Mike Onslow & Bryan Kilburn | ||
- Inverterbrat & X-Terminator 2 (Red)
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Inverterbrat | ||
| Weight | 79.3kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.40 x 0.35 x 0.80m | |
| Clearance | 0.05m | |
| Power | Wheelchair motor powered | |
| Weapons | Flipper and rotating bludgeoner | |
| Notes | Made from scrapyard parts | |
| From: Woking, Surrey | ||
| Team Members: Peter Bignell & Les Wall | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| X-Terminator 2 | ||
| Weight | 80.1kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.50 x 0.80 x 0.60m | |
| Clearance | 0.01m | |
| Power | 2 x 750W industrial motors | |
| Weapons | Scoop bucket and axe or lifting arm | |
| Notes | Shell is aluminium | |
| From: Hereford | ||
| Team Members: Marlon Pritchard, Simon Baldwin & Paul Lewis | ||
- King B3 & 101 (Blue)
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| King B3 | ||
| Weight | 77.3kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.25 x 1.00 x 0.80m | |
| Clearance | 0.05m | |
| Power | Electric powered motors | |
| Weapons | Lifting, flipping spikes | |
| Notes | 99.9% Simon's own money | |
| From: Hornchurch | ||
| Team Members: Simon Harrison, Tony Sharp & Grant Hornsby | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 101 | ||
| Weight | 77.7kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.01 x 0.75 x 0.25m | |
| Clearance | 0.05m | |
| Power | 2 x Industrial motors | |
| Weapons | CO2 powered spike | |
| Notes | Shell is aircraft aluminium | |
| From: Kettering | ||
| Team Members: Mike Franklin & Amy Franklin | ||
Round 1[]
Firestorm 2 & Scorpion vs Bigger Brother & Plunderbird 4[]
Bigger Brother flips Scorpion
Firestorm inflicts the same punishment on Plunderbird 4
Scorpion started out against Bigger Brother. Bigger Brother got straight underneath Scorpion's high ground clearance and flipped it over. Firestorm 2 came in and pushed Scorpion back onto its wheels. Plunderbird 4 then came out of the blue zone and got hold of Scorpion, dragging it around the arena. Firestorm 2 tried to separate the two, by which point the rules were completely abandoned and even the House Robots got into the fight.
- "Are they disobeying rules immediately? If you do then the House Robots will penalise you!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Firestorm 2 pushed Plunderbird 4 all the way across the arena into the red zone, where Bigger Brother and Matilda tried to free it. Firestorm 2 retaliated by swerving away and throwing Bigger Brother towards the arena wall, but was not able to flip it over.
- "What on earth's going on here, Refbot? Get in and control these robots!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Firestorm pinned against the arena wall by Matilda
Firestorm attempts to get under Bigger Brother
Scorpion then attacked Plunderbird 4, which seemed to cause the veteran to break down. Firestorm 2 then got underneath Plunderbird 4 and flipped it up onto its claw, but not all the way over. Plunderbird 4 fell back down onto Firestorm 2, which tried to flip it once more, but ended up temporarily impaling itself on the arena wall. Firestorm 2 moved away, and then nudged Scorpion back onto its wheels again after it was toppled by Bigger Brother. Firestorm 2 drifted into the CPZ, where Bigger Brother pinned it which allowed Matilda to flip it onto its side.
- "Well this is wonderful! Machinations of a machiavellian sort!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Sgt Bash torches Scorpion
Bigger Brother pressures Firestorm in the closing seconds of the fight
Firestorm 2 was able to self-right, but during this period, Bigger Brother flipped Scorpion over and pushed it into Sergeant Bash, who set the fibreglass body ablaze. Bigger Brother spent the last few seconds of the match preventing Firestorm from rescuing its fallen team-mate. The judges were called to make a decision.
Winners: Firestorm 2 & Scorpion (Red Team)
Inverterbrat & X-Terminator 2 vs King B3 & 101[]
Inverterbrat is haulted upwards by King B3
101 powers up against X-Terminator 2
Inverterbrat started off against King B3 in this match, and after a small scuffle, something broke off one of the robots. Both robots then tagged their team-mates and X-Terminator 2 and 101 took over. The two met head to head and 101 started to push against X-Terminator 2. X-Terminator 2 tried to use its axe, but was unable to cause any damage.
- "Well, they're abiding by the rules... remarkably!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
King B3 assails X-Terminator 2
101 slams Inverterbrat into the side wall
Eventually, Inverterbrat and King B3 decided they couldn't wait any longer and came out to assist their team-mates. X-Terminator 2 axed King B3, which then slammed X-Terminator 2 into the red zone, whilst 101 did the same to Inverterbrat. 101 then pushed Inverterbrat into the CPZ while X-Terminator 2 and King B3 fought again.
- "Rules, what rules? Refbot: dismiss him, sack him, he has no control over these robots!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
101 slams both X-Terminator 2 and Inverterbrat
King B3 pressures X-Terminator against the side wall
101 got caught by Dead Metal temporarily, before escaping and shoving X-Terminator 2 into Inverterbrat in the CPZ. X-Terminator 2 moved away, but was ganged up on by both King B3 and 101. By now, it had become clear that Inverterbrat had been immobilised in the corner, leaving X-Terminator 2 to fight alone. Eventually, King B3 and 101 started having quick slams on each other. Time ran out, and the judges were called upon, but with the blue team being up one team member, it was an easy decision.
- "Well the judges have made their announcement. And with Inverterbrat immobilised, X-Terminator didn't really stand the chance. The judges have gone for King B3 and 101!"
- — Craig Charles makes the announcement of the winners of the battle
Winners: King B3 & 101 (Blue Team)
Playoff[]
Inverterbrat & X-Terminator 2 vs Bigger Brother & Plunderbird 4[]
X-Terminator 2 flips Bigger Brother
Bigger Brother assails X-Terminator 2, whilst the motionless Plunderbird 4 sits idle
Both teams had problems before entering the arena, with neither Inverterbrat or Plunderbird 4 working properly. This left the other two robots to start the playoff. X-Terminator 2 had switched its axe for its lifting arm and used it to overturn Bigger Brother, but Bigger Brother quickly self-righted and flipped up X-Terminator 2. It pushed X-Terminator into Plunderbird 4, but it quickly became apparent that its team-mate wasn't working at all.
- "Meanwhile, Plunderbird 4: well we've had the hype, we've had the rap, but their team, to me, seems to be taking a nap!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Inverterbrat comes out to help X-Terminator 2
Bigger Brother flips Inverterbrat
Instead, it left X-Terminator 2 on its side, but X-Terminator 2 quickly self-righted using its side spikes. It then tagged Inverterbrat. It attempted to attack Bigger Brother, but neither of its weapons were working properly, and it was flipped up, but not over, several times by its opponent.
- "Terrific playoff, here, for the wooden ratchet - the wooden spoon of Robot Wars in other words!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Inverterbrat is lifted and slammed against the side wall by Bigger Brother
X-Terminator 2 is thrown over by Bigger Brother
Eventually, Bigger Brother pushed Inverterbrat back into the red zone, whereby X-Terminator 2 rushed out to take on Bigger Brother again. Bigger Brother flipped X-Terminator 2 over again, breaking off one of its support bars in the process, but X-Terminator 2 was able to right itself again, before lifting up Bigger Brother, the arm getting caught underneath its chassis. Eventually, it let go. Bigger Brother flipped X-Terminator 2 over once again, but X-Terminator 2 righted and hooked Bigger Brother again.
- "Once again, X-Terminator have managed to just prise a grip, but Bigger Brother away once more..."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Refbot shoves the immobile Plunderbird 4 as Bigger Brother continues to fight X-Terminator 2
X-Terminator 2 takes the plunge
Just then, the pit started to descend. Plunderbird 4 had now been pushed into the middle of the arena, but it was clearly immobile. X-Terminator 2 and Bigger Brother tried once again to attack each other, when suddenly X-Terminator 2 drove away to build up another attack, and just before cease was called, straight into the pit of oblivion: the team had failed to noticed that it had opened.
- "I can't believe it! X-Terminator have driven straight into the pit! Right on the word 'cease', under pressure from Bigger Brother and down they went!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as X-Terminator 2 drives straight into the pit
It also became apparent that Inverterbrat was no longer mobile, and Bigger Brother was the only robot still alive. Therefore, the blue team secured victory.
- Craig Charles: "Talk me through your contribution."
- Mike Onslow: "It was passive..our strategy was to just play dead and let him [Bigger Brother] get on with it."
- — Post-battle, after which Craig Charles bursts out laughing
Winners: Bigger Brother & Plunderbird 4 (Blue Team)
Final[]
Firestorm 2 & Scorpion vs King B3 & 101[]
101 pushes Scorpion
King B3 battles Scorpion
Both Firestorm 2 and Scorpion had suffered damage from the last round, and Firestorm 2 in particular had a lot of trouble getting going. Scorpion (still burnt and wearing a plaster over its "eye") started off against King B3, which used its disc, causing sparks. The action drifted towards the red zone, but Scorpion didn't tag Firestorm 2. King B3 then pushed Scorpion into the arena flame jets, but Scorpion managed to escape before it could be burnt again. King B3 continued to attack Scorpion, slamming it multiple times and scratching it with its disc. King B3 then retreated to the blue zone, so 101 came out and started attacking Scorpion. Firestorm 2 came out and lingered next to 101 and Scorpion before moving away. King B3 then came out and attacked Firestorm 2. Scorpion was clutched by Dead Metal, while the other three robots scuffled in the red zone.
- "And all of a sudden we've got all four robots on the arena floor! Yes! This is what we want! Scorpion may have gone blind and they've shown a blind eye to rules and regulations! It's gone mad in Robot Wars: Tag Team Terror!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Firestorm 2's only attack before it breaks down
The immobilised Firestorm and crippled Scorpion in their tag zone
It was now apparent that Firestorm was still suffering from problems, as it struggled for movement, even when King B3 and 101 both rammed it. However, King B3 then drove onto Firestorm's wedge and was flipped onto the top of 101, which took the opportunity to slam its team-mate and rival into the arena wall - Firestorm 2 broke down after this and was not seen again.
- "I think the Tag Team Terror has been won by 101 and King B3...and now we have what I thought we'd have, right from the first activate! We've got 101 against King B3, this is a massive grudge!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
101 attacks its Tag Team partner
The House Robots attack the Tag Team Champions
King B3 retaliated and pushed 101 back, before then pushing the wounded and limping Scorpion back towards the immobilised Firestorm 2. With both of their opponents no longer working properly, King B3 and 101 finally turned on each other for real, pushing each other all around the arena. Dead Metal and Sergeant Bash finally managed to separate them, damaging them in the process.
Tag Team Terror Champions: King B3 & 101 (Blue Team)
- "If your partner's not scared of circular saws, team up and go mental, on Robot Wars!"
- — Craig Charles signs off
Trivia[]
- The first Tag Team Terror match was the third time that 101 and King Buxton were in the arena at the same time, although this time they were teammates.
Simon Harrison's trophy, on display at RoboNerd 2021
- Only a single trophy was produced for the winners, so Simon Harrison of King B3's team admitted to taking the trophy for himself. Eventually a second trophy was built for Team 101, although Simon Harrison claims it was smaller and inferior[3].
- This episode was one of two times that Scorpion passed the first round in any competition.
- In this episode, Stuart McDonald mistakenly stated X-Terminator 2 was from Hertford when it was actually from Hereford.
- Inverterbrat was the only robot in this episode not to fight either Firestorm or Scorpion at some point as this episode was its final appearance.
- Only three House Robots appeared throughout the entire episode - Sergeant Bash in all four fights, Matilda in the first fight and Dead Metal in the remaining three.
- This was the first episode in which one or more House Robots did not appear in any of the featured battles (in this case, Shunt and Sir Killalot).
- Since the red and blue coloured zones also appeared in the Arena during the Sumo Basho tournament, it is likely this competition was filmed around the same time.
- On the Mech+ version of this episode, the regular Robot Wars logo is used in place of the customised variant initially found on BBC airings. Excluding international variations (e.g. the US version broadcast as part of Robot Wars: Grand Champions), this makes the Tag Team Terror the only Series 4 Christmas Special known to have featured and been publicly released with the regular logo.
References[]
External Links[]
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