Robot Wars: The First Wars was the first series of the British television game show Robot Wars. It was originally broadcast in 1998 on BBC Two. The series was hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, the pit reporter was Philippa Forrester and commentary was provided by Jonathan Pearce.
Format
The series consisted of six heats, with six robots competing in each heat. The six winners from the heats moved onto the Grand Final. 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 obstacle filled maze defended by house robots. Competitor robots had to make their way as far down the course as possible in the time allowed. The robot covering the least ground was eliminated, leaving five robots to continue.
- The Trial varied from heat to heat with games like, 'Sumo', 'British Bulldog', 'Stock Car', 'Labyrinth', 'Snooker', and 'Football'. Each trial had a specific goal and the worst performing robot was eliminated, leaving four robots to continue.
- The Arena was the point at which the robots finally entered the arena to do combat. The four remaining robots paired off and fought head-to head in the enclosed arena patrolled by the house robots. The two victorious robots then fought for the heat championship. The winner of each heat then went through to the Grand Final.
In the Grand Final, which was held at the end of the final heat, the six heat winners met in a single battle to determine the champion of the series.
Heats
Heat A
- Main article: Robot Wars: The First Wars/Heat A
Robots competing in Heat A: Roadblock, Killertron, Barry, Shogun, Nemesis, Grunt
Gauntlet: Barry eliminated
Trial (Sumo): Grunt eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Nemesis vs Roadblock: Roadblock won
- Killertron vs Shogun: Killertron won
Arena Final
- Killertron vs Roadblock: Roadblock won
Heat B
- Main article: Robot Wars: The First Wars/Heat B
Robots competing in Heat B: Uglybot, Scrapper, Recyclopse, Detonator, Mortis, Leighbot
Gauntlet: Uglybot eliminated
Trial (British Bulldog): Detonator eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Recyclopse vs Scrapper: Recyclopse won
- Mortis vs Leighbot: Mortis won
Arena Final
- Mortis vs Recyclopse: Recyclopse won
Heat C
- Main article: Robot Wars: The First Wars/Heat C
Robots competing in Heat C: Cruella, Plunderbird 1, WYSIWYG, Robot The Bruce, Wedgehog, Dreadnaut
Gauntlet: Plunderbird 1 eliminated
Trial (Football): WYSIWYG eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Robot The Bruce vs Cruella: Robot The Bruce won
- Dreadnaut vs Wedgehog: Wedgehog won
Arena Final
- Robot The Bruce vs Wedgehog: Robot The Bruce won
Heat D
- Main article: Robot Wars: The First Wars/Heat D
Robots competing in Heat D: Vector of Armageddon, Krayzee Tokyo, Cunning Plan, SAT'arn, Bugs, Demolisher
Gauntlet: Vector of Armageddon eliminated
Trial (Stock Car): Krayzee Tokyo eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Cunning Plan vs Bugs: Cunning Plan won
- Demolisher vs SAT'arn: Demolisher won
Arena Final
- Cunning Plan vs Demolisher: Cunning Plan won
Heat E
- Main article: Robot Wars: The First Wars/Heat E
Robots competing in Heat E: Wharthog, Psychosprout, Bodyhammer, Torque of the Devil, REALI-T, Full Metal Anorak
Gauntlet: Wharthog eliminated
Trial (Labyrinth): Psychosprout eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Bodyhammer vs Torque of the Devil: Bodyhammer won
- REALI-T vs Full Metal Anorak: REALI-T won
Arena Final
- Bodyhammer vs REALI-T: Bodyhammer won
Heat F
- Main article: Robot Wars: The First Wars/Heat F
Robots competing in Heat F: Skarab, The Blob, T.R.A.C.I.E., Elvis, Prince of Darkness, The Mouse
Gauntlet: Elvis eliminated
Trial (Snooker): The Mouse eliminated
Arena Semi-Finals
- Skarab vs The Blob: Skarab won
- Prince of Darkness vs T.R.A.C.I.E.: T.R.A.C.I.E. won
Arena Final
- Skarab vs T.R.A.C.I.E.: T.R.A.C.I.E. won
Grand Final
- Main article: Robot Wars: The First Wars/Grand Final
Roadblock vs Recyclopse vs Robot The Bruce vs Cunning Plan vs Bodyhammer vs T.R.A.C.I.E.: Roadblock won
First Wars Grand Champion: Roadblock
Awards
- Main article: Robot Wars Awards
These are the winners of the various awards given out at the end of the series:
- Best Design: Plunderbird 1
- Best Engineered: Mortis
- Most Original Entry: Psychosprout
- Sportsmanship Award: Nemesis
Video Release
- Main article: Robot Wars: The First Great War
The highlights of the First Series were later released on video.
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