Blast Lab
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== Host == | == Host == | ||
| - | [[ | + | |
| + | [[Richard Hammond]] | ||
== Co-hosts == | == Co-hosts == | ||
| + | |||
Vivienne Jay (Ninja Nan) | Vivienne Jay (Ninja Nan) | ||
| Line 9: | Line 12: | ||
== Broadcast == | == Broadcast == | ||
| - | September Films for | + | |
| + | September Films in association with Hamster's Wheel Productions and Ingenious for BBC Two, 3 January to 12 September 2009 (26 episodes in 2 series) | ||
| + | |||
| + | September Films in association with Hamster's Wheel Productions and Ingenious for CBBC Channel, 14 July to 7 October 2010 (13 episodes in 1 series) | ||
| + | |||
| + | September Films in association with Hamster's Wheel Productions and Ingenious for BBC One, 14 July to 6 October 2011 (13 episodes in 1 series) | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| + | |||
== Synopsis == | == Synopsis == | ||
| - | There's always a tension in children's shows: should they go all-out to entertain (as did [[ | + | |
| + | There's always a tension in children's shows: should they go all-out to entertain (as did [[Crackerjack]] and [[Get Your Own Back]]) or should there be some more educational content as well (see [[Blue Peter]]). ''Blast Lab'' falls squarely on the educational side of the question. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class=image>[[File:Blastlab velcroballs.jpg|300px]]''I spent 6 years in acting school for this.''</div> | ||
Two teams of three children play the contest. As a game show, it's perhaps not the most original - there's a true/false question, an estimation question, a science experiment, a prediction for a stunt, and a game played in a gunk tank. ''Blast Lab'' succeeds by demonstrating serious scientific principles in an entertaining manner. For instance, water is heavy, but if you were to drop a tonne of water from a great height onto a car, will it be drivable? | Two teams of three children play the contest. As a game show, it's perhaps not the most original - there's a true/false question, an estimation question, a science experiment, a prediction for a stunt, and a game played in a gunk tank. ''Blast Lab'' succeeds by demonstrating serious scientific principles in an entertaining manner. For instance, water is heavy, but if you were to drop a tonne of water from a great height onto a car, will it be drivable? | ||
| - | <div class=image>[[ | + | <div class=image>[[File:Blastlab velcroballs2.jpg|400px]]''Catch my Velcro balls.''</div> |
| + | |||
This education is coated in a comic-book presentation style - text captions briskly whoosh onto screen, there are recurring characters, and the Lab Rats are treated as cartoon foils. At the end of the show, one team has won prizes, and leaves with them. The other has not won their prizes, and put them in a bidet so they can blow them up. | This education is coated in a comic-book presentation style - text captions briskly whoosh onto screen, there are recurring characters, and the Lab Rats are treated as cartoon foils. At the end of the show, one team has won prizes, and leaves with them. The other has not won their prizes, and put them in a bidet so they can blow them up. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class=image>[[File:Blastlab gunge.jpg|400px]]''Yay, goo!''</div> | ||
Despite an unpromising slot (8.30 on Saturday morning? You can do better than that!) the show has been successful enough for the BBC to commission another series. | Despite an unpromising slot (8.30 on Saturday morning? You can do better than that!) the show has been successful enough for the BBC to commission another series. | ||
| - | = | + | <div class=image>[[File:Blastlab hammond helpers.jpg|400px]]''The Hammond and his helpers.''</div> |
| - | The | + | |
| + | == Theme music == | ||
| - | |||
Original music by Christian Henson and Joe Henson. | Original music by Christian Henson and Joe Henson. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Trivia == | ||
| + | |||
| + | The car Richard drives in the opening titles and used for the Fact Nav round is a 1964 Opel Kadett. He fell in love with the car whilst driving across Botswana for a Top Gear special in 2007, giving a name, "Oliver" which is incorporated on the registration plate. | ||
== Merchandise == | == Merchandise == | ||
| + | |||
[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Hammonds-Blast-Lab-Hammond/dp/1405338865/labyrinthgames Richard Hammond's Blast Lab] (hardback book) | [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Hammonds-Blast-Lab-Hammond/dp/1405338865/labyrinthgames Richard Hammond's Blast Lab] (hardback book) | ||
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[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Hammonds-Blast-Brain-Busters/dp/1405340827/labyrinthgames Blast Lab Activity Book No.2: Brain Busters] (paperback) | [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Hammonds-Blast-Brain-Busters/dp/1405340827/labyrinthgames Blast Lab Activity Book No.2: Brain Busters] (paperback) | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Web links == | ||
| + | |||
| + | [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lg89m BBC programme page] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hammond's_Blast_Lab Wikipedia entry] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Pictures == | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class=image>[[File:Blast lab factnav.jpg]]''Richard Hammond and his Fact Nav''</div> | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
| + | |||
[[Weaver's Week 2009-01-25|Weaver's Week review]] | [[Weaver's Week 2009-01-25|Weaver's Week review]] | ||
[[Category:Childrens]] | [[Category:Childrens]] | ||
[[Category:Science]] | [[Category:Science]] | ||
| - | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Fictional Characters]] |
| + | [[Category:September Films Productions]] | ||
Current revision as of 22:26, 26 December 2023
Contents |
Host
Co-hosts
Vivienne Jay (Ninja Nan)
Jadie Hobson (Mini Miss)
Broadcast
September Films in association with Hamster's Wheel Productions and Ingenious for BBC Two, 3 January to 12 September 2009 (26 episodes in 2 series)
September Films in association with Hamster's Wheel Productions and Ingenious for CBBC Channel, 14 July to 7 October 2010 (13 episodes in 1 series)
September Films in association with Hamster's Wheel Productions and Ingenious for BBC One, 14 July to 6 October 2011 (13 episodes in 1 series)
Synopsis
There's always a tension in children's shows: should they go all-out to entertain (as did Crackerjack and Get Your Own Back) or should there be some more educational content as well (see Blue Peter). Blast Lab falls squarely on the educational side of the question.
I spent 6 years in acting school for this.Two teams of three children play the contest. As a game show, it's perhaps not the most original - there's a true/false question, an estimation question, a science experiment, a prediction for a stunt, and a game played in a gunk tank. Blast Lab succeeds by demonstrating serious scientific principles in an entertaining manner. For instance, water is heavy, but if you were to drop a tonne of water from a great height onto a car, will it be drivable?
Catch my Velcro balls.This education is coated in a comic-book presentation style - text captions briskly whoosh onto screen, there are recurring characters, and the Lab Rats are treated as cartoon foils. At the end of the show, one team has won prizes, and leaves with them. The other has not won their prizes, and put them in a bidet so they can blow them up.
Yay, goo!Despite an unpromising slot (8.30 on Saturday morning? You can do better than that!) the show has been successful enough for the BBC to commission another series.
The Hammond and his helpers.Theme music
Original music by Christian Henson and Joe Henson.
Trivia
The car Richard drives in the opening titles and used for the Fact Nav round is a 1964 Opel Kadett. He fell in love with the car whilst driving across Botswana for a Top Gear special in 2007, giving a name, "Oliver" which is incorporated on the registration plate.
Merchandise
Richard Hammond's Blast Lab (hardback book)
Blast Lab Activity Book No.1: Rockets and Racers (paperback)
Blast Lab Activity Book No.2: Brain Busters (paperback)
Web links
Pictures
Richard Hammond and his Fact Nav