Robot Wars: Black Country boffins Team Carbide show steel to win final place
A cult show has returned to the small screen for the first time in more than a decade – and a Black Country team wowed crowds in the first episode.
Robot Wars was back on TV on Sunday night, the first new screening of the show for 12 years.
Teams design fighting robots weighing more than 100kg who battle it out for supremacy in a purpose-built arena.
Team Carbide's robot was complete with a vicious blade that spins at up to 2,300rpm.
It was put together by David Moulds, a robotics engineer for Cadburys, Sam Smith, an aerospace engineer for Rolls Royce, and former Dudley College student Sheryl Prior, who lives in Wombourne and works for JLR at the i54 business park.
After a stuttering start, the trio's robot wreaked havoc in the arena, decimating opponents and sending fragments of their foes flying into the air.
The trio progressed through to the grand final which will air later this year. Team Carbide posted on Twitter afterwards: "Hope you guys liked the show as much as we did! Thanks #RobotWars see you in the final!"
Team captain Mr Moulds, who is from Bromsgrove, said: "Me and Sam grew up watching the show and have been building robots since we were kids.
"I missed out on the original series and it's always been a dream to be on it.
"It was brilliant to be involved with the show.
"Everyone knows each other and how all the machines work so everyone helps each other out the best they can."
Mr Moulds said putting Carbine together was a difficult balancing act, with his and Mr Smith's different shifts at work. They only finished the robot at 1am before they had to travel to the first heat in Glasgow at 7am.
Fans certainly showed their support for the returning show, with Robot Wars powering to a stronger performance in the ratings than the last episode of Top Gear. The rebooted series was broadcast in the 8pm Sunday slot recently vacated by the motoring show.
An average of two million viewers watched Robot Wars, which was a fixture on the BBC from 1998 to 2003.
Robot Wars achieved a 10 per cent share of the available viewing audience. The finale of Top Gear, which was co-presented by Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans, drew an 8.8 per cent share.
