(S)crap metal makes great machines (Scrapheap Challenge)

Member Name: yackers1

Product:	Scrapheap Challenge
Date:	08/02/09 (422 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great presenters, interesting and varied challenges, great entertainment

Disadvantages: None that I can think of

Scrapheap Challenge is a programme whereby members of the general public (that have technical know how and ability) are given the task of producing a fully functional machine to complete a pre-determined challenge.

Each team consists of three people and each episode two teams go head to head to build a machine and complete a challenge. The challenges are varied and whilst the team are ultimately responsible for the build of the machine they are assigned an expert to give ideas, help and guidance as necessary.

At the start of each show the hosts, Robert Llewellyn and Lisa Rogers, brief the teams on the task they have to complete and then give them a time limit (that varies depending upon whether it is a heat, a quarter final, a semi final or the final) whereby the machine build must be complete. Once the starting 'gong' is sounded the teams are on their own and they have to design the machine, scavenge for the parts required and then build the machine ahead of the 'judgement' day whereby the challenge is completed.

All materials are sourced in a breakers or scrap yard (hence the name of the show) where the final machines end up being botched together from the components scavenged.

Scrapheap Challenge is 10 years old this year and there is a series filmed every year, however, channel four are currently repeating old series on a Saturday morning, where there is a double episode each time. Even though I have seen each episode many times over I never find them boring and I am more than happy to sit there, chill out and watch them again.

****Opinion****

I find every episode of Scrapheap Challenge very entertaining to watch. Obviously some episodes are more interesting than others and this is dependent upon the challenge set. It has nothing to do with the teams themselves, or the individuals within those teams, since the program focuses solely on the team's engineering abilities and not how they interact, or behave, as it should.

I am not, never have been, nor ever will be technically minded or hands on enough to even know where to start with most of the challenges set, although I find how 'proper engineers' tackle the challenges very interesting.

I think it is amazing how the teams can actually produce functional machines that can complete the challenges set in such a short time period. I appreciate that the junk yards are planted with specific materials (that aren't found in your typical breakers yard) to help the contestants but this does not reduce the skills required to complete the challenges, besides the contestants still have to find the materials, and these are never that easy to find.

The contraptions the contestants make are not the prettiest of things but then given the constraints the teams have to face you wouldn't expect them to be. The main thing is the machines work and they do in all cases to different extents.

The challenges themselves are always entertaining and cover a wide range of tasks from building jet powered drag cars to boats to large catapults to mono wheels, amongst many other things, to perform differing tasks that are usually time or speed pressured.

The presenters are great and definitely are the best people for the job, and I can't think of any other presenters that would manage the task as well. Robert Llewellyn in particular is very good and definitely adds something to this show. He is eccentric and 'weird', but passionate at the same time. His dry sense of humour is evident and does add to the programme, not least his dress sense (or the clothes he is forced to wear by the producers).

The cartoon sketches showing the contestants plans and how their ideas will work, or not as the case may be (as well as what may potentially go wrong) are good fun and provides and idiots guide for those that aren't technically minded (such as myself) to clearly demonstrate what is happening.

The use of professionals is good and whilst they are technical experts in their field they analyse the building process throughout and let the viewers know their thoughts in layman's terms, which means it is easily understood and doesn't bamboozle the viewers with technical jargon.

Scrapheap Challenge is really entertaining and makes for great viewing. As such I would highly recommend this to both technical and non-technical people. The challenges are eccentric and fun, Robert Llewellyn is crazy, the experts give a good technical insight without using too much jargon and the contestants are very skilled (even though the machines may look like a dog's breakfast).

Summary: Clever people making great machines out of seemingly useless metal